Correct Me Here, Im Plant N00b!

[Oddball]

Ok so at the moment im revamping a tank, its 5x2x2 foot. Currently its stripped out and totally empty bar jbl aquatic plant substrate (3cm deep) and 2cm of 2-3mm pea gravel.

Previously i was running 2 x 20watt flora life bulbs and i had no luck growing plants, im going to be upgraded to 4x 30 watt T8 bulbs for full spectrum light coverage with light reflective strips behind each to minimise light loss.

What im wanting to do is fit a CO2 system on a solanoid, as currently im working long hours and will be working really awkward hours when i have a career change in september. What im needing is advice on placement of the CO2, is it best to sort of place it behind the big plants in a cornor, or dead centre of the tank disguised by a bog wood spike, or some other method?

Also any suggestions for plants? I'm keen to try my hand at species of nymphea lotus and cryptocorynes but i want a splash of color as well?

 

[Egmel]

What im needing is advice on placement of the CO2, is it best to sort of place it behind the big plants in a cornor, or dead centre of the tank disguised by a bog wood spike, or some other method?

If you're going with a glass diffuser then the best place for it is somewhere that the bubbles are caught by the filter outlet flow and swirled around the tank. Some glass diffusers are actually quite elegant so don't need to be hidden behind things.

At the end of the day, what ever diffusion method you're using, you need to get it into the flow so that it gets to the rest of the tank. I've only experimented with small tanks but you may find that on larger ones such as yours you need either 2 diffusers or to inject it directly into the filter to ensure good distribution. I await someone with more knowledge of tanks of this size to tell you how they do it!

 

[Colin_T]

The reason you didn't do well with the plants is due to lack of light. Your tank is 2ft high and fluoros only penetrate about 18inches. In a 5x2x2 you will need at least 6 tubes running the length of the tank. You would be better off looking at high output T5s instead of T8 globes. Or better still would be a couple of 150watt metal halide lights hanging above the tank. Metal halides can penetrate 2ft of water without a problem and you will get much better plant growth with them compared to fluoros in a tall tank.
Whatever you get in relation to the globes try to get globes with a temperature or Kelvin (K) rating between 6,000K & 10,000K.

You can have several CO2 diffusers in the tank or just have one diffuser near the outlet of a water pump. The pump will circulate the CO2 enriched water around the tank. When you have CO2 running try to reduce the surface turbulence in the tank. CO2 is only worth having if you have a lot of light, otherwise you are wasting your money.

Good plants to try include Ambulia, Hygrophilla sp, Elodia, Ludwigia, Rotala & Vallis.

 

[Oddball]

Hokay so ive got around to picking out a few plants, Hygrophillia austrae rosa, euchinodores "ozelot red", cryptocoryne balanasi/becketti/wendtii green, Rotala Wallichii etc etc

Next daft question is, at present my tank water is hard as nails, and i want to soften it. Seeing as the Co2 will lower my ph how will this effect the hardness, theoretically you cant have acidic and soft water correct?

 

[aaronnorth]

CO2 will lower the Kh, if you want to lower the Gh, then add peat to your filter.

 

[fry_lover]

The reason you didn't do well with the plants is due to lack of light. Your tank is 2ft high and fluoros only penetrate about 18inches. In a 5x2x2 you will need at least 6 tubes running the length of the tank. You would be better off looking at high output T5s instead of T8 globes. Or better still would be a couple of 150watt metal halide lights hanging above the tank. Metal halides can penetrate 2ft of water without a problem and you will get much better plant growth with them compared to fluoros in a tall tank.
Whatever you get in relation to the globes try to get globes with a temperature or Kelvin (K) rating between 6,000K & 10,000K.

You can have several CO2 diffusers in the tank or just have one diffuser near the outlet of a water pump. The pump will circulate the CO2 enriched water around the tank. When you have CO2 running try to reduce the surface turbulence in the tank. CO2 is only worth having if you have a lot of light, otherwise you are wasting your money.

Good plants to try include Ambulia, Hygrophilla sp, Elodia, Ludwigia, Rotala & Vallis.

My tanks 2 foot high and i just use x3 t8 bulbs (40 watts each), tank is 300 litres, and all my plants are flourishing, including the ones on the deck, although saying that, the one's on the deck are moss balls and anubia mostly, do not excactly light demanding

Not that Colin is applying a blanket rule, i am just pointing out my experience here