[Wet Thumb Forum]-Here we go....advice is welcome!

[waterlynch]

Hi all. I recently started my first planted tank and am growing more addicted to the hobby every day. I have an open top twenty gallon (long) freshwater tank with eco-complete substrate, a biowheel filter, a Hagen Nutrafin "Natural Plant System" for CO2 injection, and several plants (microsword, "dwarf" sag that has grown quickly and lead me to believe there's nothing dwarf about it, Anubias, a java fern with great color that doesnt seem to want to grow and just kinda slouches, and I'll soon be planting some glossostigma. I also have a large group of stem plants which I haven't identified with long pointed leaves that are a purplish red on the underside and green on top, and the part reaching out of the water is almost all red; they shoot roots out from the stem and grow quite well). My ph is about 7.2, my Kh around 4 dKh, or 72ppm, and my Gh around 5 dKh, or 90ppm. My Nitrates are around 10ppm. Those measurements are all from two days after adding the CO2 system and are the first I've made since i just got the test kits. I've been doing a 10% water change every few days to lower my nitrates because the first time I had my water tested they were very high. I've recently switched to the standard 20% a week. I've cycled through two types of algae so far and currenlty only have some light, bright green dots of algae that aren't very bad. I'm hoping increased plant growth and the addition of a few algae eaters (not plecos, i cant remember what they're called. They clean the glass and plants and are only supposed to get 2 inches long max)will take care if that. I suppose my main question is this... I have a Coralife Aqualight 65 watt 50/50 (Actinic Blue 03/10,000K phosphors)compact flourescent. It seems ok, but is that a good lamp for my plants? And will it be bright enough and the right spectrum for the glossistigma? (the tank is only about 12-14 inches deep I think. Any other advice anyone can toss my way is equally appreciated. Tanks!

[imported_russell]

hi, and welcome to the forum.

first off, your co2 is only at 7-8ppm. that is not really enough to keep your plants growing well. you should mix your own solution. use the same amount of sugar, but add baker's yeast. use 1/4 teaspoon. that should make you have much more co2.

second, your lighting. the bulb you have will work, but the blue half won't help your plants much. if i were you, i would buy a 6700k bulb and replace it.

the biowheel on your filter is not necessary, and some have said that they even hurt your plants. but you can ask around about that another day.

with 65 watts over your 20 long, you will probably have to start thinking about fertilizers soon. check out http://www.gregwatson.com he has bulk dry fertilizers at around 2 bucks a pound. we can help you mix them if you are interested.

[John N.]

Russel got it all down for ya. I'll just add that your co2 can be bumped up by adding an additional DIY co2 bottle reactor to the ladder. In other words, two 2 liter bottles connected with with a t-valve.

you can get your lightbulbs at hellolights.com, lightbulbsdirect.com GE 9325k, and innovativelightings.com

Lastly, definately go gregwatson for fertilizers.

Post some pictures, your tank sounds interesting.

Welcome to the Forum!

-John N.

[Pete City]

Yes, dump the actinic blue and go with the a bulb in the 6700 or above range. If you do a search on bulbs you will find that different ranges will accent your plants and tank in different ways. I use 6700s on my 40, they look a little yellow, but are nice, and show off the plants nicely, when you get into the higher spectrums the bulbs become more white. I find they wash out the colors a bit, but just my opinion.
As far as the bio wheel, they supposedly (sp?)
cause to much surface agitation, resulting in lower amounts of CO2, and with a yeast mixture you need to keep as much CO2 in the tank as possible. I give you a few months before you go pressurized.
And you are right about "Dwarf Sag", that plant was a complete weed in my tank and wanted all the real estate for itself.
Good luck and post some pics.
Pete

[imported_BSS]

Sounds like you've got a great start going there. Well done!

This forum is packed with information and has lots of helpful, knowledgeable folks that participate. I'll also suggest taking a read through http://www.rexgrigg.com. It's a concise, FAQ-like presentation on planted tank stuffs. Lots of data in a small package.

Keep the questions coming. That's a pretty thorough and well thought out one above!!

Brian.