help with 20g planted - Aquarium Advice

chris127 · 06-01-2008, 08:58 PM

i have a couple of plants (6) total in a 20 gallon with some tetras/barbs. ive been replacing my plastic plants with real ones and im just starting to watch them grow. my question is, do i need to get a co2 diffuser or other plant accessories? i plan to add more soon.

heres a picture.

**Purrbox** · 06-01-2008, 11:12 PM

That depends on your goals and lighting. How much light do you currently have over the aquarium?

neilanh · 06-02-2008, 08:48 AM

Yeah, tell us a little bit about your equipment and we can help you out.

chris127 · 06-02-2008, 03:59 PM

okay. the lighting is just stock light that came with the tank - all glass aquarium 15 watt (8000k) i was confused about all the lights at the pet store and didnt want to buy anything without talking to aquarium afficionados. i want to eventually put about 5 more real plants in there.

JustOneMore20 · 06-02-2008, 04:27 PM

I would suggest increasing your lighting. You have very low light right now with the stock fixture and you won't be able to keep many plants healthy. There are low light options though, but not too many to choose from.

If you were able to get a double fluorescent fixture, you'd be doing better than you are now. Or if you can get a double T5 HO (high output) fixture, that would be even better and you'd have a pretty wide variety for plant choices.

It all depends on what your goals are for the tank. Right now, you should limit your plants to Java fern, Anacharis, Anubias, Cryptocorynes, and Java moss, as most others won't last long.

chris127 · 06-02-2008, 04:31 PM

is there a higher watt bulb i can put into my stock light fixture?

HiJaC · 06-02-2008, 05:14 PM

hi,

i wouldnt think you could just pop a bigger bulb in as they tend to increase in wattage with size. so with the ballast you have your going to be pretty stuck with the 15w tube (probably T8') as far as i know.

Saying that if you dont want to splash out on some new lighting options you can try and optimise what you already have. I have a similar tank to yours with a 15w bulb. I vastly increased the growth of my plants by switching to a special plant bulb, adding a reflector then adding good substrate (eco-complete).

Then obviously i learned over time that only low light plants would actually grow and flourish, if only slowly.

Crypts, some vallis, and some java moss is what i have in mine. I'll post a pic when i get home tomorrow. I actually had to trim things back the other day for the first time in 4 months!. Which is the one real advantage of a very low light tank, you can just leave it to do it's thing.

If your wanting to get into planted tanks in a heavy way, up the wattage with a new T5 setup and open up a massive array of different plants with their corrisponding dosing schedules.

Best Regards,

John

chris127 · 06-02-2008, 05:31 PM

what kind of bulb do you have? i dont have the money to get a high watt fixture

struggling college student!! lol

**Purrbox** · 06-02-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris127

is there a higher watt bulb i can put into my stock light fixture?

Unfortunately no. About your only option with the current fixture is overdriving the fixture by replacing the ballast. Do some searches for ODNO for more information.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris127

what kind of bulb do you have? i dont have the money to get a high watt fixture

struggling college student!! lol

Stick to low light plants like Anubias, Crypts, Java Fern, and Java Moss. You can still end up with a very nice planted aquarium, things just won't grow all that fast. You'll probably at most need to dose Micronutrients and Potassium after water changes.

chris127 · 06-02-2008, 06:56 PM

i have Tetra's Florapride. i dose it every time i do a 50% water change(about every other week)

should i remove the moneywert since it needs high light? i clipped the top off and noticed that it grew back about an inch in a month.

06-01-2008, 08:58 PM	#1
chris127 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 124	help with 20g planted i have a couple of plants (6) total in a 20 gallon with some tetras/barbs. ive been replacing my plastic plants with real ones and im just starting to watch them grow. my question is, do i need to get a co2 diffuser or other plant accessories? i plan to add more soon. heres a picture.

06-01-2008, 11:12 PM	#2
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 4,791	That depends on your goals and lighting. How much light do you currently have over the aquarium? __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

06-02-2008, 08:48 AM	#3
neilanh MTS Advocate Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 2,792 Images: 15	Yeah, tell us a little bit about your equipment and we can help you out. __________________ ~Neilan In the DC Metro Area? Check out GWAPA Look, I have a My Info Page! Where's yours? Useful Links: Vote for AA, Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling, Articles, Acronym List

06-02-2008, 04:27 PM	#5
JustOneMore20 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: May 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,105 Images: 8	I would suggest increasing your lighting. You have very low light right now with the stock fixture and you won't be able to keep many plants healthy. There are low light options though, but not too many to choose from. If you were able to get a double fluorescent fixture, you'd be doing better than you are now. Or if you can get a double T5 HO (high output) fixture, that would be even better and you'd have a pretty wide variety for plant choices. It all depends on what your goals are for the tank. Right now, you should limit your plants to Java fern, Anacharis, Anubias, Cryptocorynes, and Java moss, as most others won't last long. __________________ ~Kristin~ 5 planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g; 10g Shell Dwelling Cichlid tank, 5.5g fry tank My links to pics: My 40g breeder log, My tanks blog

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06-02-2008, 03:59 PM	#4
chris127 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 124	okay. the lighting is just stock light that came with the tank - all glass aquarium 15 watt (8000k) i was confused about all the lights at the pet store and didnt want to buy anything without talking to aquarium afficionados. i want to eventually put about 5 more real plants in there.

06-02-2008, 04:31 PM	#6
chris127 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 124	is there a higher watt bulb i can put into my stock light fixture?

06-02-2008, 05:14 PM	#7
HiJaC Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 180	hi, i wouldnt think you could just pop a bigger bulb in as they tend to increase in wattage with size. so with the ballast you have your going to be pretty stuck with the 15w tube (probably T8') as far as i know. Saying that if you dont want to splash out on some new lighting options you can try and optimise what you already have. I have a similar tank to yours with a 15w bulb. I vastly increased the growth of my plants by switching to a special plant bulb, adding a reflector then adding good substrate (eco-complete). Then obviously i learned over time that only low light plants would actually grow and flourish, if only slowly. Crypts, some vallis, and some java moss is what i have in mine. I'll post a pic when i get home tomorrow. I actually had to trim things back the other day for the first time in 4 months!. Which is the one real advantage of a very low light tank, you can just leave it to do it's thing. If your wanting to get into planted tanks in a heavy way, up the wattage with a new T5 setup and open up a massive array of different plants with their corrisponding dosing schedules. Best Regards, John

06-02-2008, 05:31 PM	#8
chris127 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 124	what kind of bulb do you have? i dont have the money to get a high watt fixture struggling college student!! lol

06-02-2008, 06:56 PM	#10
chris127 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 124	i have Tetra's Florapride. i dose it every time i do a 50% water change(about every other week) should i remove the moneywert since it needs high light? i clipped the top off and noticed that it grew back about an inch in a month.