Getting Started With Planted Tanks...

[G_Sharky]

how's everybody,
I recently started a small planted tank 20 gallon US and after seing some of my plants not growing I bought a coral life PC unit that has 130 watts in total(2 bulbs)..... I don't have a co2 system for the moment but thinking of buying the Plant Gro Co2 Natural System for $40 (I was told at the LFS that this is a good system for small tanks), I kinda don't wanna spend too much money and don't have time to do a DIY co2 system. I also added a seachem flourish tabs on my gravel....My question is do I have too much light?? should i only use one bulb and how long could i go without co2 and not get an algae bloom (I would buy the co2 system in two weeks...when i get my paycheck)....Here's my plant list:
jave fern
anubias nana sp.
corkscrew vals
tiger vals
bacopa australis
eleocharis acicularis
glossostigma elatinoides
alt. reineckii roseafolia

I'm been keeping fish for a long time now, but i'm a noob on planted tanks and all this high tech stuff....thanks....

 

[jimbooo]

hi g-sharky. you will definatly need co2. the system you are talking about will be fine for a 20G. (i use 2 in my 40G) as to the light you may get fantastic results but you will have to add fertaliser with that ammount of light. getting back to that point later firstly what is the K rating of the tubes. it makes a huge difference.

 

[G_Sharky]

ohh its 6700 K per bulb(2), and arent the gravel tabs from seachem is a form of fertilizer too??? or do I need to get the liquid ones

 

[zig]

6.5 WPG is a huge amount of light, overkill IMO, you would probably be fine with just one of the tubes and this would still give you a very respectable 3.25 WPG and should be enough to grow almost anything, you will definatly need co2 with this setup and proper fertilisation.

If you decide to go with the 6.5 WPG and are not on top of the game this tank will soon be an algae farm.

You should have a look at the pinned Estimate Index article at the top of this section to give you an idea of how to fertilise a highlight tank.

You can run this tank with 6.5 WPG, but as a beginner in planted tanks its probably not the wisest decision you could make, you will really have to be on top of things from the very beginning co2 ferts etc. there will not be any margin for error or you will very quickly get algae problems.

But thats just my opinion............