some comments before answers to your questions
a) Amazon swords get HUGE. In 3 months 1 completely outgrew my 29g tank.
b) Double check how many watts those bulbs are. If we assume you are right, then you are at the minimum light levels meaning only really low light plants.
c) Co2 tablets are junk IMO. CO2 is has only a little effect with suck low light levels
1) pressurize CO2 is using a compressed gas cylinder (for CO2, you are storing a liquid). You use a regulator to control the pressure. After this, things are like a DIY setup which consist of a 2L soda bottle that you ferment yeast in. For pressurized, kinda think of the oxygen bottle setups that you see elderly sometimes carry with them.
2) pea gravel does NOTHING for plants other than give it a place to root. Plant substrates are both of appropriate size and nutrient content. substrates main function is Iron supply (but it does other things as well). Plant substrates include: Shultz Aquatic Soil-profile (Found at home depot sometimes...very cheap), Flourite, eco-Complete, Onyx sand, Onyx Gravel, Flora Base etc. Laterite is NOT a substrate. It is an additive
3) For plants, you tend to stick with 5000K-6700K bulbs. there are some other exceptions such as the GE 9325 bulb. DO NOT use actinic lighting.
4) Flourish is a well established line. You are running such low light levels, that you might only benifit from Fourish (there are other things like Flourish Trace, Flourish Iron etc that you won't need with these levels)....It is just called Flouish. It is by Seachem.
5) Flourish is a weed. If you can't grow it, then you really have a deficiency..usually light.
6) upgrading lights IS NOT a matter of replacing the bulb. Changing to a "plant bulb" is no substitute for watts. You need to retrofit or get a new light setup to get more light. Light isn't cheap. If you are handy, www.ahsupply.com is my top pick.
BTW, 5 Angels will outgrow that 55 IMO.
a) Amazon swords get HUGE. In 3 months 1 completely outgrew my 29g tank.
b) Double check how many watts those bulbs are. If we assume you are right, then you are at the minimum light levels meaning only really low light plants.
c) Co2 tablets are junk IMO. CO2 is has only a little effect with suck low light levels
1) pressurize CO2 is using a compressed gas cylinder (for CO2, you are storing a liquid). You use a regulator to control the pressure. After this, things are like a DIY setup which consist of a 2L soda bottle that you ferment yeast in. For pressurized, kinda think of the oxygen bottle setups that you see elderly sometimes carry with them.
2) pea gravel does NOTHING for plants other than give it a place to root. Plant substrates are both of appropriate size and nutrient content. substrates main function is Iron supply (but it does other things as well). Plant substrates include: Shultz Aquatic Soil-profile (Found at home depot sometimes...very cheap), Flourite, eco-Complete, Onyx sand, Onyx Gravel, Flora Base etc. Laterite is NOT a substrate. It is an additive
3) For plants, you tend to stick with 5000K-6700K bulbs. there are some other exceptions such as the GE 9325 bulb. DO NOT use actinic lighting.
4) Flourish is a well established line. You are running such low light levels, that you might only benifit from Fourish (there are other things like Flourish Trace, Flourish Iron etc that you won't need with these levels)....It is just called Flouish. It is by Seachem.
5) Flourish is a weed. If you can't grow it, then you really have a deficiency..usually light.
6) upgrading lights IS NOT a matter of replacing the bulb. Changing to a "plant bulb" is no substitute for watts. You need to retrofit or get a new light setup to get more light. Light isn't cheap. If you are handy, www.ahsupply.com is my top pick.
BTW, 5 Angels will outgrow that 55 IMO.
