20 Gallon Wide planted newbie help

[nfored]

24x16x 12 Tanks.

I want to grow some carpet, how much light do I need? Can I buy a cheap halogen light from home depot, or maybe even cheaper energy saver bulbs that screw into the normal house light?

These tanks will be built into the wall, so looks don’t matter, just cheapest light possible. I would like to grow a nice thick carpet and maybe 1 or 2 other plants that will grow tall and look nice.

Please also tell me about the lowest cost CO2 and special substrate, I will need for this.

Last question, do I have to cycle the tank before the pants are put in? Or can I cycle with them in there.

Sorry I am very new to this.

 

[WyldFya]

Read the stickies. Then come back with more precise questions. Many of your questions are already answered in the stickies. For lighting, Halogens will not work, as they are not the proper spectrum.

 

[nfored]

Maybe I am slow as I did read your stickies. but what doesn't make sense is in your sticky it said a 20 gallon needs more lumens then a 55 gallon, and that doesn't make sense . I also read about different substrate, but i have been seeing that not all carpet needs special substrate, like ricca, which is what I want to grow. I also read about you co2 in your stick but it really didn't cover any DIY CO2. Also In the orignal post I said halogens or screw in energy saver bulbs.

My question was more about 3 things.

1 what is the minim light to grow some carpet. (amount of light confusing in sticky)
2 how much co2 will I need (the amount of co2 need for carpet not in sticky)
3 do I cycle the tank first (This was not in your sticky)



72x25x25 - 180G-(tank is 147) - 68
48x24x21 - 75G - (tank is 114) - 87
48x12x21 - 55G - (tank is 102) - 98
30x12x30 - 46G - (tank is 102) - 98
30x12x12 - 20G - (tank is 066) - 155
30x12x18 - 29G - (tank is 078) - 128

What I have found on other websites. is this maybe you can just confirm.

CO2 should be 15-20ppm with fish.
No need to cycle aquarium if its planted.
I bought 2 24" grow lights from wally world, output 75 watts each, will this be enough?

 

[WyldFya]

Minimum light to grow a carpet... well that depends on the plant. Riccia will not work incredibly well as a carpet unless you have your basics down. I'd start with something like Echinodorus tennelus 'short form'. Again your questions are too vague. How much co2 will you need for a carpet... well that depends on the plant. As far as cycling goes, the plants are not affected by ammonia like fish, ammonia is a very easily used source of nitrogen for plants, which is one of the macro-nutrients needed for growth. Cycling isn't needed for the plants benefit, but the fish still will need a tank that is ready for them.

 

[cassharper]

Well, WyldFya has things under control thus far, but I can never resisting chiming in.

The statement you said about a 20gL needing more light than a 55g. I haven't read those stickies in forever, but I think you just missed a word or two. It's not that the 20gL needs more TOTAL light than a 55g would, just more concentration. The light necessities of tanks isn't a perfect light. Most high tech planted tanks that are 90g+ can get away with 2-2.5 wpg, as a 10g would need closer to 7-8. Just because the body of water is smaller doesn't mean that the plants won't need the same intensity.

Cycling the tanks depends on a number of things. In some of my past tanks, I did not cycle. I started, however, with a high light concentration, a good fertilizer schedule and most of the plants came out of other tanks (excellent transfer of what they call "biofilm"). If you have a good photosynthesis rate and a good starter culture, I don't think you will see a "cycle (remember, plants at the store are a veritable host of bacteria too).

I have always kept my CO2 around 20ppm (give or take), but I hear it doesn't affect fish up until much higher (haven't checked that out personally though).

Wyld is right, halogens are a no-go. You ever stick your hand in front of a 500w halogen? Yeah, burns like hell. This means that more energy is being put into making heat, not light.

The most important thing you will need to tell us is what kind of carpet, as there are many different kinds. I have seen people use low light moss, the micro sword wyld is talking about, and all the stereotypicals (glosso, hc, etc). If you decide to go with the last, you will probably hate yourself for a while. Those aren't the easiest to grow for beginners.