My Planned Tank Setup

The Game

Well Im actually growing rice in this tank as well, part of the project of tryin to recreate a rice paddy fields where the bettas live. Il probably uproot them and replant them in a corner, or just throw them out, seems like such a fussy plant. Anyways, Im not so sure about the Anubias being suitable for my tank, the light source has two tubes, one white, one blue and theyre 39W each. Is that considered strong lighting? Im not too good with plants... and I was reading the profile on Anubias and read that strong light will sorta get brush algae on the leaves and I know that they are difficult to get rid of. Unless that kind of lighting is considered subdued. Im having trouble finding places in Australia that sells floating plants. Ive tried googling Australian aquarium sites that sell plants but no luck there. I may use Duckweed but Ive had that before and it grows like crazy. Im only looking for floating plants if the lights I have are considered too bright for Anubias and Java Fern and bright enough to get me an algae problem, as it is, I already have some green algae growing on the walls and gravel but I think its the kind that is easily eaten by snails and catfish. Any suggestions on how to subdue the lighting or find floating plants to reduce the lighting? Thanks for the advice with the aquascaping, will use those ideas.

1077

I would search for two full spectrum T8 bulbs at around 32 watts each and would look for something with 5000 to 6000 K rating.
If I could not find such bulbs, I might consider limiting the lighting period to around eight hours and see what the plants do with the bulbs you have.

The Game

LOL k thanks, ill try to find those bulbs, but if theyre too expensive, Ill probably go with Duckweed and the Anubias and Java Fern or just have maybe one Anubias and other plants that dont mind bright light. Would you recccommend swords?

The Game

oh wait actually, ignore the sword, I just read its profile. I may go with pennywort, Java Moss, Wisteria and maybe some other plants that I come across. Any other plants that don't mind my kind of lighting and don't need fertilisers?

1077

Could not say without knowing what type of bulbs you have, T5, T8, T12. For the plants listed thus far, full spectrum T8 bulbs would produce the best benefits without becoming too intense and encouraging algae in the absence of CO2 and Fertilizers which are both in demand from plants at much higher rate with the more intense bulbs.

The Game

I have a T5 bulb, but what does all these T5, T8, T12, 5000 K rating all mean?

1077

T=tubular bulb , The number after = size of the bulb (diameter)
T5 =5/8 inch diameter
T8= 1 inch diameter
T12 = 1 1/2 inch diameter.
K rating(kelvin) = Temp and spectrum output.

The two T5 bulbs you have would be considered High light for your tank ,and would increase the demand for CO2 and fertilizers in order to keep up with the demand from plants under this type lighting while not encouraging lots of algae.
If the fixture you have would allow you to run just one bulb (many won't) then perhaps you could use the present fixture and one bulb.
Otherwise ,were it me,, I would look for a fixture that accepts T8 bulbs as described earlier. these would be less intense and would allow plants to grow albeit slowly without addition of CO2 and or fertilizers.
The more intense the light,the more demand from the plants for CO2. The more CO2 the faster the growth and the demand for fertilizers then becomes the limiting factor for growth.
I confess I am not all that well schooled on plants other than easy to grow plants under low to moderate lighting.
When you begin to inject CO2 into the equation,, I am near ignorant.
Byron,who is also a member here would perhaps be able to explain better what I have attempted thus far but I hope you get the drift so to speak.
Were it me,, I would search for a plain old shop light that can be hung over the tank, or laid on top assuming the tank has a lid and slap a couple full spectrum T8 bulbs around 32 watts each with a 5 to 6000 K rating and this would in my view allow you to grow the plants and observe the rate of growth without also fighting a large algae problem.
You can always choose to go with more lighting and or CO2 at some later point after you have examined the pros and cons of low tech method and or high tech with respect to planted aquariums.(research)
I am presently following Non CO2 method described by a gentleman named Tom Barr and thus far am pleased with the results.
There are several ways to grow plants , best to select one method,,and follow it rather than try and incorporate parts of different methods like some folks I know
I often seem to make things harder on myself before allowing them to become easy.
Would not wish the same for anyone else.

Calmwaters

Could you possiable post a picture of your tank?

redchigh

I actually wanted to ask what you mean by "1 white and 1 blue"...
I've never seen a "white" light.... If the 'blue' is cool white and the "white" is warm, then in this case you'll be ok. (The main plant is the rice, and it's emersed. Emersed plants like a bit more red.)

If the 'blue' light is actinic or 50/50, you should definately replace it. Did you use soil in the substrate like we were discussing?

If so, you may want to reconsider the kuhlis... It may be fine anyway.
Also, if you want to set up a 'biotope' to match betta's native habitat, then you have other options than just rice paddy fields...
Bettas also live in temporarily flooded lowlands... Not too many plants, but grass stays alive... (Use grassy plants like E.Tenellus and dwarf sag, along with driftwood.)

thefishboy

Sounds like a really nice tank definatley need picture..................