Becoming - 55 gallon tank upgrade

Chesherca

Thank you for your input, Byron - you've pretty much mirrored my thoughts exactly. I just don't know where to go from here, or if I should go anywhere! I'm really afraid of messing up the balance and creating an algae outbreak, but as you said - I'm aware that the lighting that is currently running on the tank is the bare minimum - really, only the Java Ferns and a few others should be able to do well under this lighting.

I have to take updated pictures, but the originals in this thread were taken 3 days after set-up - at the beginning of the melting process for the swords, and yes - all of those are the original leaves, and most are gone now. At this point, you wouldn't even be able to see any of the ones in the center of the tank in a photo, though the plants at the corners are faring much better. The new leaves are very close to the substrate and still very small - but they're there. . . everything else in the tank is growing, and even the crypt spirallis is *almost* back to what it was before the melt.

Thanks for the compliment, I really love this setup, too - and am hoping that these sword plants regain their original height and beauty - they really are fundamental to the layout and without them the back wall seems so bare. They did their job in helping the fish feel more secure when they were first transferred into the tank, but I have no experience with these plants, and don't know what they need to thrive from here on in. Be patient, watch, wait. . . I'm sure it will become more obvious as the new growth starts to really come in - or not, as the case may be.

For now I'm going to add my 24" 20 watt T8 to the back of the tank. It isn't much, but will add a bit of light to the center back, where the swords that need it most can benefit. Time will tell, I suppose - and either way, it should be a fascinating process to observe, and I'll learn a lot from it!

Thanks again!

Boredomb

Ugh!!! I think I deleted those Pms I had which also had the Links!!!!!!!! Will have to do some web surfing and see if I can find the page. How does your photographic light meter work? Is it like a PAR meter???
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Boredomb

Ohh did wanna say that you can get Plexiglas at Lowe's and they will even cut it to the size you need. my first 55 gallon tank I had to use a Plexiglas lid as I couldnt find a glass canopy to if it. I will say this it needs to be thicker Plexiglas or Lexan as the moisture for the tank plus the light will cause thinner Plexiglas to bow over time.
As far as the glass canopy and a dual fixture with kids and cats well..... yeah I have 2 cats that sleep on my lights. No matter how much I chase them off the stupid thing they still sleep on it. Its a place where they don't have to worry about the dogs getting them. Plus I think it is the warmth of the fixture. I still have a fixture that is unbroken! LoL Though I do have a broke glass lid due solely to me!! See I don't have to worry about kids and cats breaking stuff but more me as I am soo clumsy!! I took them off once to clean the tank and the lids them self and set them on the floor. I forgot about them and yeah CRUNCH!!!! The noise I heard when I stepped on one! Which actually makes the second time I had done that! I did that to the one on my 29 tank. Its now on its 2nd lid. The one on the 55 has a big crack but still works and holds. So I am still using it till I can get a new set! LoL
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Boredomb

Wait minute......... What Water Lettuce??????? Is this Pistia Stratiotes L.????? Or is it the Dwarf form (not sure the scientific name??). Just curious as there is a major difference between the two.
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Quantum

the light meter for photography will probably give a measure of illuminace in lux, which I my opinion would not be very helpful, lux relates to human eyesight, which is quite a different process than photosynthesis

PAR would be better, but in either case you would have a number, so then what? Some website or book says that you need a certain number and your meter shows less, which is correct? you can observe whether or not what you have is working, regardless of what your lux or PAR number is or supposedly should be

empirical data seems to me to be most useful here, observe and adjust accordingly

Chesherca

You're right, empirical evidence is always best. I haven't gotten so far as to try to figure out HOW to convert the light reading that I would get into something that I can apply, and to be honest - I don't understand these things well enough to be confident that I could, anyway. Moot, since I can't find the thing anyway. I guess I'm just nervous about the swords because I've never HAD them. Still. . . totally new setup, it's going to take time for things to adjust and settle in. Hopefully I'll have a better understanding in a month or three. Thanks for the input, Quantum!


John, lol, you DID read my book! Figures the ONE plant I didn't put a 'real' name to is the one you're asking about! I'm not 100% sure about this, but from what I've read in my books and online, Water Lettuce is just Water Lettuce. It's one of those neat plants that grows to a size based on it's surroundings. In an aquarium, the leaves stay small, but in a pond, this stuff gets HUUUUUUUUUGE! I might be wrong about this - I've heard what you're saying from others, so I'm not entirely sure. But as far as anything that I can find. . . it's all the same thing? *shrug* We'll find out! Dave sent me these from his tanks though, and he'd have told me if it was unsuitable, I'm sure :)

THANK YOU for the tip on Lowe's! At this point . . . I'll probably wait until after Christmas (and financial recovery) before going there, but I did NOT check that store. This news makes me very happy! And yeah. . . if the cat or the kids didn't get to it first, I'd totally smash a glass top - absolutley no doubt about it *sigh* PLASTIC FTW! Any rough idea what the measurement for the thickness that I'd be looking for is? ish?

Quantum

I think you're right about the water lettuce, my 'dwarf' version does grow larger leaves when less crowded

Boredomb

Dang Jes you would have to ask that..... I *thinking* I had 1/4"??? Not totally sure would have to go to the store and see the sizes again. Will say this there is a price difference between regular Plexiglas and Lexan. I know I had the thinness piece at first and it didn't work. I am nit totally sure what size I used after that!
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KrisPriewe

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Boredomb

I not totally understand "water lettuce" either. I have some that I got from Dave also. Its in a tank that the water level is half way down as I have or trying to grow some emerge plants. I have read there is a difference but can not find different scientific names. So maybe your right Jes???? Will have to wait and see. I have seen photos of water lettuce in aquariums with the water level down and the plant was Huge!! Though being the internet who knows if it *is* a real pic???
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