New Tank Plans

[Million]

Hi there,

I just bought myself a 2 foot clearseal tank to go beside my bed, and am planning the layout and planting now.

Having trawled through the AGA aquascaping competition entries for the past 5 years, I have selected a style I like, along with some plants I think will go, and one entry that exemplified this style - that's the one in the picture:

This other tank was similar to what I was envisioning, so I thought I would include it too:

The plants I have been looking at include:

Microsorium pteropus "narrow leaf" (narrow java fern)
Hydrocotyle leucocephala (brazilian pennywort)
Taxiphyllum sp. Christmas (christmas moss)

And these are plants I have that I may include in the scape:

Assorted Crypts
Anubias var. nana
Anubias var. coffeefolia
Eleocharis parvula (dwarf hairgrass)

I have 36w of light over the tank, tetraplant substrate, fermentation based CO2, and tetraplant liquid fertilizer. I had issues with a planted tank before this, I think because of high light - I had algae issues. The problem is that I work away some weeks, so cannot be there to dose EI ferts, nor am I willing to pay for pressurised CO2. However, this 36w light was over a tank of about half the size, so the WPG is much lower now.

Basically I am looking for advice on my choice of plants, as well as sourcing them, and maintaining them. That's everything I guess!
Any input is welcome.
Cheers,
Max

 

[aaronnorth]

I have 36w of light over the tank, tetraplant substrate, fermentation based CO2, and tetraplant liquid fertilizer

would definatley not reccomend that, i had the same set up and constantly grew hair algae due to insufficent CO2. Or do you mean by your second statment that only half the tube is covering the tank (so it is only basically 18w

Aqua essential & The green Machine stock tropica plants which are the best quality, i wouldnt buy any stem plants from them thoough as they will grow fast enough that there is no need for the quality.

I also get some from plants alive.

 

[Million]

would definatley not reccomend that, i had the same set up and constantly grew hair algae due to insufficent CO2. Or do you mean by your second statment that only half the tube is covering the tank (so it is only basically 18w

What I mean is that I had the same bulb and light fitting over a tank of about half the capacity = algae issues, but this tank is twice the capacity, with the same light, so half the WPG. Does this answer your question?

Are you saying that to support so much light I NEED pressurized CO2 to prevent algae?

 

[aaronnorth]

bigger tank means less wattage is needed as the wpg is more leaneint, if you look at my 60l which i presume yours is the same size going with the 2ft???, i have a 36w PC T5 over that, you have no chance without pressurized.

 

[Million]

Ah, well thanks for the warning.

I'm just a bit miffed as I know it will cost me a fair whack to get it going! Oh well, i'll see what I can do

 

[aaronnorth]

i went down the FE route, cost me £80 with a 2kg FE.

took me 4 moth to save up but it was well worth it!

 

[Million]

i went down the FE route, cost me £80 with a 2kg FE.

took me 4 moth to save up but it was well worth it!

Yeah, it's quite a lot isn't it. Where did you get the Reg etc. from?

 

[aaronnorth]

Yes, but compared to the full kits then no!

http/www.fishforums.net/content/forum/25...tting-up-an-FE/

i used the reg fom aquatic magic as seen in the above link.