Lighting help

[cbailey92]

I have a 20g high tank and I recently bought a dual t5ho fixture. The bulbs I have for it are 6500k daylight and 650nm both 18w.Does this put me in the high light range. If not what else do I need to put me there.

 

[Brookster123]

Another fixture just like it would prob get you med/high to low end high range..

 

[cbailey92]

Would co2 be required at that point

 

[Brookster123]

Absolutely, high light requires high maintainence, co2, ferts, glut...is this your first planted tank?

 

[cbailey92]

Ya I've been messing around with low light plants for a year or so. Wanna get into some higher plants

 

[Brookster123]

Why not stick with the setup you have, get some med light plants, dose glut and a micro/macro fert regiment and see how it goes? You can always add another light and co2 in a couple months. It takes a bit to find a nice balance in your tank with nutrients and lighting..

 

[cbailey92]

I have liquid frets. Will those work. Also any cool med light plants u know of

 

[Brookster123]

I have liquid frets. Will those work. Also any cool med light plants u know of

what kind of fert?

 

[cbailey92]

I use liquid co2, flourish, and an iron one

 

[cbailey92]

And root tabs

 

[Brookster123]

are there any plants in this tank now?

 

[cbailey92]

Ya I have anubias, Amazon sword, rotella and some other plant I'm not sure of

 

[Brookster123]

And you're wanting to add more or get those growing?

 

[cbailey92]

Gonna be replacing those with new plants cause I'm redoing the whole tank. Putting in Eco complete substrate and seeing if there are any new plants I can buy. I planted those without having the right lighting so the bottom of the plants have has there growth stunted but the tops look like they should. That's why I'm replacing them

 

[Brookster123]

You can trim them up and replant! Than look into some Ludwiga, rotalas, micro chain sword, hygro, narrow leaf chain sword..

 

[cbailey92]

How far down can u trim a plant that they will grow back. Always been kinda scared of trimming to far down

 

[Brookster123]

Post pics of the plants

 

[cbailey92]

 

[Brookster123]

They all look pretty ok, the front look like narrow leaf chain sword, keep all them! Trim dead growth than give em a bath in 40% hydrogen peroxide/water solution for a minute and rinse before replanting! They'll all do much better with better lighting and nourishment.. Ferts and root tabs!

 

[cbailey92]

Alright thanks a lot you have been a big help.