Beginners Questions

roughyed

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Hi, I am in the process of planning my new tank. I am a complete beginner and I'm trying to read up as much as possible, please be gentle!

I have been given a tank, hood, lights, heater and filter for free and want to do them justice. I am planning to have a planted tank, partly because it looks good and partly due to the challenge.

The tank is a 50 litre (13 US gallon) tank, 45cm x 30cm and 37cm deep/height. The light unit i was given was a 10W T8 fluorescent tube, which i think gives me 0.75WPG, is that right? From what I have read that's very low, also the hood only allows light out of the front 2/3's. (see pic)

lid.jpg


lidbottom.jpg


Is this hood suitable? It is visibly darker at the back of the tank.

I plan on using a CO2 system, eco-complete substrate and sand and low maintaince plants. Any tips to help me succeed?
 
Hi

It sounds OK. Only question, you going pressurised or DIY CO2?

For your lighting, 10w would probably be fine. WPG rules tend to be different for smaller tanks. I've had good results with these light levels. In fact I'm quite happy at lower light levels.
You need to be aware that light intensity drives growth and, thereby, nutrient demand. Once plants become nutrient limited, algae can get a toehold.

Keep it simple to start until your confidence builds and keep reading this forum. I've often found that someone else has already asked the questions I've had.
Have you read about the different fertilising strategies?
 
Hi,

Welcome to the forums :hi:

Ask any questions that you like no matter if you think they may be silly and you may be making a fool of yourself. No one on this forum, will ever call you an idiot for asking a question about something you are unsure of. I should know :/ .

Seriously there are some extremely clever people on this forum and they are well worth listening to. Have a look at the pinned topics for fishless Cycling which will help you out.

Good Luck.

Richard
 
It would be easy enough to add or improve the lighting in that hood, I do think that 10w is a bit low, somewhere towards 1.5wpg is a good level for non-CO2 tanks, even 1wpg can produce good results as I managed in my tank (before I took the plunge into high light and CO2).

Whilst high light can produce good results, so can low light. It is all about choosing the right plants for your lighting levels!
 
Hi

It sounds OK. Only question, you going pressurised or DIY CO2?

Have you read about the different fertilising strategies?

Thanks for all the welcomes.

I was thinking about using a nutrafin CO2 system (the one with the ladder?)

I got pointed towards plantgeek.net which makes things easier in seeing whats available.

Haven't got a clue on the fertilising strategies!

The worry for the hood was that the way its shaped and the position of the tube means it casts shade on the rear of the tank. Which is where my main plants will be going.

I am going to do a fishless cycle as it would seem from reading to get the best results (as well as being better for the fish!!)

My main goal is to do better than my Dad who kept fish 20 yrs ago! (water changes every 6 months, straight tap water, filter cleaned in the sink with more tap water, feed blocks at holiday time, light on for 4 hours max, plants stuck into big gravel with no feed.....)
 
If you can line the hood with some silver tape (Halfords et-al sell an aluminuim tape which is water-resistant, used it on my tank) then you may improve the lighting a bit, shame manufacturers stick the light tube in such silly places at times, my hood was not much better!
 
I'm going to alter the hood a little and add a second tube and some reflectors.

The tank currently has a standard T8 10W 12inch tube, which I am going to move an inch further over the hole in the hood. Its currently tucked slightly in a recess leaving a third of the tank in the shade.

I was also considering adding a second tube attached to the opening lid. (T8 14W 14 inch tube)

By my reckoning that's 24W/13 US G = 1.8 WPG which is a bit better than the shady 0.76 now.

Do those numbers seem reasonable?

(I am also doing this on a strict budget!)
 

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