Going To Convert To Low Tech

[Mako Man111]

Well, I'm fairly happly with my high tech 20 gal tank, but I've been having a little bit of an issue with algae, nothing too serious though. But I've made a few misteaks, and apparently having a high light setup like myself I'm supposted to dose ferts daily and do EI but I just don't have the time for that, and the constant trimmings that would be needed. Also, my nutrafin co2 is a bit iffy and my bubble path always seems to get dibress on it and stop the bubbles. I currently (as some of you may already know from my other thread) have 3.25wpg, have a nutrafin co2 system, do seachem flourish ferts once a week, and use root tabs. My plants grow fairly quickly but the algae and the co2 issues bother me, along with the maintenance, that I won't have time for once school starts up.

Now to convert this to a low tech setup, I need a less powerful light for a 24" long tank. I currenly have a 65 watt light, and something around 35 would be good. If anybody could find one that ships to the US that would be greatly appreciated! I'm having a bit of trouble finding ones that are for freshwater.

Now for the low tech setup, how does this sound?

1) Keep my current gravel substrate, but add root tabs every 3 months or so.

2) Add SeaChem Flourish weekly after water changes.

3) Use a 35ish watt light if I can find one

And that would be it, I would add hardier and less light and nutrient demanding plants to the tank, and not use any co2 or daily ferts, just do what I listed above.


Also, just to make sure, I'll basically be limited to crypts, anubias, and java fern/moss right?

 

[Themuleous]

I take it you've currently got a single 65w bulb under the hood? If so I would think you just need to replace it with a lower watt set up, complete swap.

The plan sounds good, the key factor will be reducing the light, once you do that everything else can basically stay as you already have it, but the plants will just grow slower.

Sam

I take it you've currently got a single 65w bulb under the hood? If so I would think you just need to replace it with a lower watt set up, complete swap.

The plan sounds good, the key factor will be reducing the light, once you do that everything else can basically stay as you already have it, but the plants will just grow slower.

Sam

 

[Mako Man111]

I take it you've currently got a single 65w bulb under the hood? If so I would think you just need to replace it with a lower watt set up, complete swap.

The plan sounds good, the key factor will be reducing the light, once you do that everything else can basically stay as you already have it, but the plants will just grow slower.

Sam

I take it you've currently got a single 65w bulb under the hood? If so I would think you just need to replace it with a lower watt set up, complete swap.

The plan sounds good, the key factor will be reducing the light, once you do that everything else can basically stay as you already have it, but the plants will just grow slower.

Sam

Yeah I've got a single 65 watt light (you can see it in my other post). But I can't seem to find anything less than 65 watt's for my 24" glass lid. (I've got a 20 gallon 'High' tank)

But I also want to ditch the co2 and want to avoid having to do daily ferts.

I want to just run a low cost/ maintenance setup, to get the best of both worlds(the low maintenance of fake plants, but the look of real ones.)

Like I said, I want to just stick to weekly ferts with water changes, less than 2wpg, and no co2. I will use root tabs though.

I'll basically be limited to crypts, anubias, and java fern/moss I'm guessing.

 

[Themuleous]

Its a 24" long 20g tank?

Try here

Sam

 

[Mako Man111]

Its a 24" long 20g tank?

Try here

Sam

Yeah thats a good site but I can't seem to find what I'm looking for, everything is too powerful lol.

I know this says for salt, but would this work? It would give me 1.8wpg.

http/www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/F3...2/Itemdy00.aspx

Or could I just buy that bulb and stick it in mine?

 

[netcode]

I run a low-tech setup with 1.3 wpg in a 60 gallon tank. I dose seachem flourish twice a week, one time in the middle and one time right after a water change. I have had fantastic results considering this is my first planted tank AND my first tank. I am also currently dosing Seachem Excel which is organic carbon. I do this every 2nd day, all I have to do is fill the cap and dump it in the tank. This has also given me fantastic results. Root tabs on top of the flourish is a great idea. I definatley think your heading in the right direction, high tech setups aren't for everyone and even in a low tech setup you can achieve the same results, it just takes longer.

I wish you the best of luck.


edit: just saw your edit up top in the red text. At 1.8 wpg you still have a lot of choices. Swords can be grown under low light, vallis can be grown under low light. You have your hygro family, also egeria densa is fantastic in low light it has very speedy growth. There are lots of options still for you, do not under any circumstance think you are limited because you have low-light.

 

[Themuleous]

That fixture is ok, but the bulbs that come with it are designed for marine tanks, and consequently give out lots of blue light which is bad news in a freshwater tanks as it promotes algae. And no you probably cant just replace the bulb with a lower wattage one, as the unit you have was designed for 65w bulb, if you put say a 40w in there it'll probably overheat and could be a fire hazard.

If a ballast is designed for 65w bulbs never IMO put anything other than 65w bulbs in it!

Sam