A Beginer

[metfan581]

See my sig
Cany you help me with plants?
what substrate?
what kinds of plants
im looking into more lights

 

[simonbrown403]

Co2, To keep the co2 stable you will probably need three of the nutrafin sets as they are only rated for 20gal us a piece.
You might be better looking at diy with a couple of 2ltr pop bottles, some co2 tube a "T" for the pipe a check valve, and may be a diy reactor such as a forced reactor or even putting the in ti the filter so the impeller can chop it up.



With co2 you light will be to low, with two 15watt tubes (30watts) in a 55gal you will only get 0.5watts per gal which is very low, you will need more like 2watts per gal to keep up with the co2 and keep algae at bay.
A twin 55watt T5 compacts would do the job, just not the inter pet version.

I'd sack the penguin and the air stone idea, as they create to much surface irrigation which will carse co2 to be lost in to the atmosphere, instead i would look at an external canister filter.

For plants i would go fo fast growers such as vallis, hygrophilia, cambodia and may be some java moss and java ferns as the low light option.

Substrate is down to personal chose maybe Seachem fluorite seams a popular chose, i use tetra complete with black quarts gravel.

 

[metfan581]

Thanks but what if I skip the co2 can I go with low light plans if i get like 1 wt per gallon....
can you provide a list of "things"
I will need to make this co2 system
how often will ihave to change the botttles?

 

[metfan581]

also what about the "glass bell" thingy

 

[simonbrown403]

Heres an artical exsplaining how to make it and a bit about yeast and suger.

Parts:
Silicone tubing
3 * 2ltr pop bottles
an air line "T"
2 * check valve
aquarium silicone

Get your 3 pop bottles and 1 foot or so lengths of silicone tubing for each bottle, drill a hole through the caps making it a tight fit.
push the silicone tube in about 1/2" and silicon in place (with aquarium safe silicone) both inside and out.

Attach the check valves to 2 of the bottles then add about 6£ of tube at the other end and connect to a "T" adaptor.
All that's left to do is fill with yeast and sugar and connect

The 3rd bottle if for your change, the idea being you have 2 running all the time.
yeast tends to produce a lost of co2 when its just mixed which is unstable and can mess with can carse fluctuations, so it is best to leave the bottle to rest over night to get a more even production.

I think they change the bottles every 4 to 7 day depending on your mix some one else with more experience with yeast and sugar mixes will better advise you.
So you would prepare your 3rd bottle leave it over night and replace the next day the check valve is there so you don't lose pressure, keep the bottles rotating changing one at a time to keep co2 stable

To defuse the co2 you could put it into the the filter inlet and let the impeller chop the co2 up or make a forced reactor from a gravel vac and a power head, if you didnt fancy buying a commercial
The gravel vac is the where the the co2 is injected and tries to float to the surface, but the flow from the power head pushes it do churning it up and dissolving it into the water.

 

[metfan581]

how much do you wind up spending on the co2 a year....every week you have to change it?....can i kip the co2...if i do then what are myy options....


thanks you have been a great help


o yea i heard of flourite making the tank ditry and forming a clay type substance

 

[shrimply]

Do you need the gas seperater? I don't have one.

 

[Squid]

metfan

if you do a seach in old threads there are some good pointers...

When i asked the question, people recommended:

Here's a list of other good low-light plants to consider:
Amazon sword
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Dwarf Anubias - Anubias barteri var. nana
Dwarf Sagittaria - Sagittaria subulata
Java Fern - Microsorium pteropus
Java Moss - Vesicularia dubyana
Thai Onion Plant - Crinum thianaum
Tropical Hornwort - Ceratophyllum submersum
Valis


Im going for

Java Fern
Java Moss
Valis
anubias ..

mine is a low light non CO2 juwel rio 180

i have used sand as a substrate and put first layer laterite in with the first inch of sand to help the plant growth..

im gonna see how that goes before i start upgrading lighting and adding CO2.. trick i guess is not to go mad planting if you dont have them.

Thats my thoughts anyway, but im new to this too..

Squid

 

[Ptarmigan]

.

 

[metfan581]

thanks

Squid--you siad lowm light and no co2
how much light do you recomend?

 

[shrimply]

Do you need the gas seperater? I don't have one.

You do not really really have to, but it is a very very good idea to include one
If your yeast mix gets a bit over-active and frothy the gas separator will catch it all, otherwise it will get dumped into you tank.

The emergency sections of many forums often have tales of woe of this kind.

But if you are happy that this will never happen to you then no you dont need one

OK thanks. I thought my non return valve would prevent stuff getting into my aquarium.

 

[Ptarmigan]

.

 

[metfan581]

what will happen if i get around 2wpg and skip the co2?

o yea what reguirement do amzon swords need

 

[George Farmer]

what will happen if i get around 2wpg and skip the co2?

o yea what reguirement do amzon swords need

2 WPG in a 55G (110W) and no CO2 will result in algae problems I would suggest.

Amazon Swords are not particularly demanding in terms of light but they do require a nutrient-rich substrate that is fairly deep (3" or more for larger specimens). They obtain most of their nutrients from the substrate and grow massive root structures that can span the length of the entire tank.

 

[metfan581]

sooooo
i will need...