Too much sunlight

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kaiks

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 17, 2007
10
0
0
hawaii
I am just staterd to get into planted tanks...

I just bought a 55 gallon tank but have no where to put it in the house so i HAVE to put it outside where it will be getting direct sunlight for about 8-10 hours straight.

In order to curb the algae and green water problem considerably i wanted to find out which plants would be best suited for this condition. I wanted plants that needed alot of sunlight so it would take up most of the suns energy and so far i only ordered 10 amazon swords. What other types of plants shuld i get?

i didn't want to get a UV just yet because was hoping that the plants would do the job...that and it's expensive...

I also am debating what type of substrate to use because flourite here costs $30 for 15lbs. i estimated that i would need at least 4 bags and dont want to go down that road, our city mill doesnt carry Schultz Aquatic plant soil and home depot does not carry aquatic soils at all, so was wondering what would be another alt...

Shoots, mahalo for taking the time to read this..
 
Since cost is an issue, pressurized co2 is probably out of the picture. I would recommend you look into some form of co2. Check out the stickies in this section. High light plants often need co2 in good amounts, and as such HOB filters can be counter-productive. I'd stick to plants that can withstand a wide range of lighting levels. I'd recommend anubias, amazon swords, crypts, and aponogetons to start out with.
 
thanks born and wyld, i gotta look into more of what i want to do with this tank, hoping the plecos will help with algae prob as well, and am looking to buy 20 kuhli loaches as well. Also want to put in 1 fire eel and a peacock eel and a ghost knife. Hope this will help with the carbon with out being too overcrowded.
 
Besides Flourite, what are the other types of substrate that is best used for planted tanks? Can i use regular soil from my garden or is that just stupid...

Also, in your opinion what is the most effective but cheapest way to go with substrate? I'm not poor, its just that i dont have much money....i guess this is the wrong hobby for me...
 
kaiks;813490; said:
Besides Flourite, what are the other types of substrate that is best used for planted tanks? Can i use regular soil from my garden or is that just stupid...

Also, in your opinion what is the most effective but cheapest way to go with substrate? I'm not poor, its just that i dont have much money....i guess this is the wrong hobby for me...
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Dont use garden soil bro. Seriously check home depot where they sell their fountain supplies or where the other Schultz soils are,they will have it ( your in hawaii man) or have them order some for you. They are corporate and will do this, might take a week or so. Have you thought about crushed lava? Like grapenut cereal size crushed and then just add it as substrate with some bigger fish for a couple weeks then plant in it,add some more nutrients and you could be golden. I know that theres alot of that in your area.
 
thanks for the info, i'll go check home depot instead of calling them, cant use lava though, i dont have the balls to take it thats why, too superstitious...shoots...
 
Oh yeah, forgot bout all the Pele stuff.
 
Also there are new uv lights on the market which are a lot cheaper and fit inside your tank like a small power head check them out should be able to find them on line. Iknow they are working great in salt water set ups.
 
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