5.5 Tank

[d9hp]

First off let me say I dont TRULY know what im doing, so yell at me if need be. I want to start a planted tank, I dont really know the size quite yet, but it will be 2.5 or 5.5, im leaning on 5.5. I want to keep a few tetras, and some vine type plants, and dwarf hairgrass in the foreground. I really dont know how I am going to fit my lighting into and hood, I want two 13 watt lights, if that is poss. That would give me like 5 watts per gallon, I think thats enough. I need to know about the filter and such, do I put it in at the begining, or wait until it is cycled? I have heard to use plants in the cycling process, is this accurate? Im rambling so I will stop.

One last thing. Do i NEED CO2?

 

[loganj]

All I can say is that I think one of the screw in PC's from HD...the ones made by Commercial Electric...might be a viable option to light this tank. It would be cheap and should provide plenty of light. I'm thinking if you get too much light, you may need the C02 which might be difficult in a small tank. It sounds like a neat idea and could be a really pretty tank. Since the only aquatic plant I have ever successfully grown is hair algae, I would have to defer to others on the rest of it.
Logan J

 

[Guest]

I agree with Logan on the lighting, I think one of those PC's would work well. Thats such a small tank, I've never tried anything like that. I'd try it first with no Co2, but quality substrate (flourite or another substrate intended for planted tanks), and good lighting.

Co2 drops your ph, and I'd be concerned about too much in a nano tank like that, very unsure of the consequences.

I've had a very hard time with the dwarf hairgrass, only a tiny bit of it left in my tank. I've read that many people cannot keep it untill their substrate is over a year old, as some chemistry changes over time.

Another option, looks very similar, would be microsword lilaeopsis (SP?). I have a good bit of that, grows and spreads well, gives the same "lawn" effect as hairgrass.

 

[tyler]

this is my 5.5, 2 screw in 13 watt 6500 pc's, diy co2, 1 ml of flourish daily

 

[d9hp]

cool