Will these plants work with this light and substrate

Clubber

I'm starting a 29 gallon planted. Lighting will be a 30" Coralife fixture with a single 65watt 6700K bulb turned on I'm thinking 8 hours a day. Substrate will be pool filter sand. If needed for ferts I have KNO3, KH2PO4, PMDD and Flourish Comprehensive as well as Excel. Filter will be a Marineland c-220.

Here's the plant list I want to keep in this set up:

10 Jungle Vals
4 Java Ferns
10 Brazilian Pennywort (floating & planted)
1 Tiger Lotus
2 Banana Plant
10 Dwarf Onions
10 Pygmy Chain Swords

and possibly 2-4 Moss Balls

Can these ALL grow in sand under this light with ferts?

If needed info fish will probably be 1-2 gouramis, swordtails and cherry barbs. Otto's later.

Inga

Should be a lovely tank. Can't wait to see pictures of it. I am not familiar with KNO3, KH2PO4, PMDD but my plants grow like crazy with just the Flourish Comprehensive and 10 hours of light each day.
My experience is that ONE Gourami or one male and 2 females is the way to go. If you should get 2 males, it could end badly. Just food for thought.

Clubber

Believe me I hear you on the m/f gourami ratio. I just can really only find males it seems. I would love a trio or pair of pearls but I'll probably do a gold or blue opaline gourami even just one because the stores always carry them it seems.

Yeah Flourish can do wonders for plants with good light, I think the main concern I have is the pool filter sand. I want to use it in case I add cories or kuhlis in the future and I love the look of it. Those other ferts I named are dry fertlizers that I simply sprinkle into the tanks water coluimn.

Rip

i've never experimented with that many watts per gallon over my planted tanks, but i'm fairly new and have found success with Byron's low lighting techniques. for comparison, my 29 gallon has a single 24 inch T8 20 watt 6700k bulb, and i have good growth. none of tanks have more than 1.5 wpg. and i also use Flourish Comprehensive.

that must be a T5 bulb fixture that you're using?

Clubber

Oh no, not T5. It's a compact flourescent bulb.

Byron

I would caution on the light and balance. With pool filter sand, presumably white, you will have a lot of light reflected off the substrate and this is very stressful on fish. A darker substrate works better, plaqysand for example.

On the balance, it will take some working out to find it, achieving good plant growth with minimal algae. Be careful with the dry ferts, if these don't balance everything else, it can cause problems. The best method is to start off minimal and gradually work up until you achieve the balance. The less going in the tank the better for the fish.

Byron.

Clubber

Play sand is doable for this set up. I can get it at my local Home Depot. I will use that instead of the PFS.

I'm thinking maybe I'll leave the light on for 8 hours a day at first then if needed I'll reduce or increase it accordingly?

I'll use caution with the dry ferts. Maybe at first I could just dose regular Flourish?

Appreciate your advice.

Oh and Rip, it looks like Byron's low lighting methods are working well, very nice tanks!

Actually everyone in this thread has great ones.

Byron

I have the HD playsand in two tanks and I really like it. Pain to rinse at first, but once it is set up, a very nice substrate. My pygmy corys and two dwarf loach species love it.

I would start with Flourish Comprehensive; it is the only preparation I know of that has all nutrients included [except oxygen, hydrogen and carbon which all occur naturally in the tank] and in proportion for the plants' needs. Depending upon the plant species, once a week may be sufficient, or twice; the hardness of your tap water (some minerals occur there), fish load and fish food factor into this. For a 29g, only 1/2 teaspoon per dose, it is concentrated. Then the light duration can be worked out to balance.

If you haven't seen them, my series "A Basic Approach to the Natural Planted Aquarium" stickied at the head of this section might provide some general background info.

Clubber

I've just read through your stickies and I found the filtration section most interesting and wanted to ask a question regarding that.

I am seriously considering a sponge filter after reading it. The tank will have all the plants I listed in my original post. I have several air pumps and lots of airline tubing... would one of those Hydor sponges suffice for a 29 gal?

Byron

Yes. They make several sizes, rated for specific tank sizes; get the one that handles a 30g and you're fine. I have one Hydor in my 10g, and it is amazing how much stuff it pulls in. I have dual Elite sponge filters in my 20g and 29g, only because they are what I bought years ago.