Glass Canopies

[Rlon35]

Does having a glass canopy bwteen lighting and your water effect the gas exchange to an extent that plants will not flourish? I am trying to come up with reasons why I am struggling to get this tank to perfection. I knopw I have to upgrade from my standard lighting, but I feel as though I am missing something no matter how much research I do....

 

[aaronnorth]

no, if anything it will help as it keeps more CO2 in. Can you list your set up and we can try to help with your problem

 

[Wolfenrook]

If your plants aren't flourishing look first at the plants you are trying to grow, research their requirements and then examine if you are meeting these. For example are you trying to keep plants that need a lot of light in low to medium light? Do they need you to inject more CO2 for them (common in many of the plants that like higher light levels) ? Are they getting the micro and macro nutrients that they need, or do you need to change your fert regime/products?

Ade

 

[Rlon35]

OK...my first limitation, and I'll try to be as specific as possible, is the standard stock tank lighting I am using. And, yes, I am doing research before and after making this post. Secondly, the tank is 55 gallons and I use a CO2 fermentation kit that is only geared for 40 gallon tanks. I also dose the tank with flourish excel every other day. Another problem is the fact that I had to medicate the tank for a bacterial infection, and though I was told/read that Tetracycline doesn't harm plants, my plants have looked bad after this. But, I belive that they were looking badly before the med. My better looking plants consist of anubias, onions, an amazon sword, sagitteria, camboba, and a red tiger lotus, which are all doing OK I guess. My watersprite, ludwigia, and an unknown red plant have been dying, though I think the ludwigia was due to the loaches and gold nugget pleco. I have cut down this plant and sheltered in within a hole of a piece of rock. The water sprite was my favorite plant, but I notice that it looks like browning washed lettuce at this point. I buried the roots, which are weak, so that may be the problem. Overall, the plants just don't seem to be flourishing, with the exception of camboba and anacharis. At any rate, these are the issues I am going to look into, and perhaps I could supplement the CO2 somehow. I also dose the tank with garlic, particularly in the wake of an infection, but I don't think that is a big deal (could be wrong). Any other thoughts would be appreciated...

 

[lljdma06]

I haven't dealt with stock lighting in ages. What comes standard with a 55g?

 

[wendywc]

^^^ I would guess only two 20 watt tubes... definately not enough.

 

[Rlon35]

Let me just give my full set up. 55 gallon tank with standard stock lighting. Filtration includes a Fluval 305, a Top Fin 30 ha-on filter (I keep the water level high to minimize agitation, and it is on the opposite side from my CO2), and a fluval 3 internal filter. My temperature is about 79-80 degrees, with hard neutral water. Hardness and nitrates are both kind of high.

My plants and mosses include: 1 amazon sword, a few java ferns, moss balls, anubias coffeelia, anubias nana (medium and large), nana petite, crinum calistratum and other onions, a reddish ludwigia plant, anacharis, sagitteria, java moss (which doesn't seem to grow completely over the drfitwood for some reason) and red tiger lotus. Sorry for the spellings.

My fish and invertebrates include: 4 Mystery snails, 2 clown loaches, 1 Red Finned Shark, 1 Gold Nugget Pleco, 13 Black Neons, 1 Dwarf Rainbow (his 2 mates died in the past few days; I also lost a betta and 2 angel rams), 2 German rams, and 4 otos.

OK...1 rainbow had a bacterial infection, which spread to and killed my betta, after it killed the original host. I dosed the tank three times with tetracycline TC (I believe that was the name), yet I did not remove carbon. I have been adding garlic, and I did a 20 percent water change today. Another rainbow died from what looked like ich (may have been cotton wooly, like the others - hard to see). I raised the temperature and added garlic. I am not seeing any other signs on fish, but I am concerned. My water parameters have not changed. I was so exscited when I added my latest batch of plants a few weeks ago, but my stocking the tank with 3 rainbows, 2 angel rams, and 1 betta has threatened my tank and killed all but one of the new arrivals. It's frustrating, and I worry that I am not out of the woods yet. The only real positive is that I have minimal algae growth if any....lol.

 

[Rlon35]

^^^ I would guess only two 20 watt tubes... definately not enough.

