Help Needed On Available Plants To Suit My Setup.

[jonnyf84]

Hi all, I am getting a 4x24w T5 luminaire. I can't have CO2 because of PH restrictions.

Will i be able to grow java moss and riccia?

What other plants would do ok with this lighting, basic ferts and nutrient rich gravel but with no CO2?

Thanks for any help,
Jonny.

 

[aaronnorth]

what size tank?

 

[fishyfeet]

I grow riccia very easily with out co2, java moss is a bit harder though, any of the fast growing types, vallis, eloda, camomba, also aubious, java fern loads of types will grow, di

 

[pippoodle]

i grow my extra java moss in a tank that only has t5 lighting with no co2 and it grows fine as long as fed regularly

 

[jonnyf84]

Thanks guys,

my tank is just over a hundred litres arron - 36 inch.

Pipoodle - What ferts do you use and how often?

 

[aaronnorth]

I would run only 2 of the tubes which will give you 2.4wg, which is still high especially to be not using CO2.

You will be able to gow any plant though, but CO2 limitation is your downfall.

What do you mean be ph restrictions?

 

[jonnyf84]

I'm planning on getting the Arcadia luminaire, the old one not the new OT2's, they have built in reflectors so two 24W tubes in a 100 litre tank is likely to be closer to 3WPG - do you think this will be enough?

Aaron, when you say

I would run only 2 of the tubes which will give you 2.4wg, which is still high especially to be not using CO2.

, what do you mean by 'especially to be not using CO2'? Will a high WPG with no CO2 cause the plants to become withered or something?

Also Aaron what i meant by PH restrictions was the fish i'm keeping, i know CO2 will only lower the PH by around 1 (give or take) and that most fish would be fine with this but i am hoping for this set up to be a biotope and so i want to keep it exact.

 

[aaronnorth]

with 2wpg+
this higher lighting drives the plants to take up more nutrients, and CO2, without it the plants will die and you will get algae.

Also Aaron what i meant by PH restrictions was the fish i'm keeping, i know CO2 will only lower the PH by around 1 (give or take) and that most fish would be fine with this but i am hoping for this set up to be a biotope and so i want to keep it exact

Ok, in that case you should either stay with <1wpg T5, and 1.5-1.9wpg of T8. Going with either of the 2 reccomendations, you will not have to inject CO2, if you want you could dose easycarbo or excel (inorganic liquid source of carbon for plants) alongside the nutrients.
Or another option is to add bicarbonate soda to your tank to keep the ph buffered, but i not sure on what ph you are wanting, nor the amount to add.