purplestarfish
Aquarium Advice Activist
Okay. I've been wanting to do a lushly planted tank for . . . well, for ages! But I have a lighting issue.
I currently have a single T-8 flourescent (however you spell that) light fixture. As we all know, flourescent lights are extremely weak, and this supports nothing but java ferns and the likes. So. I plan on getting a three T-8 light fixture (holds 3 T-8 bulbs). With flourescent bulbs, this would supply the tank with 96-120 watts of light. Is this enough? Do I need to look into the ultra-expensive options of Actinic or VHO lights? I really can't afford anything (even the 3 T-8 is straining my budget), so is there a good, not-too-horribly-expensive alternative, or should I start saving up now?
And while I'm at it . . . CO2. If I put three or four of those Hagen CO2 distributers in the tank, will that be sufficient? (Again, much as I'd like to, I really can't afford much more than that, unless I start saving now for something, like, 5 years down the road, at which point I'll be done with high school and almost college and it'll be pointless.)
And finally . . . a dorky question . . . but can one grow papyrus in tanks? I know it's supposed to be for ponds, but . . . uhh . . . well, it's just a question!
I currently have a single T-8 flourescent (however you spell that) light fixture. As we all know, flourescent lights are extremely weak, and this supports nothing but java ferns and the likes. So. I plan on getting a three T-8 light fixture (holds 3 T-8 bulbs). With flourescent bulbs, this would supply the tank with 96-120 watts of light. Is this enough? Do I need to look into the ultra-expensive options of Actinic or VHO lights? I really can't afford anything (even the 3 T-8 is straining my budget), so is there a good, not-too-horribly-expensive alternative, or should I start saving up now?
And while I'm at it . . . CO2. If I put three or four of those Hagen CO2 distributers in the tank, will that be sufficient? (Again, much as I'd like to, I really can't afford much more than that, unless I start saving now for something, like, 5 years down the road, at which point I'll be done with high school and almost college and it'll be pointless.)
And finally . . . a dorky question . . . but can one grow papyrus in tanks? I know it's supposed to be for ponds, but . . . uhh . . . well, it's just a question!