lights

[cbster]

i planted plants when i first started cycling my tank. and didn't know about how much light i needed. well two and a half weeks later i think i have enough light 2 coralife nutri grow plant bulbs 48 in. 40 watt in a 55 gal tank but the plants aren't looking that good should i just replace the plants or should i wait to see if they pull out of it. i don't remember what plants i put in i didn't think about writing them down just picked out the ones i wanted for where they were going in the tank thanks

 

[revengeishere]

40 watt isnt enough. Its way too low. The guideline is 2-3 watts/gallon. Here is a cheap method(your lucky you have a 55 gallon) to replace your current lighting for cheap, should not cost above $70.

1.Return your hood, and the light bulb and get a refund.

2.Go to home depot, and get shoplite fixtures that can hold two 40 watt ,48inches ,T12(T8 is slightly better) bulbs,then get two of these(choose the one that fits your tank). This should cost around 15$ each

3. Buy bulbs(at homedepot, too!) labelled as daylight,super daylight. Get 4 of these at about 40watt each. each bulb cost approximately 5-10$. Try to mix and match bulbs from different companies, too. Dont buy ultra exensive bulbs at the petshoppe! Unless you feel they are better and have money(if you do have money, consider power compacts).


Thats it. This should give you enough light to grow almost any plant, even some red ones.

Also, you might wanna think injecting co2, as this does wonders to your plants! And btw, whats your substrate.

Hope this helps, and some great people around here can also help you more.

 

[cbster]

i have two 40 watt bulbs on the tank now. and you are saying i need four but i don't see how you can fit four and still be able to excess the tank i am really new to this and was just wondering how this works thanks

 

[revengeishere]

i have two 40 watt bulbs on the tank now. and you are saying i need four but i don't see how you can fit four and still be able to excess the tank i am really new to this and was just wondering how this works thanks

I have a hood that is DIY(bought it together with 100g for $75 with everything, excl. fish).

I think they have some at homdepot thats rather thin and I think its called "ShopLite" or something, call your local HD to ask them, and measure the width of your tank, too.

 

[Aulonochromis]

What type of plants are you growing? 80 watts on a 55 should be enough to grow most plants without problems.

 

[revengeishere]

What type of plants are you growing? 80 watts on a 55 should be enough to grow most plants without problems.

Albeit slower, anubias sp., crypt sp.(if you have appropriate substrate), and some stem plants(hornwort, etc), java ferns, and jave moss comes to mine.

 

[cbster]

just added two more lights have that problem fixed now i have lots of little snails and some strange hairy looking stuff growing on plant don't know what it is kinda grayish and hairy any suggestions thanks

 

[revengeishere]

just added two more lights have that problem fixed now i have lots of little snails and some strange hairy looking stuff growing on plant don't know what it is kinda grayish and hairy any suggestions thanks

The snails are easy to control IMO. Try taking them out by hand, or use copper(Read more about this as this can kill both plants and fish, also).

About the hairy looking thing, what color is it? I bet its algae. Read more about balancing your tank. Also, look into co2 injection, try the diy method(yeast/sugar solution)...cheap! Whats your substrate, btw? This is the second most important thing after lighting.

 

[cbster]

i have gravel in it i hope that works. what are you suppose to use thanks

 

[revengeishere]

i have gravel in it i hope that works. what are you suppose to use thanks

How big? it should be around 2-3 mm, althought some people have sucess with larger ones. Do you have gravel additives? The additives is the important one, since gravel's only value is holding down plants and make rooting easier. The additives purpose is like a storage/reactor for the plants, this is where the nutrients gets broken down, to be readily available for plants. Go on google and search "planted tank substrate" and this should give you lots of susbtrtae options.

I use soil thought I would not recommend it for a begginer.