MissMTS

For my Christmas present, I am planning on turning my 55 gallon into a high tech planted tank. My lights will give me about 2.4 WPG. I will be using a DIY CO2 system, and Seachem's line of liquid fertilizers.

The amount of plants that are available to choose from (especially when buying them online) is quite overwhelming to me. There is so much out there, and I just don't know where to start.

So, my question is for all of you people who have experience with high tech planted tanks: What are your favorite species of plant to work with (please only name plants that will work with the setup that I have)? I need suggestions from everything from background plants to foreground groundcover. I am really intersted to hear what you have to say

Shawnie

wow sounds faboo kate!! make sure you get before and after pics...cant wait to see the results you achieve..im no help but cant wait for the end result

EDIT: MAJOR typos LOL ...long day I guess

MissMTS

Thanks Shawnie I am really excited about it, but so nervous going into it because there is so much to high tech tanks, that I never worry about with my low light tanks.....algae problems, fertilizers, CO2, etc. I will definetly post pics when I get it set up

CindyJ

I'm still learning so was just wondering with the 2.4 watts is that still considered low light? Or is it the CO2 that makes it high tech?

Thanks

MissMTS

Lights that are higher than 2 WPG and CO2 injection is what makes a tank high tech. My set up will only allow me to keep low and medium light plants. If I were to upgrade to 3 WPG I could keep some higher light plants.

GouramiGirl1221

Sorry for the temporary hijack, but you seem to be a bit of a plant expert, so instead of starting a new thread I figured it'd be a good idea to ask you here . In my 55 gal, I got two 15 watt lights with my tank package. I've been looking for better bulbs, because I figured that wouldn't be enough to keep even low light plants, but the highest I can find in 24" bulbs are 20 watts a piece, which would still leave me with less than 1 WPG, which is still too low, correct? Is there a place online where I can find better bulbs for plant keeping or something?

Randall

I like Vals for background plants,even though all of mine are in the foreground.Wisteria is also a good one that will work for background.HC or glosso might work for your foreground if you go with the 3wpg.Dwarf swords are also good foreground plants.Here is a pic of my 10g.
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/o...n/P9290003.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/o...n/PA040020.jpg
It has pressurized CO2,and 3wpg of T5 HO lighting.The biggest thing with going with stronger lights is the CO2 and your ferts.With DIY CO2,you may have algae issues.I do too,(you can see the algae on the gravel in the first pic,and BBA on the driftwood in the 2nd pic))but I don't always remember to dose the tank daily like I should.There is a balance that needs to be found with the lighting,CO2,and ferts so that the plants are using up all the nutrients before the algae has a chance to grow,while the lights are on.If this balance is not found,this gives algae a chance to grab up some of the nutrients and start to grow.Plantgeeks.com is a good site for identifying plants and their needs.
EDIT:I would go with dwarf swords for your foreground if you want to have good coverage with it.HC or Glosso might work,but they really need pressurized CO2.I know the dwarf swords will work for you.

Butterfly

Gouramigirl
If I'm not mistaken 20 watts is the most you can get in 24 inch bulbs. You could always go with two 24 inch strip lights to get 40 watts or get the usual 2 bulb(40 watts each), 48 inch lights for the 55g to get 80 watts.
MissMTS have you checked the lighting plant guide at Plantgeek? Some of my favorites are
Temple Plant(Hygrophila corymbosa v. 'Stricta'), Green Hygro(Hygrophila polysperma), as for sword plants Ozelot swords(Echinodorus x. 'Ozelot') and Red Melons (ECHINODORUS x barthii) Pygmy chain swords(ECHINODORUS tenellus v. 'Tenellus') are good foreground plants. Hope that helps
Carol

Randall

This is a good light to keep low light plants.This is the cheapest one I can find.Changing your lighting fixture is your best bet,IMO.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/209500/product.web

GouramiGirl1221

Thanks for the info! Now, back to the high tech tank for MissMTS!

MissMTS

Thanks for all of the replies guys

Gourami Girl, let me know if you have any other questions. I am far from a plant expert, but I would be happy to answer what I can. If you have the money to spend Drs. Foster and Smith's website has a lot of good deals on 4ft strip lights that you can use of 55 gallon tanks. With lights you usually have to buy a higher power light fixture....you can only upgrade the bulbs so much.

Carol, I will definetly check out the list on Plant Geek. I have been roaming that sight for a couple of days and somehow missed that Thanks for the suggestions

Randall, thanks so much for all of the info. I plan on having vals as one of the background plants in my tanks. I was advised on another forum to do four two liter bottles of the DIY CO2 and dose with excel. I might not deal with the headache and just break down and buy pressurized CO2...I just have to see what my funds are like.

By the way, someone refered me to a light fixture that is on sale and it would allow me to have 4 WPG! That would be pretty amazing I am not sure if I will still be available in a couple of months, but I may buy it now and put it in storage until I set up the tank

Randall

If you plan on going with 4wpg,you will definetly need to go with pressurized CO2.The cheapest regulators with accessories I can find is around $150 without the bottle.I have to go,but I will try to find the reg. kit and post the link for you later.

MissMTS

Thanks so much for you help $150 is not horrible. I saw some kits priced for $300. Yikes!

Randall

I have 2 of these.I bought solenoid valves for them also,plus the cost of the CO2 bottles.So the total was around $225.You don't have to have the solenoid valves(around $50),and they are something that can be added later if you want.
http://www.petsolutions.com/CO2-Pro-...51070+C13.aspx

EDIT:
http://www.shop.poshreef.com/product...ceCode=froogle
Here is the solenoid valve I have.It is not necessary,but turning the CO2 on and off gets to be a pain.I had my first CO2 tank set up for a few months before I bought it.I did not turn the CO2 off every night and I never did notice a dramatic drop in the pH,but I did go through CO2 a lot faster leaving it on all the time.I think that is the biggest benefit of haveing the valve.I have a 10 gallon with the paint ball regulator,and a 55g with the regular regulator.I got a 5lb bottle for the regular one at a welding supply store.I just use the bottle on an exchange basis so I did not have to buy it.The paint ball bottles cost like $20 for a 24oz bottle,refills are about $2.50.Hope this helps.If you do go with the high light,and juiced CO2,rather than the DIY,be prepared,you will become addicted to it quickly!!!
Good Luck!

MissMTS

Thanks so much for all of the information. I will probably end up going with that CO2 system since you have had a good experience with it I'm sure I'll think of more questions as I get further in the process of setting this tank up, but you have been a great help so far