No Co2 For Me

[squishy_1984]

I've been thinking about putting Co2 in my tank (started a thread yesterday) but have decided against it due to cost and time consumption, i was thinking about the low tech setup in PFK.
I have decided i do not want too many plants, just enough to fill it out a bit.
So here goes, would it be advised to use aquatic compost with a substrate on top (think they used quartz) like they have in the article in PFK(for those who have read it) or could anyone advise a different method without going downthe co2 route.
I have 80w of light ( both hagen, a aqua-glo rated at 18,000k and a sun glow rated at 4,200k) and the tank is 55 US gallons giving 1.45 WPG and am going to get easy low - med light plants.

So i need a list of what to buy (substrates, ferts, different tubes etc)
and a method

Hope someone can help

Jon

 

[Jen]

If you arent going to go all out, then you don't really need to worry about all that stuff. You can use a fertalizer substrate if you wish, but unless you have a good number of heavy root feeders (swords or val), it isnt really necessary. You will need some food for those plants, and root tabs do the trick. Price out the tabs vs. the compost, and see which is the best deal for you.

Since you arent adding co2, then you wont need lots of light. In fact, more than about 1.5 watt of light per gallon will only cause you grief with lots of algae.

You will want some liquid fertalizers - I used seachem flourish when I only had a few plants. I don't know what you have available on your side of the pond, but I'm sure some members here know some good ones.

 

[squishy_1984]

I think i will use compost, does it run out/need replacing after so long??
Do i need the all in one ferts or individual ones?

jon

 

[Jen]

I don't know anything about that compost. I know some substrates do run out, but each kind is different. You can get either liquid. It all depends on how much testing you want to get into. If you go for the individual liquids, then you will want to test the water for each chemical to make sure you add the right amount. Read the Estimative Index article for a good read on fertalizing. It's a bit confusing, but very informative.

 

[squishy_1984]

does anyone else have any ideas on what i should add. Just read the PFK article again and it says i should have 1.5 inches of compost with 2.5 inches on quartz on top, measured it on the tank and it would look silly. Thats like a 5th of the tank taken up with substrate. Could i use something else for the substrate that would only take up about 2 inches that has beneficial nutrients in it??

Jon