Amazon Biotope

Kelso

Alright! All you plant aficionados gather 'round, I got a little something I need from you guys. Today I had gone through the 7 hour process of getting my new (used) 75 gallon tank, cleaning it up, and putting in my sand substrate. It was filthy. It's got an Aquaclear 500 on it until I can find a good canister. It's in the process of cycling...just started today. So what I need assistance on is...plants!!! I got plenty of space to work with...864 square inches to be exact. I'm looking for a wide variety of plants...from low shrubby plants to giant tank busters. So please, please, please offer me plant suggestions that are found in the Amazon. I'm looking more into a river set up here as well. All ideas will most likely be employed, so there are no wrong answers! Fire away!

Angel079

Ok, in that case on a 75g....something like this
Handful Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri), some Red Rubin's (E.Rubin) for color, def some Narrow Leaf Chain (E. tennelus) for the front "grassy" areas, some Broad Leaf Chain (E. quadricostatus) for the middle mixed in with some Klenier Bar sword. Alternative to the broad leaf chain you could do Sagittaria, grow a lil taller but does NOT grow/ spread as fast as broad leaf chain
Maybe I'd toss in some Pennywort on the rear sides since they have nice vivid green color and round leaf's.
And then maybe....just cause its me lol i'd put a red Tiger Lotus in there for color (which wouldn't be amazon style really but sure adds some nice coloration)

You should find all these plants with pictures on here (or prop also in Byrons tanks I"m sure, I think he's got a Amazon set up too) Aquarium Plants

And oh yea a bunch DW

And one's that's set up...PICTURESSSS please

Kelso

You know a good place that's got DW for cheap? That link you gave me comes up with a warning on my comp for low vendor reliability, so I'm a little leery on ordering from there. I'm hoping Byron would chime in as well ;) I'm gonna take a look at his tank. I like the plants you suggested so far...definitely adding them to my shopping list!

Lighting:

Light Output: 1600 Lumens
Wattage: 40 Watts
Kelvin: 2700K

I have Room and equipment to add more lighting if needed as well.

Angel079

I ONLY gave you this link for its neat pictures...I buy my plants here Sweet Aquatics I love their quality & prices have ordered there several times so far always HAPPY

I find the Kelvin and the wattage pretty low on a 75g i'd do something like 2x30w or 1x60w and a K around 5-6500K. I donno what bulbs exactly you have there...but consider a trip to Lowes or homedepot and get you some Daylights rated @ 6500K and the needed wattage...otherwise this may be too little for your plants I'm afraid.

Byron

Angel is correct, you need better light. The lower kelvin number (3400K) indicates mostly red and little or no blue in the colour spectrum, and you will not have good success with plants. I explain this is Part 4 of the sticky series above this section.

The plants in my two Amazon setups are listed in the tank data. I can point them out in the photos if you ask. All the plants in both the 115g and 90g are from the Amazon basin.

Byron.

Kelso

I can easily return the light bulb and get one of a higher Kelvin with no problem. I'll do so today.

Byron

Is there one tube or two in the present fixture? You mention "40 watts" earlier, suggesting one 48-inch tube. If it is just one tube, I would go with a full spectrum like the Daylight or Ultra Daylight around 6500K that Angel recommended. With two tubes, you can mix full spectrum with cool white.

Kelso

Yep one 48 inch tube. They had that at home depot, so that's what I'll be sure to grab. Thanks you two!

Angel079

Your plants will thank you for it!!! And I mean really few bucks at the home store is DEF worth while it.
I replace mine ~1x year and hand the used once that are not so great for plants any more off to folks around me with shop lights....works well for my neighbors and for my tanks and eliminates needless junk lol

Kelso

Sweet deal at home depot...they had a 2 pack for the 6500K bulbs for less than what I paid for for the one 2700K bulb.