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BryceM · 12-18-2007, 10:49 AM

I'm sorry you haven't had much input here.

Those lights would be fine. To grow swords in an aquarium that size I'd probably recommend about 1.5 wpg. CO2 is not strictly required, but even moderate (but consistent) amounts would be enormously beneficial - the difference in quantity & quality of plant growth will be enormous.

Swords are heavy root feeders, but water column fertilization is perfectly fine IME. If you want to stick with root tabs that's fine too, and actually simplifies things to some extent. Algae blooms are possible, but not any worse than if you used water column ferts. It should be quite manageable if you stick with your plan of moderate light levels.

For a 72" tank I prefer two 36" fixtures unless it's difficult to arrange with your hardware. 5' long bulbs leave a bit of shadow at the tank edges. 3' HO T-5's are 39 watts. A total of 6-8 of these bulbs would get you to about the right intensity. MH is nice, but is overkill if you're goal is to grow swords IMO.

12-18-2007, 10:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
BryceM Administrator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South Central Idaho, USA Posts: 4,262 iTrader Ratings: 42 iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 178534	Re: Starting a 240 planted tank I'm sorry you haven't had much input here. Those lights would be fine. To grow swords in an aquarium that size I'd probably recommend about 1.5 wpg. CO2 is not strictly required, but even moderate (but consistent) amounts would be enormously beneficial - the difference in quantity & quality of plant growth will be enormous. Swords are heavy root feeders, but water column fertilization is perfectly fine IME. If you want to stick with root tabs that's fine too, and actually simplifies things to some extent. Algae blooms are possible, but not any worse than if you used water column ferts. It should be quite manageable if you stick with your plan of moderate light levels. For a 72" tank I prefer two 36" fixtures unless it's difficult to arrange with your hardware. 5' long bulbs leave a bit of shadow at the tank edges. 3' HO T-5's are 39 watts. A total of 6-8 of these bulbs would get you to about the right intensity. MH is nice, but is overkill if you're goal is to grow swords IMO.