Help Need Suggestions On New High Tech Planted Tank

[shahrezsyed]

hello evryone gonna make a new planted tank so is the following ok
lighting is gonna 60 watt metal halide one 40 watt gro lux,40 watt red light and 40 watt blue light.
how much wpg does that make?
am gonna have 2 diy co2 generators with 2.5 litre bottles with co2 diffusers.
substrate is going to be 1:1:1 carib sea eco complete,laterite,and silica gravel very small about 2mm.
gonna supplement with liquid ferts and root tabs.
want high light cuz i know most aquatic plants like high light.
and also tell me which plants for the backgroung,foregroung and carpeting should i use.
i am already gonna use amazon swords ,cabomba,macranda,anubias nana,javafern and riccia.so just tell me which else should i use, how and where do i plant them to get a beautiful lust planted tank...full of plants and i dont mind pruning.
shahrez

 

[shahrezsyed]

need some replies!!!

 

[mancin]

how much wpg does that make?

Depends on the size of your tank.

 

[SuperColey1]

You don't give your tank size no we can't tell you WPG BUT...........

am gonna have 2 diy co2 generators with 2.5 litre bottles with co2 diffusers.

With highlight (1WPG+ of T5HO) then DIY won't work unless this is a Nano tank.

substrate is going to be 1:1:1 carib sea eco complete,laterite,and silica gravel very small about 2mm.

Eco-Complete as the name suggests doesn't need other things with it. You can just buy Eco-Complet for the whole substrate, however it is fine if you want to mix it.

want high light cuz i know most aquatic plants like high light.

Algae likes high light more than plants. Plants don't need highlight at all. A misconception/bad assumption that has continued for many years.

i am already gonna use amazon swords ,cabomba,macranda,anubias nana,javafern and riccia

None of these will struggle with 1WPG. Where does the argument for highlight come in?

My suggestion would be to concentrate on:

Circulation - Get a filter or add circultion pumps to make sure your turnover as at least 10x the tank volume per hour. More would be better than less.

CO2 - Save the money you want to spend on lights and buy a pressurised CO2 setup.

Aim for either 1.5WPG of T5HO or 2 T8 tubes that are the full length of the tank. i.e. if you have a 2ft tank then get 2 x 2ft T8 tubes with good reflectors.

Good light is needed on planted tanks, not highlight. You can have 4WPG but if it is not a good spread or has poor reflectors then I will grow plants better, healthier and faster than you with 1WPG.

You can challenge me to a race if you want.

I will be the one who sits back and watches things while you will be the one constantly cleaning everything.

The reason? CO2, get this and the circulation right then you are the winner. More light just makes the plants grow a little faster but that does assume you got the circulation and CO2 right first.

Hope this helps a little

AC

 

[shahrezsyed]

the tank is 4 feet long,1.5 foot high and 1 foot deep.
shahrez