[ttiger72]

The LFS had this mis marked as water sprite, and the person who helped me didn't know much about it.

This is full tank pic. I want to put more vegetation along the back of the tank, and some ground cover type plant in front of the long piece of driftwood as well as in front of the bigger piece of driftwood. Any suggestions on plants? I would like some green and some with color if possible. I will be getting a CFL 65watt light later this week so I would put my WPG around 3 (based on CFL being 35% more light per watt than traditional lights)

 

[ttiger72]

Hi.

Any close-up pic? Looks like a hygrophila to me otherwise.:dunno:

About as close up as I can get

 

[ttiger72]

Looks like Alternanthera reineckii to me. Close to Hygro but even closer to being Alternanthera.

Any suggestions on what else to add to the tank with about a 3WPG light source?

BTW Blue...THANKS for all your help so far :thankyou: :yourock:

 

[ttiger72]

Will second Ludwigia repens and I would add:
Any crypt
Pearlweed
Stargrass

I know might have already been suggested but I am terrible with their technical names

One question, are you injecting CO2? If you are then a clover or HC would be a nice addition as well as Echinodorus Tennelus, I think, Lone knows which one I am talking about. He has it in his tanks and it is a really cool ground cover that is almost grassy in look but grows faster and better then micro swords.

Nope not injecting CO2 and would like to avoid it if possible, I want to get to a moderate planting. Good balance of open water and plants. At what point would I have to start CO2?

 

[ttiger72]

Thanks Blue, all of you have been very helpful for a newbie trying to get started. I greatly appreciate all the advice you guys have given me!

 

[ttiger72]

Actually, anything above 2.5w/g should have CO2. If you don't, you are going to run into some algae issues, and the only way to eliminate it is CO2. BBA is a big one for that, loves low and fluctuating CO2 levels, and no CO2 as well. If the tank is ssmaller, then you can use Flourish Excel instead, as it's a carbon suppliment.

As for being careful with CO2, not really necessary IMO. I run my CO2 at 50ppm-78ppm regularly. The only time you need to be concerned is if it's running up around 100ppm and higher. Currently I'm running my 29G right around 50ppm.

Lastly, in very moderately to heavily planted tanks, you SHOULD run an air bubbler at night. Or anything that will give more surface aggitation. Plants produce O2 during the day, but take it in at night. I've lost fish due to suffocating, I woke up and half the fish dead and the other half gasping at the surface. Within 10 minutes after adding an airstone, all was normal and had to fish out the dead fish. And it included 5 Roseline sharks.

So, remember, plants PRODUCE O2 during the day, and USE O2 at night. The more plants you have, the more O2 that get's stripped from the water.

Hi Lonewolf...can you recommend a system? I don't want to have to have a CO2 tank and regulators. Would something like this work in a 29G tank?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14711&inm=1&N=2004+113779+2032
Also, is my WPG calculation correct at around 3 with a 65W CFL? Or would I be okay using Flourish Excel?

 

[ttiger72]

Thanks Lonewolf. Again this board is great, I have gotten such great advice and hints I may wind up with an incredible tank instead of just a tank. :thumbsup: