I'M DONE!!!

[WyldFya]

60 watts would be good. More won't really hurt most plants. This brand is a good brand, I use these primarily. I'd get the 24" 65W 6700K fixture. cd-16981 $59.99.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9871&N=2004+113345

If you ever wanted to go with a white light get a 10,000K bulb. A light for $350 would probably be a some crazy markup, or a cheap POS metal halide, both of which would be crazy to put on a tank that small.

 

[benzjamin13]

I just started a live plant tank. I admit I don't have any special subrate for it. They are in gravel, but they get a lot of lighting and the temperature of the tank is around 80 degrees. They've been good so far, but it's only been a couple of months.

 

[MrRngr94]

....and thanks for pointing me in the right direction instead of just bashing me.

I hope you didn't take what I was saying as bashing you. That wasn't my intent. I was just saying it seemed as if you threw your hands up from it without really looking for what was wrong.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

get a double light strip four your 20 gal, and get some new fluorescent lights. No need to go actinic/power compact fluorescent in a tank that size.

Plants like Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria, Anubia should grow without problems, even with marginal care on ferts. Furthermore, they are hardy regarding water chemistry. Just leave the substrate undisturbed around their roots when you gravel vac.

HarleyK

 

[jerppyjerp]

I hope you didn't take what I was saying as bashing you. That wasn't my intent. I was just saying it seemed as if you threw your hands up from it without really looking for what was wrong.

It may not have been your intent, but you have not yet put in some advise. Now if saying "your not doing it right" over and over is your idea of advise I'd understand.

 

[rayman45]

me eather..not java moss or duck weed

i cant keep any plants alive

 

[HarleyK]

Okay guys, this is going nowhere. MrRngr94 is right in that you, jerppyjerp, did not make the initial impression that you were fully dedicated to making a planted tank work. You offered very little information on your set-up and past attempts in your first posts, which made your dedication questionable. "Ph is whatever the tap is" does not sound very involved nor interested in a solution.

That changed with later posts.

MrRngr94 put his first statement into perspective with his second post, and you should acknowledge that instead of bashing him.

In order to trouble-shoot stunned plant growth, exact knowledge of the water chemistry and set-up are essential.

Shake hands and move on.

HarleyK

 

[softturtle]

I have a 20 long and only use 24 watts of light (its a dual tube 48w, but I thought it was to much, so I took out one bulb). I have anubias(nana) , java fern, and hornwart(I think). All I do is at substrate fert. tabs (Tetra) every month and add Leaf Zone (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) every two weeks. All that and regular water changes keep it nice and clean and the plants are doing good. Oh, low stocking doesn't hurt either.

I usually don't go by the watt/gallon deal, I go by surface area. I usually go for about 10 watts for every square foot of surface area for low light planted tanks (a lot of times it breaks down to the same amount of light as 2-3watts/gal but other times its way off, depending on dimensions).

 

[jerppyjerp]

Okay guys, this is going nowhere. MrRngr94 is right in that you, jerppyjerp, did not make the initial impression that you were fully dedicated to making a planted tank work. You offered very little information on your set-up and past attempts in your first posts, which made your dedication questionable. "Ph is whatever the tap is" does not sound very involved nor interested in a solution.

That changed with later posts.

MrRngr94 put his first statement into perspective with his second post, and you should acknowledge that instead of bashing him.

In order to trouble-shoot stunned plant growth, exact knowledge of the water chemistry and set-up are essential.

Shake hands and move on.

HarleyK

How am I bashing him? Consider me a child when it comes to this plant stuff. The others acted like conserned parents in guiding me towards resolutions. Just saying "dont do that" to a person who honestly has no clue thanks to the jackholes at the LFS doesnt help me much at all. Now pointing out the fact that he wasnt giving me advise is "bashing" then I might as well keep me mouth shut and go to another site!

 

[MrRngr94]

ok. Here's some advise. Get a reading on your water params and then post it. From there maybe we can help you more. Are you using any type of co2 setup?

A co2 kit would help replenish co2 that your plants are using up. The co2 kit will also give them enough co2 to promote plant growth. If you're not using a kit then more than likely your plants are getting carbon from your KH. KH helps stabilize your pH. That basicly means that your pH levels can be all over the place, which isn't only bad for your plants, but for your fish.

Now for substrate I'd suggest adding something like Flora Root enricher to your current substrate. It will help give your plants the nutrients and minerals they need. If you're willing to change the substrate then maybe look at Seachem's Flourite.

As for lighting I'd go with a full spectrum bulb.

That's all the advise I can think of for now. Hopefully you continue working on your tank and find some of this info useful.

And btw - I don't even have a planted tank yet. I'm planning on doing one and learned all the advise I just posted by doing research on it. Once again, not bashing, but it makes life easier if you know what you're getting into before-hand. Good LUCK (hehe. put that in there for Del.) on your tank and let us know if you see any improvement.