Gozer_1

After deep internet searching I have finally found the light for the 45 I'm putting together. Its 78W (so about 1.75 per gallon) T5 HO. One 39W 10000K T5HO and one 39W "freshwater" pink T5HO. Well heres the link
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~CU01128.html

Here are the plants I'm considering.

Cryptocoryne undulata http://www.plantgeek.net/plant-77.htm
Anubias barteri caladifolia http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=17
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis http://www.plantgeek.net/plant-144.htm
Hygrophila polysperma http://www.plantgeek.net/plant-138.htm
Hygrophila difformis http://www.plantgeek.net/plant-137.htm

Is that light gonna be enough and will this setup need CO2 with 2 Gold Gouramis in the tank? If it's not enough light what do you suggest to get higher wattage?

sirdarksol

The chain sword might disappear due to lack of light. They need quite a bit of light. The only tank of mine that chain sword will grow in gets a decent amount of indirect sunlight (unfortunately, this is my goldfish/koi tank, and they love eating the stuff)

Personally, I think that CO2 is a bigger pain than it's worth. My plants do fine without it. I even have one tank that has a field of wysteria growing in about a third of the tank, and only one fish to produce CO2, and the wysteria is growing beautifully.

bhcaaron

Looks purdy in pink , but, why is the color relevant and why pink? (serious question)

Do you have any algal troubles with the tank getting any kind of sunlight?

sirdarksol

Nope. In fact, the brighter of the two tanks has such clear water that it's hard to believe I haven't changed the filter in about two months. (probably has to do with the healthy wysteria).
The chain sword is sitting in a bright spot, at the front of the tank where it can get some indirect sunlight as well as the light from the tank, but it's still not enough. The light, however, adds up to be about 2wpg, which isn't all that bright.

bhcaaron

All of you freshies are so lucky to have such an abundant choice of flora to help out with all these issues!

sirdarksol

You've got access to similar stuff, it's just not as pretty. Live rock and live sand is very similar in saltwater. It's just a bunch of little things that help keep stuff under control, whereas freshwater has big, green things.

And don't forget mangroves. You can plant one of these in a refugium and turn it into semi-aquatic bonsai.

bhcaaron

Yeah, I know. I just wish I could mix more green into it. I'm hoping for Turtle weed, aka Maiden's Hair and Shaving Brush. In a refugium I would like to have Lettuce and Chaetomorpha Algae. If I end up using the 145 as a refugium, I suppose I could use the mangrove in it too. How does the mangrove help out? I'll have to read up on it.

sirdarksol

The same way other plants do. They soak up nitrates, nitrites, and various forms of phosphorous to use as food.
I've seen mangroves in the "hang on tank" refugiums before. You've just got to trim the branches (and probably the roots, too) periodically to keep the tree small.
Otherwise, if you live near the Gulf of Mexico, you could probably hook up with an organization that's trying to reinforce the coastal wetlands, and grow the trees and plant them once they're too large for your refugium. They'd probably be willing to get you cheap or free saplings for a project like that.

bhcaaron

Wow! No, no where near. I live in north west Arizona. However, that would be AWESOME to do! I wonder how feasible it is to try it from here lol

sirdarksol

That would be pretty cool. I'd actually like to do something like that, but I live as far away from the coast as you do (I'm up in MN).

bhcaaron

I know, lucky they who have water near by.

Gozer_1

Light toward the red side of the spectrum is best for vegative growth. I believe the color shift in light through the growing season is what signals some plants to flower and bear fruit. I'm no botanist though so don't take my word for it.

Gozer_1

Is their something you can recommend instead of the chain sword or would bumping the light up to 2.5W per Gal be enough.

Honestly the more I get into this, the more light I want. I'm considering just getting it over with and going with 2 of the aforementioned lights. About 3.5W per Gal. Seems like more light opens more possibilities. Don't want to get to caried away though. I'd really rather keep it at about 2.5WPG lol

sirdarksol

2.5 might do it, especially if it's a shallow tank.
I'm not sure, though.
Looks like pygmy crypt is a grass-like plant that can deal with lower lights. Other than not liking to be moved, the stuff seems to be pretty hardy.

bhcaaron

Ok, I wont lol. Still, something to look into.

neverendingninja

Off-topic, but I'm pretty sure that Arizona has one of the highest boat-per-capita levels in the nation. And I'm sure, despite the distance, if you wanted to participate in the mangrove operations, they could be shipped. The organization might even pay for shipping(?).

I live like 30 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, but its all stinky down there :/ ****ed condominiums and whatnot.

bhcaaron

There ARE a lot of boats. Here in the area I live next to the Colorado River, however, most boat owners in AZ travel to water. Since our river is no longer connected to anything else, its not like those boats will actually ship there. But, still, worth looking into.

sirdarksol

See, that's what I'm talking about. Those condos, with their artificial beaches and green lawns, have opened the path for massive erosion. So we sneak onto their property in the middle of the night, put down a bunch of fertile soil, a bunch of mangrove trees, and a bit of nuclear waste to speed the growing