Just Makin Sure I Got Everything

[Tstone]

I looked everywhere I could.. and I couldn't really figure out much..

I got a 110 gallon tank.. 48x18x31 .. sand substrate

I plan on picking up some live plants but I have no idea what i'm doing.. I have 2 t8's .. both 40watts..

I'm not totally sure on what plants I want, but i'll be going to the LFS sometime tthis week to start shopping.. Is it as simple as just buying the plants and plating them in the sand? Done deal? Or what? and are my lights good enough or should I get 2 t5's?

Thanks for any help!

 

[KittyKat]

It's not as simple as dumping the plants in. Do you know which plants are aquatic and which are not? Do you know which like your water parameters? How long are the lights on for? Is the tank 31 or 18 inches deep?

 

[Tstone]

It's not as simple as dumping the plants in. Do you know which plants are aquatic and which are not? Do you know which like your water parameters? How long are the lights on for? Is the tank 31 or 18 inches deep?

No clue to any of those which is why I'm here.. lights are on roughly 8 hours a day.. and 31" deep

 

[KittyKat]

If the lights aren't on a timer, put them on one, they're cheap and will save you headache later

At 31" deep, I'd be wanting at least 165 watts of light and probably quite a bit more, not 80. Unless you're happy growing only Java moss and Anubias, your lighting will need to be upgraded. The best value per lumen and watt are standard T5s with an electronic ballast. A more realistic option, and slightly less efficient, would be high output (HO) T5s with an electronic ballast. Standard T5s have a similar wattage per length of bulb to T8s and HO T8s, HO T5s have almost double the watts per length. I'm pointing this out because not all HO starters or light sets are labelled as "HO" and no one labels anything as "standard".

For 4 ft bulbs, you can see the various watts per bulb per diameter at http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp_formats#Energy_efficiency

 

[Tstone]

So you're recommending high output (ho) t5's?

And if I get those.. what else do I need to do for live plants..just buy em, and lights, and plant em? But make sure they're good with my parameters?

& I have a timer for my light, just messed with it for a second the other day and got a little confused and let it be lol.. but i'll figure it out sometime today..

Also, how do I check my parameters? I know my tap water's pH is 7.6 if that means anything..
& thank you for all the help you've given thus far!

& since I have a t8 hood... does that mean i'll have to get a new hood? )))))):



Edit: Idk if this works for you because i'm in the states.. but I found a bulb.. "T5 Fluorescent 6.7K Lamp" .. It says it's a 28watt.. you're talking about 165 watt.. i'm confused /:

Link.. but idk if it'll work .. http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11248155

 

[KittyKat]

So you're recommending high output (ho) t5's?

Basically. You probably want to start a new thread with a title like "light recommendations for deep tanks" or something like that if you want help figuring out how much light you need. In short, once the tank is over 20-24" deep, the light reaching the bottom drops off pretty sharpish, and I don't have experience with growing plants in anything over 24" deep, so can't give you help from experience, only guesstimates.

And if I get those.. what else do I need to do for live plants..just buy em, and lights, and plant em? But make sure they're good with my parameters?

Pretty much. Your parameters that you need to check are lighting, water hardness, pH, temperature, fertilisation and CO[sub]2[/sub], although the last two we don't really measure… they're more of a "yes" or "no" thing.

Also, how do I check my parameters? I know my tap water's pH is 7.6 if that means anything..

With a test kit, calculations, thermometer… just how you would be checking them for fish anyway.

Edit: Idk if this works for you because i'm in the states.. but I found a bulb.. "T5 Fluorescent 6.7K Lamp" .. It says it's a 28watt.. you're talking about 165 watt.. i'm confused /:

Link.. but idk if it'll work .. http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11248155

For once, you don't have different watts that side of the pond So, this is what I'm going:

1. Go look at the link I gave you earlier: http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp_formats#Energy_efficiency
2. Match up 28W to the lower wattage of the two for T5 bulbs
3. Conclude that you are looking at a "standard output" bulb
4. Calculate that to get to 165 watts with those bulbs, I would need around 6 bulbs over the tank (165/28 -> 6)
5. Compare to HO T5s, which are 54 W bulbs
6. Calculate that with HO T5s, I would need only 3 bulbs (165/54 -> 3)
7. Look at non-aquarium branded T5 bulbs, as there's no difference, and find my favourites for a cheaper price: http/www.bulbs.com/espec.aspx?ID=14627&RefId=49