Help Creating A Planted Tank

[vix]

Hi everyone,

I am hoping someone will be able to give me some advice and or tips please. I recently purchased a new tank the dimensions are 53cm x 53cm x 80 cm, 50 gallon. It is quite a deep tank, and i would like to have some plants to make it more of a natural feel aquarium. The lightening, from what i have read is not going to be sufficient for the plants at the moment there are 2 x 15W bulbs in the tank. The LFS recommended adding 1 40 watt floraglow?? what would you guys recommend.

I would appreciate any ideas, recommendations on plant types (easy for beginners) and any other help/tips you may think appropriate.

Sorry for the very newbie questions, i have read the pinned topics, but don't know where i should start

Thanks in advance

 

[bennett]

i would recommend reading the pinned threads in this section and try to work out what it is you want to create. then asses finances and work out what would be resonable (then add another 50% )

 

[vix]

i would recommend reading the pinned threads in this section and try to work out what it is you want to create. then asses finances and work out what would be resonable (then add another 50% )

Thanks, i have read some of the pinned topics i will read the rest. I do believe the main problem will be the lighting however i am very unfamilar with the CO2

Would be grateful for any help

 

[AndyTaylor]

It's not really possible to answer this without writing an essay so i'll try to summarise:

More light = more money = more work on maintenance
More light = more CO2 required
More light without CO2 = algae farm
Algae farm = a right, royal pain

At the moment you have .6 WPG. i.e. 30 watts over a 50 gallon tank.

You need to decide how much of a planted tank you want/can afford/have time to look after.

If you're happy to just grow a few low light, undemanding plants then aim for 1.5 WPG (read the pinned lighting thread to figure out how to do this)
If you go above 1.5 ish you'll probably need CO2 and fertilisers unless you really like algae

Decide what you want to achieve and post again.....

 

[vix]

Hmmm ok so at the moment i think i'm better going for the low light plants, as i'm a total newbie i don't want to get myself to much in the deap end (so to speak). So i need to aim for the 1.5 WPG. Where can i find a list of low light plants available?

 

[AndyTaylor]

Try plantgeek.com . Don't expect to find a list of low light plants, though. This hobby takes a little bit more research and time than that!

To get you started.... All species of Anubias, Most mosses, Java moss, christmas moss, and sooooo many more.

Try to decide what you would like the tank to look like, draw a picture even. It'll be easier to get plants to suit then.
When I was starting i found it easier to find a shop with a good stock of plants, decide which I liked, then google them and find out their requirements...... Then you do this again, and again.