Yeah, you got it. I have a very difficult set up for which to add higher output lighting. I have asked numerous sites selling lighting about something that would work for me, but noone can tell me any answers. I have a glass canopy immediately above my water. I have a second, outer canopy, which is a shallow sedona canopy (cheap). It has no real top to it, as two plastic inserts take up the majority of the canopy top. So, I can't mount retrofit lighting, and I am not handy at all (I am a psychologist...lol). I could take out the two sections and hang metal halides from the ceiling, but I really can't afford that (I am also likely moving). A good compact flourescent lighting option would work, if the fans faced towards the top (ventilating through where the canopy inserts were) or the rear (the back of the canopy is obviously open). The sundial was an option, AS IT IS THE ONLY ho LIGHTING i SAW THAT COULD BE MOUNTED WITHIN A CANOPY, but there is not enough clearance to mount it under the canopy (NEEDS 7 1/2 INCHES). I wish I had an answer to this one....BOY.

 

[wendywc]

You might want to considering removing the canopy completely then. And just use glass lids and light strips.

 

[Rlon35]

You might want to considering removing the canopy completely then. And just use glass lids and light strips.

^^^^^^^^^^

Yeah, unfortunately, it seems that this is where I am headed. Sure seems like I waste a lot of money, and I hate when equipment and livestock are wasted

 

[Renate]

You might want to considering removing the canopy completely then. And just use glass lids and light strips.

^^^^^^^^^^

Yeah, unfortunately, it seems that this is where I am headed. Sure seems like I waste a lot of money, and I hate when equipment and livestock are wasted

Well, l you could sell it on craigslist.org. and get some of your money back. Sounds like you were a bit impulsive and got the wrong light for what you want for your tank. Been there!

Check EBay out for lights. I recently got a slightly used light strip, by current usa, 24" 2 dual light tubes for $50, which includes shipping. Recently used for he upgraded to a larger light. Only problem with it is the fans are loud, which is normal for the small light strips. Thus I have to replace the fans, which are $10 a piece on line.

 

[aaronnorth]

All the plants you listed that are ok, are low light and undemanding plants. All the ones that are dying are require higher lighting.

Are you dosing any nutruents?

 

[Rlon35]

All the plants you listed that are ok, are low light and undemanding plants. All the ones that are dying are require higher lighting.

Are you dosing any nutruents?

Dosing every other day or so with Flourish Excel and Kent Freshwater Pro-Plant. I understand about the light issue, thanks to the feedback here, and, after researching it under the scenario of taking the two large inserts out of my canopy, it seems that the Coralife Freshwater Aqualight Double Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture (4X65 Watt, 48 inch) will work. It has top mounted fans that will blow out air where the inserts would have been and towards the ceiling. It also has an opening in the back, obviously, though the tank is against a wall. I believe I'll be safe with this option, and it will alllow me to purchase some ground cover for the tank, which is what I really wanted to add. Yes, my research clearly shows the Ludwigia to need higher light. I have a java fern lace plant coming out the top of my driftwood, near the surface of my water, at its tip. I wonder if the higher light will cause it to burn...but, other than that, if it is safe in terms of the ventilation issue, I am good to go with this option. I can just lay the light on top of the glass, I assume. It would be nice to resolve this issue. This tank had been up and running for five years until I took and interest in plants 6 months ago. This interest has obviously created much more work, but it is worth it. My final designs for the tank is to add (I'll eventually post pictures):

Glossostigma elatinoides for Ground Cover

Riccia (although I am going to have a hard time attaching this)

3 Keyhole Cichlids

Another centerpiece type of plant (or plants) that does not get as big as the amazon sword - I want something with broad leaves (perhaps a Crypt of a Madagascer lace - the latter may get too big though). This plant or these plants will go to the sides of the sword.

 

[aaronnorth]

glosso needs CO2 - your DIY may not be up to the standards. A good feert is also needed that doses macro's & micro's like the tropica aquacare range. The lace plant gets huge!

 

[Rlon35]

glosso needs CO2 - your DIY may not be up to the standards. A good feert is also needed that doses macro's & micro's like the tropica aquacare range. The lace plant gets huge!

^^^^^^^^^^

Yeah, I was kind of thinking the lace would be too big. The today, I saw a youtube video with a lace plants laid out on the floor, and the thing was freakin' gigantic. It looked awesome, but there is no way that would fit in my tank...lol. I may eventually upgrade to an automatic CO2 unit, so perhaps I'll use the DIY for a smaller planted tank. How do ferts impact my nitrate and other levels etc.? Is there any down side to using ferts? I have been nervous to use one, for some reason. Thanks for the info Aaron. It is much appreciated.