Diary Of A 20 Gallon

[Dakota Ice]

Hi all!

My 20 gallon is all new and shiny and freshly set up. Just though I'd keep a diary on here for myself and maybe some others if you feel the need to comment.

Currently, I'm having some light issues and I can't figure out a way to get more than one bulb in my flimsy hood. I've added some pictures of the part of the hood with the light in it (no technical terms for me ) ) with hopes someone can give me a few ideas. I'm completely open to lights from home depot, anywhere, any kind of DIY thing I could do, I just can't afford a 200 dollar light kit. The only part that sucks about parent-funded aquariums.

I plan to do a cycle with fish although some may disagree - just a few guppies for now. However, I'm not adding the fish until a little longer. Just plants for the time being. ( Well, tomarrow, technically )

Hehe.. if anyone would like to donate any kind of stem plants I'd greatly appreciate it!! *dreams*

Anywho, on with the show!

April 3rd - set up tank, added Seachem Flourite. Really, really cloudy. Some seriously dirty stuff! Anyone have any experience with it?

April 5th - getting a little clearer. I have two filters running to try and get the mud out of the water as fast as possible. A Whisper 20-40 and Whisper 10. I'm taking out the 10 once I finally get it cleared.

Photo of my hood.. was asked to take a picture to see if anyone could think of any ideas. The second light is my 10 gallon's hood, it also is a 15 watt bulb. I rest it on the 20 next to the 20's light for an amazing 30 watts of light.

I'm going tomarrow to get the plants and a C02 kit.

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Congrats on starting a planted tank!

I have flourite in my 29 gallon tank and yeh, it was a bit cloudy at the start. If you drain the tank and refill it slowly -- put a plate on the bottom and let the water run over that -- it won't be so cloudy.

Also, regarding lighting --It is expensive and you indicated you weren't ready to pony up $200 -- but how about $58? Big Als Online has Coralife Freshwater power compacts, 24 inch - 65 watts for $57.99 plus shipping. (Assuming your tank is 24 inches wide.)

Good luck with your tank!

 

[nicklfire]

Congrats aswell with the newsetup, in a matter of time you'll be upgrading. Just remember bigger tanks are alot easier to maintain, and you'll feel your 20 gallon is very very small in a matter of months if not weeks. Light is not a big issue as it's only a 20 gallon. But i agree with squirrel's advice about the cheap hoods from big als and such. If you really do look around you'll find some pretty easy deals. If you get a glass top (20$) from your local fish store you can buy any generic hood and light doing 40watts for pretty cheap.

Yea your waters going to be cloudy for a bit, but within a day or so it will clear up. I use red sea substrate it works wonders with my plants i love it and i dont have to clean it, cause waste is good for it as long as my filter is going right!!! lol.

Because you gotta littler tank running a a planted you might wanna invest in just low light plans like java moss, java ferns and just do research. Stay away from high level plants, they will just die in the end.

If your doing co2 read up on it, it's harder then it sounds somtimes lol we all learn from our mistakes.

But i'm here and so are others, and welcome to the hobby.

 

[Dakota Ice]

Thanks, both of you!

I've set up tanks before, even in this very tank. I've had plants and C02, but never the luxury of great lights. I did the math and I need somewhere around 60 watts of light for 3.something WPG?

I'm off to look at the big al's right now. The only thing is, the parents just get sick after a while with me always asking for fish things. The gravel, the plants, the fish, the rocks and driftwood, etc.. all very expensive.

Here's an old picture of the tank, just for laughs and giggles:

btw - I have a much better camera now so these new progress pictures will have much higher quality than that.

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

Would something like that work since it's 24"? Or is it too good to be true and a trap.. lol.. 75 watts in one bulb?!

 

[Dakota Ice]

..could anyone answer?

I'm not sure what I'm looking for when it comes to lighting.

 

[simonbrown403]

Vho have a high output but a short life, 11,000k is high, the usual for is about 6,500k,

If you not using co2, NKP/trace you will find that the nutrients in your tank will be used up pritty quick, bringing on a visit from the algue monster.

Have you read the pinned articals, on EI method, light algue etc at the top, to give you a basic insite.

You could chose plants to match you situation.

Power compacts (PC's), twin units arnt that badly priced, save your pocket money up it would be worth it.
Heres a link http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z299137.asp