need help with low light planted tank - New to Planted Aquariums

debrab1954 · 07-15-2008, 07:46 AM

Hi, i am planning on setting up a planted aquarium with rainbow fish and i need some advice. I have a 29 gal tank and i am going to go with low light plants, and no co2, what kind a lighting fixture will give me about 1.5 or so watts per gal. (can you give some brand names?) and that fits over a 29 gal. aquarium and also what size glass canopy should i buy? I have always been afraid to try plants because i don't know about the equiptment i need. The tank size is 30-1/4 x 12-1/2 x 18-3/4. and will a hob filter be ok for a planted tank? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

davemonkey · 07-15-2008, 08:08 AM

Here is a glass top that might work:
http://www.aquariumguys.com/glasscanopy3.html

I'm not sure what light fixture to get. HOB filter will be okay ( I use one), but canister filters seem to be better (at least in the opinions of most planted tank folk).

-Dave

debrab1954 · 07-15-2008, 12:52 PM

Thanks!

debrab1954 · 07-16-2008, 05:08 AM

I really need some help with lighting, i have been doing some reading but there is so much information that it gets confusing. Will a 55 watt compact flluoresent fixture work with the set up that i want , what brand is better and what size should i get for a 29 gal. Thanks

Bert H · 07-16-2008, 05:13 AM

Check out www.ahsupply.com for some wonderful retrofits, and probably the best reflector on the market. A 55W should do what you're looking for. You would not need CO2, but I would recommend going with Excel for a carbon source. An HOB filter will work ok for you in these circumstances, just be sure you have good circulation in the tank.

trenac · 07-16-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debrab1954

I really need some help with lighting, i have been doing some reading but there is so much information that it gets confusing. Will a 55 watt compact flluoresent fixture work with the set up that i want , what brand is better and what size should i get for a 29 gal. Thanks

A 55 watt 30" fixture will work perfectly for what you are looking to do. I know that All-Glass makes a 55 watt 30" compact flourescent strip light for around $100 (depending where you get it). I'm sure that there is some other brands out there with the wattage you are looking for, just look around.

I personally like Coralife fixtures, which I use on all my tanks. However I believe the lowest wattage they have is 65 watts, which is a little more than what your looking for.

debrab1954 · 07-17-2008, 01:01 PM

I was looking at the coralife 65 watt fixtures, would that be to much light ? I really don't want to try the co2, but i would like to be able to grow some nice plants. thanks

new2plnts · 07-17-2008, 01:48 PM

I would check this place out. Bigstick from on here recommended this place to me and people are really nice and ship fast. Had my lights in 3 days from across the country. Plus it was pretty cheap including shipping, and if you have a problem they will fix it. http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/index.php

cs_gardener · 07-17-2008, 02:06 PM

I have a 29 gal with 65w Satellite and I'm able to grow a nice variety of plants. I do dose glutaraldehyde (Excel substitute) at about 1/2 the daily dose for Excel and I have very little algae. A bit of green spot and occasional green dust is usually the worst I have to deal with.

trenac · 07-17-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debrab1954

I was looking at the coralife 65 watt fixtures, would that be to much light ? I really don't want to try the co2, but i would like to be able to grow some nice plants. thanks

No, thats no means too much light. However, it is highly recommended that some type of C02 injection be used over 2 wpg. If you use 65 watts then you would have 2.24 watts. You could go the Excel route only, but I've never had much luck with the stuff myself.