Lookin To Do a Planted Tank

[xboroinc]

i would like to have a 55g or a 125g with sand.plants.driftwood.
QUESTION:
What type of strip light will i need. and do i really need i need a co2 maker??? i dnt plan on having many plants.
What are good plants??? i have chiclids-discuss or south american chiclids in tank. i want a plant that will grow long tall and full. not skinny and wimpy

 

[xboroinc]

bump

 

[jcardona1]

co2 is not necessary if you stick to low light plants like anubias, mosses and java fern. if you want tall plants, try the sword plant (these may require some extra ferts to help it grow).

and a regular strip light giving you 1-2wpg should be sufficient

 

[xboroinc]

thnx bro. any one els ???

 

[jcardona1]

oh and for lighting, be sure the kelvin rating of the bulb is anywhere between 6000 to 10,000k

 

[xboroinc]

CooL. what about uvb and uva ???

 

[mjar01]

let us know how it goes!

 

[xboroinc]

does it need to b strip lighting? can it b one of those florescent bulbs( the twisted up ones)?¿¿

 

[sostoudt]

does it need to b strip lighting? can it b one of those florescent bulbs( the twisted up ones)?¿¿

yes if it provides enough wattage and is the correct spectrum. i would go for atleast 2 wattsper gallon, you can have a larger variety that way.

i would get a make shift reflector. this is a grow light but it should work for a planted tank too
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[chesterthehero]

no co2
the light/bulbs were $30 at home
the flourite (gravel) was $25 a bag ($100 worth)
other than that... nothing fancy goes in that tank


HERE is my girlfriends thread about this tank on AC (its her tank)