New Tank, New Lights, Which Plants?

[mishka83]

Hi guys,

Excuse my ignorance but i'm not too great when it comes to calculations!

I have a 180l Juwel tank which has the T5 lighting system.

It has a 'Nature 35W' bulb, and a 'Day 35W' bulb, both are the new 'high-lite' range.

Both tubes come on together, there is no way to only put one on.

I currently have the day bulb at the front, nature at the back, would it look any better or different the other way around?

Is this a lot of light?

What plants would be good for this level of lighting? I have them on for 12 hours each day, is this ok?

I currently have a moss ball, 2 amazon swords, a few cabomba, a few plants that look like lily pads (very tall), and 2 others that i don't know lol!!

I love java moss and plants that grow on wood, are those possible for me? I also love red plants but my dad said they always die?

I am not using CO2 but do have tropica liquid fertiliser (not used yet).

Also, how do you attach the moss and plants to the wood?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Its kind of mid range lighting.

Most plants will do ok in this kind of light, some will need CO2 and ferts as the lighting is good so the plants will need more CO2 and ferts as they have higher than average lighting which means they will photosynthesise faster and will need the other extra supplements to match the lighting. Oh and don't have your lights on for more than 8 hours a day really, thats the max.

Red plants don't die, there are red varieties of loads of plants including cabomba, swords, rotala, limnophilia, myriophyllum, crypts and loads more, most are stem plants apart from the crypts.

Plants that grow on wood are mostly low light plants so will be fine in your tank. Moss will grow nice and thick under that lighting, I have java and christmas moss in a low light tank and as its on wood and near the top of the tank it grows very thick and lush. Most of these low light plants wont need CO2 just a little fert from time to time.

Attaching plants to wood you can use fishing line till they attach themselves then cut it off or if you want a quick solution you can superglue them on out of the water, wait for it to dry a little and put them back in.

The plants you currently have are fine in there, they're not demanding at all and just so you know the moss balls are actually a type of algae, I had some once and they ended up covered in green slime algae after I upgraded my lighting so I got rid of them.

Here's a couple of red plants that will do ok in your tank.

http/www.java-plants.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_26&products_id=130

http/www.java-plants.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_26&products_id=80

http/www.java-plants.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_26&products_id=117

http/www.java-plants.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=61

Hope this helps, I gotta stop these long replies, my fingers are aching lol.

 

[mishka83]

Thanks for the super reply

I always thought that red plants were demanding.

The green cabomba goes to mush in my tank, so do a few others.

I'm going to try java moss, and a couple of red ones.

How often should i be fertilising? Does it not raise the nitrates really high?

Does it matter what order i put the bulbs in?

Would Anubias plants be ok? I like them.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Anubias will do great in pretty much any tank.

If its TPN+ and your not using CO2 dosing every few days worked for me, if your using CO2 then every day really.

If its TPN+ it has exactly what your plants need so I wouldn't worry to much about nitrates, if you have a test kit and your worried keep testing and adjust your dosing accordingly. Plus the idea of a well planted tank is it keeps water quality good.

Dunno about the bulbs I think its personal preference.

 

[mishka83]

Yup, TPN+

One final question, how important or necessary are reflectors, do i need them and will they make any difference?

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Reflectors definately increase the light, not sure the effect on plants, also I think the bulbs are 45w, I have a Day bulb at the back with a Colour bulb at the front, makes it a bit brighter.

I have kept Crypts, Vallis, Moss, Anubias, Java fern and Swords all fine

 

[mishka83]

Do you have reflectors?

The bulbs are defo 35W each, they are brand new boxed

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I wouldn't use them as if they do alter the lighting intensity you'll have nearer high light which will them require you to add more ferts and CO2 so I'd leave it without.