29-30 gallon lighting

[Headrush]

OK I'm new to planted tanks but just had a bad experience with GBR's and want to start over. 29 gallon is 36" long x 12" front to back x 15?-16?" high

Thought I'd plant the sucker first then worry about getting fish later. Right now I only have the original flourescent bulb in the hood. I have a few java ferns and a "large" 10-12' tall peace lilly in the center. Personally I think java fern is a pain IME. it propogates on the leaves and they get stuck to the filter etc... so I'd like to get away from that

Substrate is fine black sand. I read WyldFya's sticky and have to read it a few more times to absorb it , but think I'll add 1/2" or so of the plant substrate to the sand, just not sure what to go with yet.

What would be the best lighting for growing plants requiring medium amts of light? The sticky said 2.5-4 watts per gallon. More is good so I'll shoot for 4 wpg so thats 120 watt bulb. What bulbs do you guys/gals recommend. Do I need a different hood too?

Plants I'm considering:
Micro Sword (really want to try this)
Anubias nana (already growing on driftwood)
Wisteria?
Temple? ((Hygrophila corymbosa, might be too big tho)
Suggestions welcome!!


Pardon my ignorance but I'm "studying" in the meantime. Also considering DIY C02 Injection.

THX

 

[Danyal]

for those plants a regular 36" bulb would be suffiecent, you'd be amazed at how little light you need to keep most plants alive and growing(slowly but still growing) if you really want to get into higher light plants then go for a 2x65w AHsupply retrofit or a 96w retrofit but those plants you named are all rather lmed~lower light plants, so 4wpg would be way overkill and you'd be alot more likely to get algae, especially if you didnt' have co2. if you really want more light then a 2x36" shoplight would be fine.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Just remember when getting close to 3w/g, you better have CO2, or you'll be up to your ears in algae. I have a 29G with 130W lighting, but currently I only run 1 of the bulbs. And I run CO2 injection.

 

[Headrush]

alright cool. Actually starting off like this will be to my advantage. Not a lot of cash to throw down on equipment. This'll be my first attempt at a planted tank so I'll check my bulbs tonight to see what they are and add it to this thread.

Do you think I'll be OK adding one of the various substrates for planted tanks to my current substrate (sand)?

Not sure if those substrates with the ferts in them will upset the bio and kill my remaining fish. What do you think? it should also be added on top or mixed with the sand right?

29 gallon Stock:
3 otocinclus
2 yoyo loaches (2"juvies)
2 Chinese Hillstream loaches

 

[Danyal]

you should be able to get away with just having sand, why not just leave it alone for a few weeks and then if the plants just aren't doing well then adding the plant substrates, remember more nurtients in the water means more nutrients are availble for algae to grow if your plants aren't growing fast enough to consume it all.

 

[frasertheking]

i got the exact same tank planted with a single 36" floresent grow bulb and the plants growth is fine

 

[Headrush]

I assume there is a test kit that will tell me my nutrient levels in the water? I do have some brown algae on some leaves but the oto's seem to be eating it all the time so it's not spreading very fast.

Now I'm thinking that my lighting is fine if I have java fern propogating on the leaves, and algae...this tells me that conditions are right for a couple more plants right?

Sorry for all the newbie questions...gotta find some time to dig into this and read up on it

 

[mgamer20o0]

the plant substrate doesnt have ferts. you will still need to add them if you get higher lighting.

 

[Headrush]

you should be able to get away with just having sand, why not just leave it alone for a few weeks and then if the plants just aren't doing well then adding the plant substrates, remember more nurtients in the water means more nutrients are availble for algae to grow if your plants aren't growing fast enough to consume it all.

Here are some pics. Java fern propogation is all the growth I've seen. No new leaves and I've had them in here for a few months at least.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

I assume there is a test kit that will tell me my nutrient levels in the water? I do have some brown algae on some leaves but the oto's seem to be eating it all the time so it's not spreading very fast.

Now I'm thinking that my lighting is fine if I have java fern propogating on the leaves, and algae...this tells me that conditions are right for a couple more plants right?

Sorry for all the newbie questions...gotta find some time to dig into this and read up on it

The brown algae is actually diatoms. The otos will clean it up for you. It has nothing to do with the nutrients, as diatoms feed off silicates in the water. They will eventually go away on their own. It's common for newer tanks as well.

Nice tank...