Some Open Ended Planted Tank Questions.

So I have a few tanks with low light plants and I would like to give a description of them and see what your opinions are on lighting, ferts, etc.

10g- cycled but empty at the moment. Planning on a mid-light planted Betta build over Christmas. Need ideas and inspiration, and most importantly light recommendations. Would like some buce or baby tears maybe? N03-40. Gh~70 ph~7 kh~40. Temp 78

37g- newly built. Single ctenopoma acutirostre (leaf fish) tank. 5 Amazon swords, 5 various anubias, 2 hadI red Pearl's all plated on monday. Standard tetra hood lighting that came with tank. Flourite substrate. Using flourish. No algae. My pearls are sprouting some beautiful red leaves and I want to keep it that way!!! Amm/NO2-0. N03- only reading about 5 or so so far. Gh~60 ph~7 kh~40. Temp 78

60g- angel tank. Jungle Valls having a hard time growing. Minimal growth at best. 2 Amazon swords (melting, but pretty new) in pots w/ root tabs. 4 crypt lucens doong ok. Lots of anubias thriving. Floating pothos (yes, I have success growing it submerged!) And 1 java moss ball that's looking pretty sad. Minimal/no algae. Sand substrate w/ root tabs and dosing flourish. Standard marineland strip lighting that came with the tank. N03- steadily 40ppm. Amm/NO2-0. Gh~70 ph~7 kh~40. Temp 80.3

I don't have c02 on any of the tanks.

What are your thoughts? Just wanted to make an open thread here for my plants, questions, advice, progress pics etc.

First 2 pics are 37g and third is 60g

 

Actually thinking about buying this for the 10 gallon maybe? Think it's too small for the 37?

 

This is fine for the 10 gallon but way too expensive. The Fluval cartridges are disposable and only last few weeks.
I had a Fluval 88 g kit and used to buy a box of 3 cartridges for $50. I saved the regulator, I purchased a paintball adaptor and a 24 oz refillable paintball cylinder and it cost me a lot less. I don't know if the regulator that comes with 45 g kit can be used the same way.

 

This is fine for the 10 gallon but way too expensive. The Fluval cartridges are disposable and only last few weeks.
I had a Fluval 88 g kit and used to buy a box of 3 cartridges for $50. I saved the regulator, I purchased a paintball adaptor and a 24 oz refillable paintball cylinder and it cost me a lot less. I don't know if the regulator that comes with 45 g kit can be used the same way.

I don't really know anything about c02 DIY so I want a kit with everything I need. Is there a cheaper kind? Maybe on amazon?

 

I don't really know anything about c02 DIY so I want a kit with everything I need. Is there a cheaper kind? Maybe on amazon?

This is NOT DIY CO2 technically speaking....
DIY CO2 implies producing CO2 from yeast + sugar OR citric acid +baking soda and introducing it into your tank as it is formed.
When you purchase CO2 gas (liquid... when it's under pressure), you are not producing CO2 yourself...you are injecting it yourself.
Having said that....there is no point of adding CO2 (or ferts) if the light (IMO the most important factor in a successful planted tank) is suboptimal.
Standard lights that come as a kit, under a hood of the tank- it's never enough for all the aquatic plants you can think of....Anubias? Maybe. Swords plants? Possible. Baby tears? No way!

 

This is NOT DIY CO2 technically speaking....
DIY CO2 implies producing CO2 from yeast + sugar OR citric acid +baking soda and introducing it into your tank as it is formed.
When you purchase CO2 gas (liquid... when it's under pressure), you are not producing CO2 yourself...you are injecting it yourself.
Having said that....there is no point of adding CO2 (or ferts) if the light (IMO the most important factor in a successful planted tank) is suboptimal.
Standard lights that come as a kit, under a hood of the tank- it's never enough for all the aquatic plants you can think of....Anubias? Maybe. Swords plants? Possible. Baby tears? No way!

That is why I'm looking for reccomendations for a 10 gallon planted tank light!!

 

I'm not super knowledgable about lights that go on smaller rimmed tanks, but for inspiration you absolutely must check out George Farmer, Dennis Wong, and ADU Aquascaping on Youtube!

 

Light is very important! For plants...that's the energy! Plants are primary producers....meaning they don't eat anything. They get their energy from light. You can add nutrients (ferts) and CO2 but without light,plants can't use any of those. There should be a balance between light/ferts and CO2.

Not all plant are equal. Just like animals: a turtle will eat every few weeks and grow slowly but live longer. A pig will eat a lot, grow fast and don't live long...

 

Light is very important! For plants...that's the energy! Plants are primary producers....meaning they don't eat anything. They get their energy from light. You can add nutrients (ferts) and CO2 but without light,plants can't use any of those. There should be a balance between light/ferts and CO2.

Not all plant are equal. Just like animals: a turtle will eat every few weeks and grow slowly but live longer. A pig will eat a lot, grow fast and don't live long...

I've even heard of people using flood lights from home depot...lol! I have quite a bit of research to do. This is why I've only gotten low-light plants so far.

 

I'm ready for the challenge

 

I'm ready for the challenge

Go for it!

 

You can use cheaper flood lights and more industrial fixtures for pretty cheap. I just don't find them as aesthetically pleasing, but the fixtures people use can look good, especially as a hanging setup with the power cord kind of hidden. The other thing is the lights degrade and require replacement after 6 months or so. Theres about 50 ways to skin the cat with lighting a planted tank.

 

What do you guys think about this light for a 10 gallon planted tank?

 

I use a Finnex Planted Plus on my 10g. This is a bit overkill for a 10g, but it grows plants extremely well.

 

I'm not a fan of the beamsworks but people have had success with them.

 

What do you guys think about this light for a 10 gallon planted tank?View attachment 509037

This light will not be strong enough for the baby tears. I would recommend 2 of them if you are going for a carpet. Baby tears require high light and co2 to get a good carpet. The same goes for most all carpet plants. Without strong light and co2 it will grow way to slow and get overrun with algae and die off. I had this happen before I knew better.

 

This light will not be strong enough for the baby tears. I would recommend 2 of them if you are going for a carpet. Baby tears require high light and co2 to get a good carpet. The same goes for most all carpet plants. Without strong light and co2 it will grow way to slow and get overrun with algae and die off. I had this happen before I knew better.

Darn

 

Darn

If you would like a good carpet with this light look into pearl weed. It looks a bit like babby tears but doesn't require high light and co2. I will post a pic of the carpet I have of it.

 

This is the best I could do for now.

 

This is the best I could do for now.View attachment 509325

Thank you!

 

Thank you!

Your welcome