Planting My Tank...

[Noahs ark6]

Must admit i've never used an air pump in my planted tank, not sure why you'd need to.(not flaming)

At night plants take in O2 and give out CO2. In medium to heavily planted tanks this could cause high levels of CO2 which can lead to problems (like gasping at the top of the tank, which i began to experience and then it stopped with the addition of an airpump and airstone during the night). I'm sure your aware fish need O2 rich water.

 

[tomtomtom1230]

Thanks! I'll have to get myself into a habit of turning it on at night and leaving it off throughout the day. Turns out, I might be able to get a white LED strip light (rated at 16w) to attach to the lid on my tank!

The LED sounds good. 46 watts is alot better than 30
How about attatching a timer so that the airpump comes on and goes off automatically.

Sounds good, money's not really a big issue at the moment thankfully (just been paid ) but I'm in no rush. Gotta wait for the tank to arrive first and then I've got a cabinet coming for it from elsewhere that'll arrive on the 2nd May. But I thought if I get my info all together first, then I know what I'm doing and when I've got to do it!

Yeah, I thought that about the LED strip aswell. I think the air pump timer is a great idea. Not sure where I'd get one from though?

 

[stu40]

I'm sure your aware fish need O2 rich water.

Indeed, some more than others.Guess i've been lucky never to have experienced it

 

[Noahs ark6]

I'm sure your aware fish need O2 rich water.

Indeed, some more than others.Guess i've been lucky never to have experienced it

Yep, how heavily planted is your tank?(i've got to log off, so won't be able to reply for 13hours, sorry, have a good evening)

 

[stu40]

 

[SO19Firearms]

At night plants take in O2 and give out CO2. In medium to heavily planted tanks this could cause high levels of CO2 which can lead to problems (like gasping at the top of the tank, which i began to experience and then it stopped with the addition of an airpump and airstone during the night). I'm sure your aware fish need O2 rich water.

What colour was your drop checker through the night?

 

[Noahs ark6]

Green

 

[SO19Firearms]

Green

Within limits then. It does sound like there was an overall lack of oxygen though. Did you have good water movement?

 

[Noahs ark6]

1000 litres per hour in a 125 litre tank,so good water movement, and alot of surface agitation allowing for gas exchange

 

[bgdeeps]

I too have an interpet fish pod, and I m frantically looking for ways to add more light. Did you have any success with LED lights?? Did u find any better way to add more light to this tank? Did u hear back from interpet?

This time around I have selected low light plants - java fern, java moss and Anubias, I am still a bit apprehensive about 1watt per G , after killing off a tank full of plants last time. I would like to make the wattage atleast 1.5 per gallon, so additional 15 w would make me comfortable..

I also heard interpet has stopped making those led strips. the other plant grow leds are really expensive .

I m wondering if I add some 15w lights( table lamp with interpet daylight 15w bulb say) completely outside the tank(outside the glass), focusing on the bottom of the tank, would it work?