29 gallon

[Synirr]

Don't look at my sad, sad red crinkle *lol*
I've got a notoriously brown thumb, but hey, all that red crinkle came in one huge $4 bunch from my LFS, so how could I say no? I figured I'd try it out, but I don't think it's doing so well... anyone have any suggestions on how to raise healthy plants that doesn't involve a CO2 injector? (those things scare me)

Marquis the baby jaguar cichlid (AKA my future excuse for a new tank)

Eligos the friendly bichir

My LFS rarely gets African butterfly fish, so I snagged this guy while I could. Yes, I know he shouldn't really be in this tank, but nothing is bothering (or even noticing) him so far. He'll stay in this tank when I get a bigger one to move the bichir and jaguar to... he's a very friendly and healthy specimen
His name is Euchrid (it's horrid I know.. blame Nick Cave. The name came from his novel!)

 

[SPLiSH]

That tank is lovely! I love the plants (although I have no idea which ones are red crinkle ) )

Marquis and Eligos are very cute, and Euchrid is amazing! Does he swim throughout the tank or just the surface?

 

[cometcattle]

Your ABF is very cool!

If the plant your refering to is "Purple Waffle", it's non-aquatic, so it's not your brown thumb.
http/www.plantgeek.net/plant-167.htm

How many watts per gallon are you running?
Do you use any liquid ferts or root tabs?

I have a Hagen DIY CO2 system on my 29g, but I'm going to buy another because each unit is good for 20g.
http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/produc...id1=3349;pcid2=

 

[Synirr]

That tank is lovely! I love the plants (although I have no idea which ones are red crinkle ) )

Marquis and Eligos are very cute, and Euchrid is amazing! Does he swim throughout the tank or just the surface?

Euchrid stays at the top 90% of the time, but on occasion he wanders a little lower so he can be at eye-level with me when he begs for food (I sit on my bed and watch them sometimes)

Your ABF is very cool!

If the plant your refering to is "Purple Waffle", it's non-aquatic, so it's not your brown thumb.
http/www.plantgeek.net/plant-167.htm

How many watts per gallon are you running?
Do you use any liquid ferts or root tabs?

I have a Hagen DIY CO2 system on my 29g, but I'm going to buy another because each unit is good for 20g.
http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/produc...id1=3349;pcid2=

Not aquatic? Haha.... oops )
Obviously, I'm not a plant person. I just saw it at the LFS and thought it looked nice. I figured it was my brown thumb because I generally manage to kill most plants that come within my grasp, aquatic or otherwise
I'm not sure of the wattage and couldn't find it written anywhere on the bulb without taking it out and burning myself in the process... but it's just a single florescent strip that came with the tank. I think it was an Aquatech 29 gallon delux kit, or something like that.

 

[cometcattle]

I'm pretty sure it's a 20w bulb. I don't think you'll get much growth with less than 1WPG. You'll want to upgrade the lighting.

I bought this CF fixture for my 29g:

http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/produc...id1=1843;pcid2=

You could go the DIY route and build a fixture.

 

[Synirr]

I'm pretty sure it's a 20w bulb. I don't think you'll get much growth with less than 1WPG. You'll want to upgrade the lighting.

I bought this CF fixture for my 29g:

http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/produc...id1=1843;pcid2=

You could go the DIY route and build a fixture.

Thanks for the advice!
I've had good luck with Amazon swords in that tank, but that's about it... of course, until recently, my midas was in there tearing everything up, so it's hard to tell what would have lived if she hadn't shredded it *lol*

Couldn't I just buy a higher wattage bulb? I've been thinking of doing so, but two of the fish in that tank are nocturnal and I wasn't sure if I should add too much lighting... they have sensitive eyes

 

[Mr Miagi]

Exceelent looking tank u got yourself Synirr!

I love your birchir, i want some in the future!

