New project questions

[Sime]

I'm slowly planning a small low tech tank and was wondering about a few things. I've read all the pinned articles but just want to ask a few extra questions.

- It's a small 5 gallon tank, currently with 8 watts. This should do for the Java moss / fern sort of light requirements and other's around that scale, but will having CO2 in there mean less algae chance even although nothing is "fast" growing? I can get CO2 in there easily - but am i wasting my time with this light?

- Also, are substrate heaters an alternative to a normal heater or an addition?

Has anyone else got any ideas or points they'd like to make about this? My girlfriend grows vallis and hairgrass in exactly the same size tank with the same lighting.

Simon.

 

[zig]

Hiya Sime

These 5 gallons are getting real popular, ive been doing a bit of research on this myself, with the 8 watt you definatly dont need co2, the carbon requirements of plants at this low light are minimal.

Arcadia also do a 14 watt tube (freshwater and tropical) that wil fit these tanks as well (im presuming its 16x8x8) this is the tube i was thinking of, it will just about fit at just a tad over 15 inches in length with the fittings, again a lot of people from what i can see from my research dont use co2 with this wattage tube either.

You could use co2 if you wish and it wouldnt do any harm another alternative is Seachem flourish excel, you would dose a ml or 2 each day as a carbon alternative, and this works very well apperantly with these small tanks, the problem with DIY co2 is that the tanks are so small its easy to over do it especially if you have fish in the tank as well.

Dont know about heating these tanks again they are so small a substrate heater may be enough, but i dont know, thats a good question, i know some people here have problems with higher wattage lights and the tanks overheat with no heating at all.

Sif and houndour also have 5 gallon tanks and they might know a bit more especially about the heating.

 

[houndour]

I find heating a nightmare....

I have a 50 watt heater in my tank which has been turned off for a month (but have no fish yet).

I still have the 24 watt interpet compact bulb and thats mainly the problem...the bulb is too hot It gets to 28 degrees when on. I had to put a condensation tray in to keep some heat out (before the tray it was over 30 degrees).

I think normal heaters are fine, although i would have got a 25W heater...but I'm using one I already have. Substrate heater might work fine in a small tank, but they don't come with thermostats do they? I think (smithrc??) diyed a thermostat or something to gfs substrate heater.

Anyway I think I should be last person giving advice. I've just cleared the bga up in the 5 gallon. And since then (about 2 weeks) I've had the lights on for 4 off 4 on 4. I've not been injecting co2 and not been dosing ferts The glosso is growing tall , the mini swordy thing is turning yellow, but the Cardamine lyrata is growing like crazy. I'm waiting for it to die cos it doesnt tolerate high temps.

 

[Sime]

Hi, I'm just rushing out but just wanted to say thanks for the replies. I'll certainly look into the 14 watt tube later tonight.

I'ts got a 25 watt heater with it I think it is. I'm unsure fo the dimensions so i'll have a look later on too - it's a nice tank, wasn't realy planned but I got it for £19 with heater / tube etc so couldn't say no! )

 

[Sime]

zig - do you have a link to a supplier of these 14 watt tubes - I can't seem to find them on my normal sites.

 

[paulioo]

Yeah these little planted tanks are becoming a big hit. One of the other forums i visit a guy created a 1g planted tank to house some cherry shrimp.

He didn't use any CO2, no heater and no filtration yet he successfully managed to create this..

I think he used an 18W light if i remember correctly.
Good luck with it, i know algae can be a real problem in these type of tanks.

Paul.

 

[zig]

zig - do you have a link to a supplier of these 14 watt tubes - I can't seem to find them on my normal sites.

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I seen them on Aquatics online under Arcadia T8 flourescent tubes, 2 different types Origional Tropical and Freshwater.

Sif another member here has this setup also and as far as i know he uses the Arcadia IP64 end cap for the tube, and this still fits under 16inches and will fit the tank perfectly.

Aquatics online

 

[Sime]

thanks zig - ami being blind? i cant see one - i can see an "Arcadia 12in. Freshwater Lamp 8w - £8.50" but nothing 14w?

do you mean it will fit in the tank but won't fit into the current fitting in the hood?

 

[zig]

ah ok you want it to fit the existing 12 inch fitting, the 14 watt tube is 15 inches long but it should fit a standard 5 gallon tank which is 16 inches in length, sorry Sime you would have to do a bit of a mod in order for it to fit, i thought you knew this, sorry about that.

But the tube is listed allright

Arcadia 15in. Original Tropical Lamp 14w £5.89

Arcadia 15in. Freshwater Lamp 14w £8.99

 

[Sime]

thanks zig, i just twigged what you mean when i'd posted.

i've been looking and the tank is just over 14 inches (less than 15) so a mod won't realy be possible.

it's neat etc now, do you think I stand much change of keeping plants alive rather than "growing" them with that amount of light?

 

[zig]

Its hard to know if 8 watts would be enough, i know the WPG rules on small tanks and light dont really apply, but i would have thought myself that it may be a struggle at 8 watts to make stuff grow, you could always try it i suppose and if things were not growing the way you would like you could always add another tube of 8 watts and then i would imagine you would have no problems and still probably not have to add co2.