Help aquascaping my new 40G Breeder

SomeDudeAtHome

So I've set up my new 40G breeder, done some planting but there's one plant I'd like to include but can't figure out where to put. I'd like to put in Green Cabomba. I was thinking somewhere in the back cornerish area but the swords are there. What's everyone's opinion? This is what it looks like now. Back left is Amazon Sword, next to that is 2 ruffled swords and a melon sword, then on the back right is some wide leaf sag. Front is Pygmy chain sword and microsword. Also a couple Anubias nana and moss balls. Any help is appreciated. Also would like some ideas on midground plants for space filling that would have some nice color to them.

kangy

hmm I'm thinking maybe the front left corner. For midground I have been realy happy with my various forms of Crypt. In lower light they grow taller and more slender. I have a lutea that is growing like a weed and partially hiding the stems of my mammoth Melon Sword nicely right now.

SomeDudeAtHome

Oh I forgot to add that I'm trying to go with plants from central/south America and same with fish. I agree though a crypt would fit there real nice but unfortunately it's from the wrong area and putting it in there would drive me crazy haha.

kangy

Lol gotcha. I'm going with the "melting pot" theme for my tank (AKA: the absense of any particular plan / dump whatever looks pretty in there)

SomeDudeAtHome

Also the tube in there now is a 8000k full spectrum but I' unsure of the wattage. I'm going to buy a 6500K bulb today or tomorrow would 60W be good for the plants I have?

kangy

I'm not sure about the wattage. Byron, Quantum, and I just had a very lengthy discussion regarding lights (it's hidden in one of my plant ID posts lol) I'm running the Aqueon 8000k bulb and the plants are doing just fine, look at the spectrum on the back. While 6500k is what I'll switch to when my current tube is due for replacement. You might be able to save the cash and put it somewhere else.

Byron

On the light: If this is T8 with a single tube, you will not get anywhere close to 60w. Which is just as well, as that would be quite bright. But I would upgrade to a full spectrum/daylight tube, with around 6500K. If this is just a single tube fixture, I would suggest a Life-Glo (Hagen) or Ultra Sun (ZooMed). The Coralife 50/50 I have not personally used so can't say definitely, but from what I've seen of it I think it should work too. With any of these, you will notice a much brighter tank. But that is not too much, with floating plants.

On the Cabomba, you might have trouble under this light. Cabomba is a fast growing stem plant and thus requires brighter light. It has been a while since I last tried it, back in the 1980's that was, and I have been meaning to get some to see if it will survive in my moderate light.

Byron.

SomeDudeAtHome

Thanks guys you've been really helpful. I'll check for those lights at my LFS and see what they have. This is a single tube fixture and I managed to find the wattage and the current bulb is 17w. I hope the Cabomba does well because I really enjoy the look of it.

Byron, with the Cabomba and swords both enjoying light on the brighter side would I be better off look at a hardware store for a brighter tube with the 6500K rating or is full spectrum more important?

Quantum

17 watts means 24" T8, you may want to try and get a 36" fixture with the 25 watt 36" T8, that would provide better coverage so the sides aren't so dark

Byron

Fluorescent tubes come in a basic wattage for the tube length. So the length that fits your fixture will be that wattage only. However, the phosphors used in the tube affect the colour (spectrum) and intensity (dare I say it, lumens) and these can vary somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer, or depending upon the type of tube (how it is made, the phosphors inside).

As an example, because I am most familiar with them, 48-inch tubes. T8 used to be 40w. Then some manufacturers came out with 32w tubes that emitted basically the same light. Energy-efficient, the buzzword today. This is one example. But the other is the phosphors. In the Hagen "Glo" series the Life-Glo is the best. It emits twice the intensity of the Aqua-Glo, yet both are 40w. Then there is the Power-Glo, also 40w, but even more intensity, just a tad above Life-Glo. But of these, only the Life-Glo has the balanced spectrum that renders colours accurately.

I don't think you can do better than the Life-Glo. I use this on all my single-tube tanks. The Power-Glo might be worth trying, if you don't mind the purplish hue it casts; it is a tad brighter, and plants do well under it. I had one years ago. For a bit less cost, there is ZooMed's UltraSun; I know these are very close to the Hagen tubes, and I do have a couple but not the UltraSun which is the best spectrum alone. No one here carries these any longer, so I can't compare them for you. But I can't see it being much different.

Byron.