Glossostigma - Requirements?

[mattbond]

i have an old clearseal i want to convert into a planted tank, i was thinking about having a glossostigma carpet, would 30w lighting be sufficient, the tank is 15"/38 cm deep?

 

[aaronnorth]

lots of CO2 & fertilisation is the best way to go. lighting requirments aren't that high really.

how many gallons is your tank?

 

[mattbond]

just reactivating an oldish post, going for a 48 litre river reef

lighting: two 18w T5

planting substrate underneath the gravel, possibly liquid fertilisers but i dont really want to do CO2 in a small tank

its 43cm deep

how would glossostigma do?

 

[RadaR]

No carbon addition at all, it will die off.
Liquid carbon (Easylife EasyCarbo) dosed at 1ml per 20litres per day and you should be fine as long as the tank is dosed with micro and macro nutrients.

 

[mattbond]

im going to have it stocked with a pair of apistogramma borellis, 2-3 dwarf/pygmy corys, 2 nerite snails and possibly some very small shoalers

will it need any additional c02 at all? i was going to use the tetra substrate and tetra liquid ferts as i get them cheap through work (World of Water)

any thoughts appreciated on this by the way, i think i might change this into a journal

 

[RadaR]

With the lighting supplied by the tank yes, you will need some sort of carbon addition.

Hence,

Liquid carbon (Easylife EasyCarbo) dosed at 1ml per 20litres per day

That should sort you.

The substrate and liquid fert sounds ok. If you experience problems with nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium deficiencies then you might have to switch to Tropica Plant Nutrition +. This will supply all the nutrients the plants need.

 

[mattbond]

in your opinion is the stocking ok for a 48 litre?

and i was thinking about putting in a few of the tablets in the gravel to help the plants along

are there any other carpet plants that are less demanding (in terms of CO2), i wanted to have some cryptocorynes at the back of the tank as well

 

[RadaR]

Stocking IMO is fine. The plants will be helping absorb some pollutants made by the fish and you'll be doing 30%-50% water change a week, so I see no problem.
I'd up the Cory group to 4. If you're going for a small shoal of something, I'd go small, like 5 Ember Tetras, or 5 Neons.
As for an alternative plant choice, how about Marsilea hirsuta?
Tropica make good tablet/capsules to insert into the gravel. See here.

 

[mattbond]

ive been looking at marsilea hirsuta because of its low light requirements, because im having crypts in the back aswell casting some shadow i dont think glosso would like that

where can u get it online?

would a few endlers be alright? i wouldnt generally have too many at one time as i can drop any excess ones that bred off at work!

 

[RadaR]

Plant available here.
Endlers instead of the small shoal, you should be fine.

 

[mattbond]

do you get a decent amount for your money then at that price? is it easiar than glosso then?

 

[RadaR]

Yes and yes.
The Green Machine is great. The pot you will receive is from brand called tropica. You'll get enough to plant your tank. Separate a few plantlets into groups, then plant them 3cm apart from each other.