Hi Im New

[Ginge]

here to the planted forum and i hear you are all very helpfull and heres my question.
I am thinking of changing my tank from african cichlids to angels and plecs sort of tank.
Heres my insperation althought set up by a novice i think(IMO) that it is a very very nice tank. Agree? I don't think there are any real plants but im probably wrong i would be going for real ones.

http/www.ratemyfishtank.com/enlarge.php/imID192

Can you guys help me ID some of the plants. For the tank i dont plan on CO2 and i get the Hagen lighting can anybody recomened the best hagen bulbs for the tank. Does anybody use them??? I currently have the Sun Glow and Aqua Glow 42" bulbs and it comes across as a very yellow light for the tank althought the aqua glow bulb gives off a purple glow. I dont like the colour of the light i like bright white lights like in the tank pictured.
Any way already i have come across a plants i would really like will this plants work in this tank?
Vallisneria Spiralis

 

[Luke_e]

Welcome ginge, i'm just starting out too, great bunch of people in this part of the forum, really helpful people..
The tank you posted a link too looks fairly nice, but the air bubbles arent plant friendly as it reduces the amount of CO2 in the tank.
Never had experience with hagen, but you cant go wrong with Arcadia, i suggest you have a look for those, they are more readily available in LFS'.
Not sure on the plants in the tank, but i'm sure someone will help you on that.

 

[George Farmer]

Welcome to planted Ginge.

The tank pictured is not what I would call a "true" planted tank as the planting density is so low. The skulll is a big no no, as are the airlines/bubbles IMHO. I can see Egeria densa, (dying) swords and vallis I think.

Hagen Life-Glo are a good "white" tube but are relatively expensive.
Interpet Daylight Plus and Arcadia Freshwater Lamps are cheaper and just as effective.

Be aware that plecs can eat plants.

If you're willing to take plants a little more seriously then I recommend reading the pinned threads.

 

[Ginge]

I have read a couple and i agree with the comments about the bubbles and the skull and also true it is not a tre planted tank. But i dont want mine to be truley planted i jest need help on how to keep a few of mine healthy would i need CO2 for the plant i asked about???

Edited: because i realied wihtin 10 second sof readind a pinned thread that the type i posted about earlier dosnt need too much CO2.
How do i work out how many watts per gallon i have, is it total watts/gallons in the tank.

 

[Luke_e]

To work out you're WPG you find out your volume in US/metric gallons using this convertor:
http/mike-edwardes.members.beeb.net/converter.html
Enter how many litres it is and then you'll have your volume.
Then divide your volume in US gallons by the number of watts your lights are.
E.g if you volume is 30gallon, and you have 2 x 18w lights. Thats 36 divide by 30 = 1.6wpg.

 

[George Farmer]

Work out your tank volume in US gals. i.e. 200 litres = 53 gal.
Work out your total wattage i.e. 2 x 38W = 76W

76W / 53 gal. = 1.4 watts per gal.

I think these figures relate to a Duo 1200 but I'm not certain.

CO2 is not essential but it will help plant growth. Angelfish and plecs (indeed most tropical fish) also prefer acidic conditions that CO2 injection can provide.

 

[Ginge]

Thanks youve been very helpfull. Ive got like 1.45WPG