Standard Rio 180

[Ren&Stumpy]

Hi all,

venturing into the planted scene and have a rio 180 up in the bedroom currently cycling with mature media not long until its finished.

Currently i have only wood in there with a layer 1.5" of eco complete and on top of that 1.5" of 2mm gravel. and a sandy area opposite the wood end.

Dont have the funds to increase lighting or add CO2 at minute but want it planted like the look of hairgrass would be this suitable for a lawn type effect or would going with java moss be better with tall grass like plants want to keep to a 1 kind of plant tank i like it more taht way.

suggestions and idea welcome

 

[SuperColey1]

What lights are in there? wattage and T number (diameter)

AC

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

it has two tubes.

2x45W T5 units one is daylight one is nature i think

 

[SuperColey1]

No need to up the lighting in there. IMO you need pressurised CO2 already with 90W T5 over 50USG!!!

AC

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

i thought the lighting was rubbish in standard setups obvioulsy not these days

 

[SuperColey1]

Used to be 'considered' rubbish but it never really was in the decent tanks.

Fluval/Juwel for example have had at least 1WPG of T8 for years which is fine. These days they are pushing 1.5WPG T5 into a lot of the tanks and with T5 efficiencies compare to T12 (WPG rule) you are looking at the equivalent of having 3WPG+ on that rule when you consider how much more light actually makes it to the tank after reflection than with the old T12s!!

Therefore you IMO are above the 2WPG threshold of that outdated guide and will be needing pressurised for sure.

AC

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

well that means a bit of a rethink but tank is almost cycled we are taling a few days here.

think a mate at work said he had a spare pressurised co2 system might ask if he wants rid now.

will have to stock soon so would be ok to plant now and add co2 asap? and with what plants?

 

[SuperColey1]

If you have no CO2 then as many fast growing stems as possible. After you go pressurised keep the stems but you can start to ad in plants you like. Over time you can then remove a few plants you don't like (the cheap fast growers) and replace with ones you like.

Once you get confident you can get rid of the ones you don't like and go for the 'scape'

AC

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

something like vallis thats a fast grower and easy isnt it?

 

[SuperColey1]

I wouldn't worry about what plant you have until you go pressurised. You are likely to get littered with staghorn and many other algaes on most of the plants due to the lights.

Vallis would get it first IME.

I would just buy a cheap set of plants off ebay. The sort that say 100 plants for £10 and get used to growing then get another set and chuck the old once you get CO2.

Spend a while getting used to how to grow with the cheap packs before spending money on individual plants.

Are your lights on independent switches or are you stuck with both on or none at all

AC

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

all or nothing with the lights.

ok maybe i'll go the fake route until i can get a CO2 system sorted but then still go the cheap pack route after xmas when postal system sorts itself out and that.