20g Light/CO2 Questions - Aquarium Advice

Arical · 10-31-2009, 04:55 PM

Ive finally decided to take the leap towards live plants! It has been a dream of mine for quite awhile and I have finally decided to try it out. Mostly due to seeing some of the simply awe-inspiring planted tank setups.

I have an established 20g tank with several corydoras. I would like to plant any/all of the following (or similar species)

Anachris (Egeria densa) (or a similar background)
Java Fern (or a similar midground)
Micro swords (Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae) or possibly Hemianthus callitrichoides, or a similar foreground grass.
Java Moss (or a similar moss for the driftwood, lots of anchoring points)

Currently I just have the stock lighting, and I have a few ideas for what I want to replace it with: (either one)

What would my best option be with the plants I have selected? Is 65W necessary? Overkill?

I am alright with slow growth. Would these plants grow sufficiently with Excel? Or would they require CO2 injection? I'm trying to get by without CO2 injection for now, if possible.

One last thing I would like to note is that my PH is ~8.2. That is due to the hardness of our water, anything I've read on plants has stated that they prefer a PH between 6.x-7.x. Should this affect my choice of plants?

Thank in advance

Blueiz · 10-31-2009, 05:44 PM

The 65 watt would be overkill for everything except the micro sword. With a little over 3 w per gallon you would need co2 and the addition of ferts. I wouldn't personally go with this high of a light unless I changed to more highlight plants because of the risk of a lot of algae. Remember lighting is a nurtrient as well. It would be easy to run DIY on a 20 g tank, I have never used excel.

Im assuming the stock light that you have is a 20 w strip fluorescent, if this is the case, you should be able to grow everything you mentioned, but the micro sword with that, and not have to does excel or diy co2.

Arical · 10-31-2009, 06:10 PM

Thanks for your feedback! I kinda figured the 65W would be overkill, if I dropped down to the 48W Hagen Glo, would that be a reasonable option? With the Hagen, I could also make one of the lights a 50/50 to provide ~36W, or even take it out entirely while I get used to live plants. The reason I ask is that I tried growing some low light plants with my current light quite a while ago and they didn't do so hot - I believe its 15W

.

Would 36W be low enough to get away without CO2? A DIY CO2 system might be possible, but I am really looking at starting out simple.

I think I might just cut out the micro swords for now then.

supradupafast · 10-31-2009, 08:13 PM

I think you would do just great with 36W to grow without C02. You can always look into Root Tabs as they are extremely good. They last about 3 months (the SeaChem branded) and you would use about 3-4 tabs in your 20gal. I also recommend dosing Excel with every water change. (Approx 2 capfulls on a 50% + PWC on your 20ga)
Good Luck

Let us know how it turns out, and please.. Pictures

Arical · 10-31-2009, 09:58 PM

Thanks supra! I thought I had seen 50/50 T5 lights, but after looking into it a bit more I can't seem to find them anywhere. I must have been thinking of the 50/50 Actinic bulbs on the Coralife Aqualight PC.

I just wanted to verify, if I purchase the 65W Coralife PC 50/50 (10,000K & Actinic) the plants will see that as ~32W? If everything is good, I will submit my order tomorrow!

Sorry if I've made a ton of mistakes, this is all quite new to me! As well, I will try to get some pictures once I start on the tank.

timwag2001 · 10-31-2009, 10:13 PM

i know co2 is an expensive step and a lot of people are afraid of taking the jump. but co2 is a nutrient too. its just as important as light and ferts. without co2 you should cut hc out of the equation too. they prefer co2 and higher lights. diy works but tends to fluctuate and fluctuating co2 can cause algae growth. if you are gonna jump to 2 watts of t5 lighting i would strongly suggest pressurized co2. and for the bulbs you should use 2 6700k bulbs. forget about the 50/50. and if i remember right the hagen dual strips dont work with one of the bulbs missing. and like blueiz said, just about all of those plants are low light plants.

you said that you were inspired by some nice tanks... here's my inspiration. as soon as i can afford it i'm gonna get an ada tank and try to replicate this one Conquered Tsukiyama 58 L - AAC Gallery

take a look around this site. you'll love it!
AAC 2009 - AAC Gallery

timwag2001 · 10-31-2009, 10:15 PM

the t5 setup is better than the pc.

Arical · 10-31-2009, 11:14 PM

WOW thank you for that AAC site those tanks are amazing! I know I will be spending hours on this site. The tank you want to recreate looks phenomenal, I can't wait to see pictures!

One question still remains for me then, will 48W of T5HO be enough to grow some higher light plants such as the micro swords then (with CO2)? If so I would consider investing in CO2 and moving away from the low light plants in general.

For CO2, I have really only looked at the Milwaukee Regulator, for just over $100; doesn't seem too bad considering I could move it to a larger tank later. Although that means I need to do a lot more research now. Would I only need a tank and diffuser with that? Should I go with something completely different? Just when I thought I had my mind made up!

timwag2001 · 10-31-2009, 11:36 PM

how tall is your tank?
if your tank is as short as i think it is, with co2, ei dosing, and t5 lights, you should be able to grow just about anything you want.
you can prob get a better deal on ebay. look around a little bit more. i have the same regulator and i got it with a ph monitor for about $180 i think.
you can definately use a glass diffusor with a small tank like that but you get a ton of little bubbles everywhere. you can make a reactor, its very easy, and you'll get 100% dissolved co2

Arical · 11-01-2009, 02:14 AM

I believe my tank is 16" High, but I can't verify that atm. I know its 12" Deep and 24" Long.

On ebay I found the same system for 90$, which really isn't that much cheaper (especially after shipping and all). If I could find a decent PH monitor that might be worth it though!

Have you heard anything about using the Milwaukee Regulator on a smaller tank? Im just wondering if it would be accurate enough to use on a tank my size. And for difusers and reactors I am completely clueless. I found this on ebay, would something like that be worth it? Do you have any suggestions for a diffuser?