Hi everyone,
I have a 46 Bow front and I ordered a t5 light fixture with 4x39 watt bulbs. I have a custom made canopy that I can adjust the height. I am also getting my co2 system.
Hi
I suggest that you only use 2 of the lamps in your 4 lamp fixture for the majority of your lighting cycle. You can run the other two as a noon burst. Make sure that all your bulbs are plant friendly.
I'd run two lamps for 8 to 10 hours at first. Later on add a 2 hour noon burst in the middle of your light cycle. Later on, you can increase the lighting time. This will help with keeping algae to a minimum.
My fish load is
6 juvenile 3.5' Discus
3 Clown Loaches
2 Rams
This may be a problem. The clown loaches get very big. They really require a much larger aquarium. 6 Discus in your aquarium is too many. They really need a larger aquarium. The rams are fine, maybe.
You need an algae eating crew like Amano shrimp, otos, nerite snails, rubber lip or bristlenose plecos, etc. All of your fish will eat the Amano shrimp. The loaches will also eat the nerite snails.
I have for fertilizer API Leaf Zone that I'm dosing once a week. What else should I need?
With your very good lighting and pressurized CO2, I suggest that you go with dry fertilizer. There are several good dosing plans. I use EI in my 40 breeder with 4x39w T5HO lighting and pressurized CO2. John N. has a sticky about it:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/fertilizing/15225-estimative-index-dosing-guide.html
This is the version of EI that I use:
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2819-EI-light-for-those-less-techy-folks
For dry fertilizers, this is what I recommend:
KNO3 - for dosing nitrate and potassium
KH2PO4 - for dosing phosphate
K2SO4 - for dosing potassium (optional)
GH Booster or Seachem's Equilibrium - for dosing Ca, Mg and K; some also add Fe and Mn
Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate) MgSO4·7H2O - for dosing Mg
CSM+B - for dosing trace elements
iron chelate 11% DTPA - for dosing extra Fe (optional)
root tabs - for dosing plants with root systems
Here are some places to get dry fertilizers:
http://aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp
http://www.bobstropicalplants.com/shop/en/6-fertilizers
http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizer.html
My plants are
Amazon Swords, micros
Wenditt
Lace
Anubuas
These plants will respond well to the lighting and dosing that I suggested.
Give me some more pointers on the lighting(to much?), Feritlizers? Co2?
I believe that I covered most of it above.
You will need a drop checker and the 4 dKH solution so that you can tune your CO2.
Please give me some advice and critique!!!
I appreciate it!!!!!
I suggest that you spread out your micro sword into smaller groups. It will grow better that way. You may want to add more plants.
Good luck with your tank!
Left C
