Can I grow HC carpet plant with this tank setup?

[saikit]

I am looking forward to setting up a tank with some carpet plants. I have been looking around and I would like to use HC as my carpet plant (very expensive tho! $10 per pot at Big Als).

I need to know if I have sufficient equipment for this set up:

- 10 Gallon
- Fluval 204
- Coralife T5 10,000K 14 watts x 2 = 28 watts (should I use 6,000K?)
- DIY Co2 Diffuser

Substrate (This is what I have right now, but I am willing to purchase different substrate for better results):
- Flourite
- Black sand

If this setup is not sufficient, what do I need to make the HC grow into a good layer of carpet?

Any recommendation is appreciated.

 

[Purrbox]

Unfortunately that probably only low to medium low light on a 10 gallon aquarium. If you could add and additional 14 watt bulb you would be much more likely to be successful.

 

[Jnam]

I was succesful with HC only when i got the wattage about 36 watts on my 10 gallon Originaly i had a about 20 watts above the 10 gallon and it mostly melted on me. So no i have a 36 watt PC fixture with 10k bulbs and the HC does ok. Its still slow to grow but at least it isnt melting.

 

[Drewbie]

I'M MEEEELTING, MEELTING!!!!
Wicked Witch of the West

 

[shrek_vn2002]

I have 29GL (30'' long) with 65W, pressure co2. Can i grow it?

 

[saikit]

Do you guys have any alternative suggestions that will fit my setup? Keep in mind that I want a nice carpet. In this tank, there won't be a lot of other plants. I want to keep it as minimal as possible.

What do you think of Glosso?

Will Java Moss do the trick (does not look as nice tho)?

 

[Purrbox]

Unfortunately to get a nice looking carpet you generally need more light. About the only plants that would be likely to work are a moss or Dwarf Clover.

 

[czcz]

FWIW, if you don't mind the $10 I think you should try. Remember that high CO2 means happier HC.

 

[saikit]

FWIW, if you don't mind the $10 I think you should try. Remember that high CO2 means happier HC.

Is there such thing as "too much CO2" for plants?

 

[Jnam]

Not really unless you are using pressurized CO2 and then thats till hard to acheive now fish on the other hand could be suffocated by extremely high CO2 and i mean extremely

 

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

X-mas moss would make an awesome carpet for a tank, from how it grows up and layers itself. It would be very cool.