Little Advice Needed.

[Ginge]

I soon plan to set up a new planted tank. It will mostly be community. The lighting will be 2 42" around 6400k tubes. I dont really plan to use C02 but will look into it in the future. Can anbody suggsest any good plants. I have already seen 1 or two that i like : One was called an ongion plant or something and allso i like vallis. If i got these they would be the background plants.

Regards Ginge.

 

[Ginge]

Also they are 40w tubes and the tank i 55G.

 

[Ginge]

Ok thats quite good as my water is nautraly hard. Could i add Co2 with 1.45 wpg??? Also i have a fluval 305 do i dont know any Co2 systems that fit onto that???Help possily? I also have sand.

Also can i ask what are the plants in the front(long grass like) ans the tall wavey plants in the background of this picture???
http/img421.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aquarium9iw1.jpg

 

[Themuleous]

You could certainly add CO2 even with 1.45WPG, CO2 benefits most tanks even non-high light ones as it gives the plants a ready supply of carbon which they need to grow The CO2 doesnt normally get added to the filter, it usually has its own dedicated diffuser. You can run it into the filter though by attaching the CO2 hose to the filter intake.

As to the plants, the ones at the back look like a type vallis with the front ones a type of sagittaria (sp?) probably dwarf.

Sam

 

[Ginge]

You could certainly add CO2 even with 1.45WPG, CO2 benefits most tanks even non-high light ones as it gives the plants a ready supply of carbon which they need to grow The CO2 doesnt normally get added to the filter, it usually has its own dedicated diffuser. You can run it into the filter though by attaching the CO2 hose to the filter intake.

As to the plants, the ones at the back look like a type vallis with the front ones a type of sagittaria (sp?) probably dwarf.

Sam

Any you have already said the vallis would be good and what about the sagittaria? How much could i expect to pay for a full Co2 Kit? Also the tank wont be heavilly planted but with plants for the background and sides maybee a few foreground plants so wouldn't adding co2 promote algea growth?

 

[Themuleous]

From what I know, most sagittaria species do ok in lower light conditions. If you're after a pressuried kit you can get the basic JBL one for a little over 100quid from Aquatics online. They also have other kits on there so take your pick.

CO2 addition will not only NOT produce aglae, but there is evidence to suggest that CO2 actually helps REDUCE some types of aglae. Its got something to do with it inhibiting grow or something, not 100% sure but its widely accepted.

Sam

 

[Ginge]

Is this JBL the best or something??? Whats wrong with the Nutrafin CO2 Natural Plant System its cheap and i just read a pinned topic on it, and i am quite impressed? What do i ahev to add to this system that i mensioned??? Is it special sashets? I just read about the yeast but not to sure on what else i would have to add?

 

[Themuleous]

How big is the tank? It all depends on the size of the tank.

 

[Ginge]

Thought it mite. its 50g i guess id need like 4 then.

 

[Themuleous]

Yep at least. The trouble with the yeast based kits, such as the nutrafin one, is that the sachets that come with it are crap and that means making you're own mix with baking yeast. This works very well, but the mix needs changing about every 7 days. If you have 4 kits you'll be changing a mix every other day! And you'll find you very quickly get bored of doing that and wish you'd bought a pressurised kit.

And after all those kits are around 20 each, so that 80quid towards a pressuried kit already. If you want to save money ebay is your friend when it comes to pressurised kits. I have a regulator on there at the moment (shameless plug! ) and there is also a complete kit on there too at the moment.

Sam

 

[Ginge]

Well my birthday is coming up soon+finishing GCSE's in 7 days+£40 saved i think i will splash out. WIth that JBL one does it come with everything needed??? That regulator that you are selling is that included? How long do those bottles last? Is that website any good?(i.e who else has used it?) Which of the JBL ones would you recomend?
Sorry for all the questiones but i really wanna get this right. also i ahve just been reading up and accoring to this i dont need Co2?

"Low Light versus High Light

Low Light

If you have less than 2 WPG then you may not want to inject CO2. This lower light level combined with no added CO2 will result in slower plant growth. Slower growth leads to less alleochemicals and therefore more risk of algae.

It is therefore very important that we choose the best tube(s) possible for our tank. As discussed tubes that have a lower blue content are ideal, one of the best examples of such a tube is the Dennerle Special-Plant T8. This is 3000K and gives a warm, yellow/orange light. It has virtually no blue content and so does not promote algae. Combining this tube with a higher K tube will produce a very nice colour balance in my experience. Full-spectrum, daylight tubes are regarded as the best plant growth tubes. Read my Lighting article for more detail."

 

[Themuleous]

Lots of questions there! Lets take it from the top

i) All the JBL profit kits come with all the bacis equipment you need, i.e. cylinder, regulator, CO2 hosing and diffuser. The profit 2 kit has an added solenoid, the profit 3 has that and a ph probe. These obviously are more expensive. I would get the profit 1 and add the other stuff if/when you have the money/want to as they are not 100% necessary but can prove useful

ii) That reg I am selling is exactly the same as the one that come with the kit.

Just to help you out a bit - There is also this stuff on ebay

Cylinder

Complete kit - this would give you everything and save you a bit of money too

iii) the cylinder should last around a month on a 50g but that is a bit of a guess, I run my pressurised Co2 on a 4g tank so cant really say for certain! In terms of refilling the cylinder, most if not all maidenhead aquatics shops do refils and so do some other shops. They cost between 8 - 13quid depending or the shop.

iv) That website is very good and I and many other people have used it with no problems

What you've read about CO2 is correct to a point, tank with over 2WPG should definately have CO2 to help the plants grow and out compete the algae. CO2 on lower light tanks whilst not necesary is beneficial and you'll notice the difference in plant growth. And as i said CO2 in itself is likely to help in the fight against the algae. Basically, if you can I'd add CO2 to any tank. I'm in the process of getting kits for all three of my tanks.

Hope that clears a few things up

Sam

 

[Ginge]

Thanks i am greatfull for your help but 1 more thing you say the Co2 benfits tanks under 2wpg but in a pinned thread i think it says

"If you have less than 2 WPG then you may not want to inject CO2. This lower light level combined with no added CO2 will result in slower plant growth. Slower growth leads to less alleochemicals and therefore more risk of algae."

This is my main concert the dreaded ALGEA!

 

[Kesaph]

"If you have less than 2 WPG then you may not want to inject CO2. This lower light level combined with no added CO2 will result in slower plant growth. Slower growth leads to less alleochemicals and therefore more risk of algae."

Thus, if you add CO2, you will get increased/faster growth, even in lower light, reducing the opportunites for algae...

 

[Ginge]

Sorry i missed out the no! Ive jsut gotta he the money. About the co2 refills ive got maidenhead auatics within 20 miles of me.

"If you have less than 2 WPG then you may not want to inject CO2. This lower light level combined with no added CO2 will result in slower plant growth. Slower growth leads to less alleochemicals and therefore more risk of algae."

Thanks for all you help guys. Would anybody be able to get me a pic of how the co2 gets into the tank please. Using a JBL kit.