Lighting

[radioman]

For planted aquariums from the pictures that I see people do not use hoods on their aquariums but a light that is elevated off of it. So I was wondering if you can buy a light from a hardware store like this?

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh its called a luminaire they normally come with 'feet' to raise the tubes above the tank.

Sam

 

[radioman]

I also have a gravel substrate what can I mix in that because I really dont want to remove it. I know plants can grow in it but it is not the best substrate.

 

[Themuleous]

You could mix anything into it, any plant substrate could be mixed into gravel, just depends on what colour you want.

Sam

 

[radioman]

So would flourite be good? And what ratio would I mix it nto the gravel?

 

[Themuleous]

Flourite would be fine, proportion wise its up to you and the size of the tank. If its a medium size tank, a bag should do.

Sam

 

[radioman]

It is a 36 gallon bowfront. So I guess one bag should work.

 

[Themuleous]

Yep - or too if you are feeling flush with money.

Dont forget to clean it well, it's a pig for clouding the tank water.

Sam

 

[Teelie]

No kidding. I have a thick substrate of it and anything beyond the top layers of it causes some bad clouding. An improvement over the horrendous clouding when I first put it in there but it's gotten a lot better. Just wish I had washed it better the first time.

 

[Biulu]

I don't want to steal the thread, but I am also interested in Fluorite, and would like to know whether it is suitable as a bottom layer, with gravel or sand on top, or is it necessary to mix it in with the gravel, as indicated here?

 

[Teelie]

I just use it as a substrate. Works great. It looks like gravel.

 

[Biulu]

Thanks, how much did you use in your tank? I need to have a layer of about 6-8 cm, right? My tank is almost 48 gallons.

 

[Teelie]

I used 2 bags in a 29 gallon tank. I think the bags are 20 pounds each. It's a deep substrate, roughly 4" (10 cm) on average. Depending on the footprint of your aquarium, 2 bags ought to do it.

 

[Biulu]

Thanks, Teelie! That's very helpful.