Is this good enough?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Cross127

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Dec 16, 2006
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Alright my 125 is gettin some plants soon and this is what I am planning. 2 or 3 Amazon Swords, 4 java fern, 1 Temple-Narrow Leaf. I have 2-36" light strips with twin bulbs. Now for lighting is 4 Flora-Glo Bulbs good enough or possibly 4 Aqua-Glo bulbs. I know this isn't much WPG but I just can't pull off that many watts. For substrate now is 30 pounds of Flourite good for a first layer? I will be adding pool filter sand on top. Do I even really need the Flourite for the two rooted plants? Does all this sound good to you plant keepers? Thanks in advance.
 
i would add a bit more flourite like 50 pounds but that sounds good so far

you making this a complete plante tank or just a few plant here and there?
 
Sand on top of flourite is a bad idea. You will trap many lethal gases in the flourite, and if disturbed, can be devastating. Personally I'd recommend not getting the T12s, and going for some HO T5 bulbs. You will get more lumens per watt (known as lux).
 
WyldFya;1030548; said:
Sand on top of flourite is a bad idea. You will trap many lethal gases in the flourite, and if disturbed, can be devastating. Personally I'd recommend not getting the T12s, and going for some HO T5 bulbs. You will get more lumens per watt (known as lux).

What if I do a series of tubing around the bottom of the substrate on a slight incline up to a main release tube for the gases. I know this could work because they use this same design in garbage dumps so the methane gases don't blow up the dump. Also will the T5s fit in a standard light strip.
 
T5 bulbs are a completely different ballast, and completely different caps from standard fluorescent lights. That still will not work, as the sand will gradually shift down into the flourite, which will cause these pockets.
 
just have to mix it up from time to time. also get MTS they get into the gravel. i would put the plants on one side of the tank and all the light you can on that one spot. if you want to go cheap go with some shop lights. t8 set up. i had 6x32w t8 over my 120 and was able to grow most things. plants pearling like crazy and so on. try out 4x32w t8 bulbs and see how it goes.

if you really want a nice set up try out ahsupply.com CF gets so much more light into the tank with less watts needed. T5 is also nice.
 
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