CrownMan

This is Day 6 on my new 40 Gallon (36x12x20 and actually 30 Gallon according to calculator) with Amazonia, CO2, 96Wx2 6700K Coralife CF Light (8hours 96w, 4hours 192w). I put a small of aged flourite (abt. 2Cups) down first and have done 4 large water changes. Ammonia is 0, Nitrites are 0 and KH has finally back to normal (GH 120ppm, KH 70ppm tap water). I have an Aquaclear 70 with seasoned bioballs, carbon and sponge. CO2 is dispersed via a Duetto 100 mist with Milwaukee SMS122 controller. This is my first CO2 tank in about 2 years. I am waiting for the Algae explosion. Dosing is Equilibrium, N, PO4, K and CSM +B after each water change (every other day).

milalic

Looking nice

niko

Let me point out an interesting fact:

The plants in this tank have all been grown in tanks with no CO2, with a hang on back filter, and with about 1 watt per gallon of lights. No special substrate either.

Look how healthy they look. Makes me believe there is a lot I don't know.

96 watts x 2 is a lot of light for this tank. I had the exact same size tank with the same light and it was BRIGHT! 5+ watts per gallon is no joke. I suggest you don't run both bulbs for 10 hours a day. But on the other hand look what you did with 1 wpg, so what do I know.

Good luck with the tank, Mike!

--Nikolay

CrownMan

Thanks Niko for the kind words. I am only going to run the second light for a 3 hour burst in the middle of the first lights 8 hour cycle. Some of the plants I got from JAX777 last Sunday, mainly the Limno Aromatica on the right side (partially cut off my camera) and some dwarf lobelia. I had to go by Presby Hospital so I stopped in to the Fish Gallery and got a few pots of HairGrass, Stellata Broad Leaf, and Eleocharis Acicularis, Blyxa Japonica and some Rotala Indica for fast growers. The Hygro Kompacta was also bought at Fish Gallery. I added the plants I got from the last club meeting and a few crypts, bacopa, mermaid weed, Rotala Vietman, Altenathera Reneicki and the Hygro Angustofolia from the 90Gallon 1WPG tank.

I added a few short stems of Ludwigia Cuba from my 20H and an unknown fast growing Hygro. I tried to get a few fast growers and rearrange later.


Plants are pearling and growth for the first week has been amazing.

I will keep you guys posted.

Tex Gal

Those are some healthy plants. That is amazing that these were grown in those conditions. They are beautiful. We should be so lucky!

CrownMan

Thanks Milalic, Niko and Tex Gal for the comments. I guess I will see everyone next Sunday at Tex Gals. Is Arlington enough out of the way to pick me up? Just Joking. This is a lot closer for me than Frisco.

Need any cherry shrimp or albino cories, Tex Gal?

Kjm

I'll swear Mike...you just have an aquatic thumb! After seeing your plants that get little, to no, extra bling...I can't wait to get clippings from some of those.

P.S. Hey Mike, you can drive to my house and car pool with me.

Tex Gal

Thanks for the offer. I have cherry shrimp popping up all over the place! An albino cory would be nice!....

CrownMan

Thanks Kjm. Some of the clippings I added from my low light tanks were pretty small but if the grow as well as planned, I should have some L. Cuba, Rotala Indica and Vietnam in a couple of months to donate.

Still planning to bring a few Cherry Shrimp this Sunday. Probably 2 bags with about 15 to 20 per bag.

I am running 96x2 Coralife CF lights but am only running the 1 light for 8.5 hours at this time. I am getting good growth, not much perling but no algae. Don't know if that will be enough light with 30ppm CO2 and EI dosing. Time will tell.

Thanks,

Tex Gal

Mike, do you think you will be able to maintain the vivid color that you have in your tank now?