Satsumas said:
I have found a glass cover which seems ok, tell me what you think? there's no picture which is annoying as i would like to see what i'm buying!...
http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue/aquarium_hoods_trays.asp#product76
Hi there, that's exactly the sort of thing I was talking about via PM earlier on. The glass sliding cover set. It's more expensive than when I've bought it previously but then as I said to you I've only ever had glass covers added extra to custom made tanks (which cost me £2.00 per square foot of cover) or included in tank kits, so I've never had to order them separately. I personally think £11.49 is very reasonable though.
You would be able to use a luminaire in this instance.
Actinic bulbs, as someone said, are useful really for saltwater primarily. I've been considering one in a brackish puffer fish tank I run also, just because I think it will look good (no live plants because of the S.G. of the water).
I also agree with the point raised about the 'triple' approach to planted tanks: light, co2, and ferts. There is a series running in Practical Fishkeeping at the moment that's been on for about 3-4 issues so far about setting up planted tanks. I know from PMs that you've got hold of this mag, and the November issue had an article (I think December does too but I've not finished reading it yet!) on the subject. You may want to order some back issues off their website: there are extremely useful tips.
In terms of plants themselves, I know of an online retailer (Green Line Aquatic Plants -> google that for their website) who sells glosso in pots. Now, this is a carpeting plant but if you ask for my opinion I think it would help having pre-potted specimens to add in the first instance. When I attempted a glosso experiment I got the plants from an unscrupulous retailer who had literally pulled clumps of it off the stem (so no use in the first place), squashed it in a freezer bag, and then shoved it in a jiffy bag through 2nd class post (where it got battered about by the postal service). Green Line box up all plants and their packing is EXCELLENT! I strongly recommend them. With them arriving potted you may just find it a little easier to get them established in the tank than if you ordered clumps.
I really am no expert on planted tanks: there is only one thing I'm unclear on from someone else's post though which says "the smaller the tank the more light you will need", wherein I fail to see the logic. The less depth you have to your tank (i.e. height from top to bottom) the less the light has to travel through the dense medium of water to reach the substrate, so I
would have thought you'd be fine with less lighting in a smaller tank than a larger one!!!
One thing to bear in mind also: if your tank is low in height you may need to examine your plant selection strategy: tall plants will grow out and create shade preventing light getting to lower level plants. I would opt for medium to small height plants, and that way they'll grow fine and you won't have anything dominating the top. This to me seems logical, but again the caveat is I am no expert on planted tanks (for me the plants are to provide a natural hiding place for my fish to reduce stress, to absorb nutrients within the water, and to assist with o2 production again for the benefit of my fish).
There is also Hygro polysperma "sunset" that is more of a dark pink color.