 

[cometcattle]

Couldn't I just buy a higher wattage bulb? I've been thinking of doing so, but two of the fish in that tank are nocturnal and I wasn't sure if I should add too much lighting... they have sensitive eyes

I'm almost sure that a 20w is the only bulb that will fit in that fixture.

Also, I believe every bulb decreases in effectiveness after before they actually burn out. If your going to replace the bulb, buy a low spectrum (6700K or less).

I almost gave up on plants because I knew nothing about spectrums, and had an 18,000k 15w over a 10g. )

Here's a good list of low light plants:

http/www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.p...y=1&filter_by=2

 

[Synirr]

Thankies much, comet! You're a lifesaver

 

[Renate]

Fourish excel is the substitute for Co2. I buy it on EBay, for with the cost of gas it is cheaper for me.

Would like to know the name of the pink plant.

Wish my LFS sold plants so cheap as yours does. In fact he doesn't sell live plants. I have to buy on line, petsmart or pet supermarket. Thus don't get much choices.

Main thing I have learned is make sure you have the right amount of light. Also have read that chealet iron help red plants stay red with low light. Need at least 2 watts per gallon or your plants will melt. Because of this I am on my 3rd group of plants. Forutunately the first 2 groups were given to me but I miss them. The iron can be bought here: <a href="http/www.rexgrigg.com/dosing.htm" target="_blank">http/www.rexgrigg.com/dosing.htm</a>

Some buy clip on lights and put and use 65 watt bulbs. You can see this at- http/www.plantedtank.net/forums/low-tech...urnal.htmlThere are floresant spiral bulbs labeled daylight at Wal-mart. Cheapest in a package. Also check out EBay

I made a strip for my 29 gallon tank that cost $53.
Items:
3 undercounter light plant strips (lightsofamerica) $10
1 philips sunlight bulb $10
1 long plastic flower box $ 8
mylar (from user at this forum) $ 5

With rug tape taped mylar in the box. With bolts and nuts put the lightstrips in the box and box sits upside down over hood.

Afterwards found out that lightsofamerica lights are not dependable. In fact got lightsofamerica to replace 1 light after 3 months. So far have had it running since Jan, 08 and no problems. At Lowes' saw similiar flouresant fixtures that had a year warranty.

I plan to combine it with a light fixture that I bought on EBay for $50. Ebay light strip is slightly used but bought it for a 1/3 of selling price. Unfortunately the fans on the fixture are to loud. I am planning to replace the fans. Just haven't gotten to that yet.
__________________

 

[invader]

Wow, an old thread!

 

[Renate]

I was looking up algae control at http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/algae/algcont.shtml
Found this interesting info thought you might be interested. For sound like your new to the hobby. I am just 1 step ahead of you and would not want you to get black brush algae as I did.

Potassium is ordinarily the macronutrient in shortest supply in the aquarium. Adding potassium encourages vascular plants to scavenge more of the phosphate that algae need. The upshot: what I had been doing in my aquaria has been to add potassium sulfate to the make-up water at a dosage of 0.5ml/gallon. I did this at intervals so that the potassium was delivered in pulses. It worked pretty well for me. If I were to dose fertilizer directly to the tanks I could overestimate the amounts plants were using and build up unhealthy levels. That's why I dose the make-up water instead; that keeps me conscientious about water changes too!

The potassium sulfate fertilizer I was using also contains some iron. Since there's plenty of iron in my substrates already and I don't want additional iron in the water column. I've more recently switched to potassium chloride (KCl) which I get at a health-food store in the form of a salt substitute Nu-Salt." It also contains less than 1% cream of tartar (more potassium)silicon dioxide and "natural flavor." A literal pinch goes into my 6-gallon makeup water storage cans. I'm told I could also find potassium chloride more cheaply at Home Depot among the water softener salts for pools.

 

[invader]

Unfortunately, Synirr hasn't even been online since Mid-May.

 

[paul_219]

very nice tank. Lovely loaches.