Hi guys, this is my first time posting in this section of the forums because its my first planted tank 
.. i attached some pictures just to give you an idea of what plants i'm working with... my brother got me the plants so i don't know much about them but he said they are slow growing plants (and aquatic too)...
here's a link to the lighting system i am using on the tank:
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_LET_Lighting
i have all the flourish line of products for dosing the aquarium and found this chart:
http://www.seachem.com/support/PlantDoseChart.pdf
i also found this:
Seachem Dosing Calculator/Chart - Fertilizing - Aquatic Plant Central
im still unsure whether i need to be dosing every single product in the tank weekly or not... i have not done a lot of research on planted tanks yet, but i feel like i have a good start since i have good substrate, lighting, and the fertilizers with adequate filtration...
this is the substrate i am using:
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/FlouriteBlackSand.html
if anyone has any pointers let me know
but my main question now is... i'm using a timer with those lights that i linked and the timer has 2 event modes, i was wondering if i could put the lights on for 8 hours a day but split them up into 4 hour sections... so right now my lighting schedule is:
10:15am on - 2:15pm off
9:15pm on - 1:15am off
repeat
is this healthy for the plants/fish? is there any negative effect of not doing 8 consecutive hours? how many hours would be sufficient with this type of lighting and plants? i want to minimize algae.
thank you everyone and i really want to be successful with the planted tanks. i read how i might not even need a co2 system with the tank i have. its a 55 gallon. personally i feel like its got a good ammount of plants...
also does anyone know any fast growing plants? i hear water wisteria is fast.. i need something that clown loaches wont eat
thanks everyone!!
.. i attached some pictures just to give you an idea of what plants i'm working with... my brother got me the plants so i don't know much about them but he said they are slow growing plants (and aquatic too)...here's a link to the lighting system i am using on the tank:
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_LET_Lighting
i have all the flourish line of products for dosing the aquarium and found this chart:
http://www.seachem.com/support/PlantDoseChart.pdf
i also found this:
Seachem Dosing Calculator/Chart - Fertilizing - Aquatic Plant Central
im still unsure whether i need to be dosing every single product in the tank weekly or not... i have not done a lot of research on planted tanks yet, but i feel like i have a good start since i have good substrate, lighting, and the fertilizers with adequate filtration...
this is the substrate i am using:
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/FlouriteBlackSand.html
if anyone has any pointers let me know
but my main question now is... i'm using a timer with those lights that i linked and the timer has 2 event modes, i was wondering if i could put the lights on for 8 hours a day but split them up into 4 hour sections... so right now my lighting schedule is:
10:15am on - 2:15pm off
9:15pm on - 1:15am off
repeat
is this healthy for the plants/fish? is there any negative effect of not doing 8 consecutive hours? how many hours would be sufficient with this type of lighting and plants? i want to minimize algae.
thank you everyone and i really want to be successful with the planted tanks. i read how i might not even need a co2 system with the tank i have. its a 55 gallon. personally i feel like its got a good ammount of plants...
also does anyone know any fast growing plants? i hear water wisteria is fast.. i need something that clown loaches wont eat
thanks everyone!!
