Amazon Swords?

[edtriou]

I'd like to put some plants in my 300. The tank is 30" tall and I have 4 6700k T8 bulbs over the top of it.

I have the same height tank, high turn-over sump, no CO2, T8 65K bulbs, and my swords are fine (grow slow, but heathly). Although I have 4x the bulbs you have (on a smaller 6' tank).

With (4)T8 bulbs, you're probably around 50 lumens/dims:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73446

With no CO2, you'll probably want to be closer to 150 for heathy swords. That would translate into adding 6-8 more T8 bulbs (assuming your bulbs are 2800 lumens each). Or (if space is an issue) you could add just 3-4 T5 (HO) to your set, same result.

If your new to plants, you'll need potassium and traces (in addition to fish nitrates). Flurish (seachem) works well, but on a tank that size will get expensive. At some point using dry ferts (on that size) will probalby make sense. Here's Rex's site, best place I have found to order from:
http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/ferts.html

Ed

 

[cassharper]

http://www.aquariumfertilizers.com/

 

[hillbilly]

Amazon Swords are real easy to grow. I'm a fish keeper, rather than a plant keeper, and even I can grow them. Just give them root feedings with root tabs, and decent light, and they should grow, if your fish don't shread them. Every fish is different, you never know. I used a 4x96 watt AH Supply light kit with 2, 6500K, and 2, 5000K bulbs on my old 240gal. tall with good results so far. This tank is 31" tall, uses drip, with no C02 injection.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Awesome tank hill...

any updates rally?

 

[hillbilly]

Thanks.

 

[rallysman]

Thanks for the info guys. I have no plants yet, but I'm still considering it.