low light, very low tech 5 gallon

[houndour]

OK, I can't stand it, with this constant battle with bga in the 20 gallon and the 5 gallon, I've decided to have the 5 gallon as a low tech tank cos I wanna get a fish in there!

The plants will prob be just java moss and anubias nana with a nice rock decoration. Inhabitant will be a dwarf puffer.

So what wattage do I need? I don't want to inject CO2. Would I need to dose EI and other ferts? I don't mind that.

Or...is it possible to have 4 watts per gallon, but not dose CO2? or do I run a huge risk of algae? I'd imagine I do run a risk of algae.

Just had a quick look at lamps...anyone there who can measure the end caps of the ballast for the arcadia lights?
I'm looking here:
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z046149.asp
They do 12" long tubes, my tank is 16" or 18" I think. Need to make sure it fits the hood.

 

[zig]

Sam for a low tech non co2 tank i would go with the 14 watt tube if it fits the hood, the 8 watt will work but it will take years for things to grow, ive been reading up on small 5 gallon tanks and if you want to go low tech a lot of people have success with that wattage tube, by success i mean things will grow slowly but surely.

Ive been mainly reading up on American forums and most of them taking the low tech approach use a 13 watt tube which isnt available in the UK, so i guess the 14 watt is the next best thing.

I have some links and stuff i will post later on for you to look at.

Could you measure your tank and post the dimensions if you dont mind, i think i might make a little tank for the fun of it.

 

[houndour]

Hi Zig,

Thanks, my tank is 16" x 8" x 8".

Had a quick look on aquatics-online and 14W tubes are 15" long. Prob wouldn't fit in my hood.

8W is 12".

Interpet do a 18W PC tube at 8.5" but only comes in beauty.

Presently I have a Interpet Daylight 24W tube, which is over 4 WPG. Too much without co2?

Sam

 

[George Farmer]

I think sif uses 14W 15" Arcadia Freshwater T8 in his 5 gallon - same dimensions (used to be mine).

 

[zig]

I wonder would the tube fit diagonally across the hood rather than straight from edge to edge, anyway just an idea or pm sif and see if he can post a pic.

Anyway heres a few links for low tech planted aquariums that ive come across on my travels around the web, i dont think you need anything special other than the correct light, i think the 24 watt CF tube you have hondour may be to much for a non co2 tank, CF tubes are more intense in the light they give off than ordinary T8 tubes.

The first link is to Tom Barr of EI fame this is his take on non co2 tanks, quite interesting in his approach as usual, his ideas on water changes and co2 are interesting and also his use of Seachem Equilibruim rather than a trace mix for additional fertiliser, i mght give this method a go myself one day.

Tom Barr Non CO2 Method

The second link is to Aqua Botanic another forum where Diane Walstad is a moderator, Diane Walstad has her own take on natural aquariums where she will use things like garden soil as substrate and water changes happen every 6 months or so if at all, i havent done much research into her methods but she is widely respected as a non co2 guru although some would view her as controversial, anyway in this forum you will come across lots of threads for natural non co2 aquariums and should be able to pick up los of tips, only problem with this forum is that it is not very active, but definatly worth checking out, you have to become a member but thats easy.

Aqua Botanic

The last link is run by another well known advocate of non co2 planted aquariums Rhonda Wilson, its basically a list of articles and FAQ but quite good and again definatly worth looking at.

Natural Aquariums

Those are probably the best links that i am aware of for non co2 natural aquariums im sure you will find plenty of reading and interesting information between them all.

 

[sif]

Sam

I've got a 15" arcadia freshwater as George says. Its got a reflector fitted and just lays on top of the tank;

Gives a very good light in the tank, my JM and Sag are pearling and I'm going to try a few stem plants to soak up some nutrients mainly rotala indica so I'll let you know how they go. the JF is growing strongly if slowly;

The tube with end fittings sits about 1/2" inside the tank edges;

The method I'm most interested in is the Tom Barr method with possibly the use of flourish excell. Hope this helps

Simon

 

[zig]

So exactly how long is the tube with the fittings sif, in inches or centimetres whichever is the closest measurement ?

Edit: not including the reflector, i can always cut that down.

 

[sif]

So exactly how long is the tube with the fittings sif, in inches or centimetres whichever is the closest measurement ?

Edit: not including the reflector, i can always cut that down.

[snapback]911240[/snapback]​

a 1/16" over 15" OR 38.4cm

 

[zig]

So exactly how long is the tube with the fittings sif, in inches or centimetres whichever is the closest measurement ?

Edit: not including the reflector, i can always cut that down.

[snapback]911240[/snapback]​

a 1/16" over 15" OR 38.4cm

[snapback]912206[/snapback]​

Thanks sif appreciate it

 

[houndour]

thanks sif and zig and gf.

I'm still deciding what to do regarding the light.

My glosso is doing rather well now, so now I'm thinking stick with it. Changing one CO2 thing weekly isnt so bad. Being a tiny tank its easy to keep the levels up. Also the fact that the bga hasn't returned is keeping my chin up. I may go low light if/when things go pear shaped again!!