I am also new to plants...need advice :)

[Cobaltskyy]

IM so excited! My new light fixture is coming Tuesday 36" compact flourscent 2x55watt 10000 K white daylight and actinic bulb....I'm just nervous about the strength, am I going to have an algae bloom? Will I need to start CO2? I only have 3 plants in there now but plan on replacing the 6 silk plants I have with real ones....any tips or suggestions would be gladly accepted!! Also I saw somewhere a DIY carbon "reactor" made with a 2L soda bottle????? Any suggestions??? Thanks

Oh and its a 30 gal long!

[rich311k]

You should not need CO2 until you switch to a daylight bulb from that atnic one. I would suggest that you get yourself a bunch of fast growing stem plants, that will get things rolling in the right direction. i find tanks go better if you plant heavily from the start. Excel is a good choice for CO2 supplementation if you don't want to go the pressurized route. Good luck.

[Vircomore]

So - the lights that you're getting are 2 bulbs (1 daylight, 1 actinic)? If so, your plants will only get the 55 watts from the 10,000K daylight bulb. Actinic light (blue) does not benefit plants at all, so you would need to replace the Actinic with another 10,000K if you want 110 watts of light.

If you leave just the 55 watts over a 30gal, chances are you won't need CO2 because that is only medium-low lighting for a tank that size. If you decide to go with 2 daylight bulbs, then CO2 may be in your future.

Also - there is a difference between a CO2 reactor and a CO2 production system.

You can DIY a CO2 producer with sugar, water, and yeast.

A CO2 reactor is a device that doesn't produce CO2, but instead provides a chamber for dissolving the CO2 into the flow of the water so that it doesn't just float away in bubbles.

[Cobaltskyy]

I will have to check it out when I get it....the pic shows 2 sets of 2 bulbs but the fixture only looks like it can hold 1 set of the 2 bulbs let me see if I can copy the link.

Thanks for the advice on the CO2.....so sugar, water and yeast....that's how my dad would start his MOONSHINE! LOL

[Cobaltskyy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/36-POWER-COMPACT...item256448e025

[Mr. Limpet]

Originally Posted by Cobaltskyy

36" POWER COMPACT FLUORESCENT FISH TANK AQUARIUM LIGHT | eBay

Firstly, Rich is right about getting a bunch more plants in there. If they're not using the lights/nutrients/etc, the algae will IME.

That blue bulb isn't gonna do a whole lot for your plants, but it will make the tank look nice . I have a PCF split tube 55w 10kK/Actinic bulb in my BW tank and it looks great. You could try it and see how things go and always switch it out later with a 55w/6700K bulb if you don't like the look or want more usable light for the plants.

For plants, Anacharis and hornwort are 2 fast growing plants that will soak up anything they can get their leafs on till you figure out what you want to populate the tank with.

Here's a couple links to check out:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...es-153985.html

PlantGeek.net - Your Aquatic Plant Resource

Happy Planting!

[Cobaltskyy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Limpet

Firstly, Rich is right about getting a bunch more plants in there. If they're not using the lights/nutrients/etc, the algae will IME.

That blue bulb isn't gonna do a whole lot for your plants, but it will make the tank look nice . I have a CPF split tube 55w 10kK/Actinic bulb in my BW tank and it looks great. You could try it and see how things go and always switch it out later with a 55w/6700K bulb if you don't like the look or want more usable light for the plants.

For plants, Anacharis and hornwort are 2 fast growing plants that will soak up anything they can get their leafs on till you figure out what you want to populate the tank with.

Here's a couple links to check out:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...es-153985.html

PlantGeek.net - Your Aquatic Plant Resource

Happy Planting!

I have a tiny java fern attached to some fake driftwood, a small anubias barteri, and the last one I can't remember its still potted and has the name tag on it but I'm at work...lol Should I take that one out of the pot or leave it, its once of those plastic ones with the slots in the sides and bottom

[Mr. Limpet]

Originally Posted by Cobaltskyy

I have a tiny java fern attached to some fake driftwood, a small anubias barteri, and the last one I can't remember its still potted and has the name tag on it but I'm at work...lol Should I take that one out of the pot or leave it, its once of those plastic ones with the slots in the sides and bottom

I don't like leaving them in the pots, but I've seen other do it and have them grow some. The roots are bound into the pot so they don't spread out and allow the plant to grow IMO.

With a couple low light plants, I'd suggest getting a lot more before you put the new light on the tank. I had the perfect storm when I added my new light and paid dearly for it with 2 months of BA.

[Cobaltskyy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Limpet

I don't like leaving them in the pots, but I've seen other do it and have them grow some. The roots are bound into the pot so they don't spread out and allow the plant to grow IMO.

With a couple low light plants, I'd suggest getting a lot more before you put the new light on the tank. I had the perfect storm when I added my new light and paid dearly for it with 2 months of BA.

Thank you for the advice....I have an awesome selection at my lfs and Sundays the plant lady is there! Guess what I'm gonna do Sunday!!!! LOL

So I'm liking the wisteria, and camboba, and the spiral looking ones vassareli (something like that)....Im so excited...I will post a pic later when I get home of my 3 tiny plants, then the rest I get over the weekend.....Thanks!!!

[Mr. Limpet]

Originally Posted by Cobaltskyy

Thank you for the advice....I have an awesome selection at my lfs and Sundays the plant lady is there! Guess what I'm gonna do Sunday!!!! LOL

So I'm liking the wisteria, and camboba, and the spiral looking ones vassareli (something like that)....Im so excited...I will post a pic later when I get home of my 3 tiny plants, then the rest I get over the weekend.....Thanks!!!

Those are great choices IMO. Plant lady indeed, gotta love it . Pics get a +1 in advance .

[Cobaltskyy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Limpet

Those are great choices IMO. Plant lady indeed, gotta love it . Pics get a +1 in advance .

Woo hoo!!! Im all about the pics!!

[1Vampiregirl]

I have wisteria in my 20gal. It has pretty leaves and grows very very fast! I just trimmed it 2 weeks ago 'coz it was all the way up to the surface and then some and now it's nearly as tall again!

[Cobaltskyy]

Originally Posted by 1Vampiregirl

I have wisteria in my 20gal. It has pretty leaves and grows very very fast! I just trimmed it 2 weeks ago 'coz it was all the way up to the surface and then some and now it's nearly as tall again!

Nice! I'm looking forward to this...my tank already looks very natural....so real plants are going to be the icing on the cake! how do you folks trim your plants??? I'm supposing I should get tank friendly scissors huh?? I know with regular plants often times you can grow another plant from a stem from a larger plant is this true with aquarium plants as well?

[1Vampiregirl]

You know I'd love to hear from AA gurus on your question!
I only trimmed my wisteria once and I have a feeling that wasn't the best way lol.

[rich311k]

I trim my plants with a pair of sharp scissors. I bought from a Dental supply place, they are stainless steel and have stayed sharp for years.

[Mr. Limpet]

This what I use now, they work great!

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ml#post1358318

[Cobaltskyy]

Pics 30 gal

[Cobaltskyy]

Pics of my betta tank...I kinda like the way the algae looks....once I get more plants I think the algae will be gone...so will the fake plants. :O)

[Mr. Limpet]

Looking good!

[Cobaltskyy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Limpet

Looking good!

Thanks! So here is my new light fixture...not on the tank yet because as luck would have it....funds ran out. So for the time being it will hang out. Per your advice I want to put the plants in before I put the new light on. The bulbs are 55W each one blue one white. I will try it out first before swapping for the white 55W x 2! That could put me in over my head! Lol