I have a 180 with a w/d filter. I recently picked up a 400w metal halide, and was planning on adding some live plants. What low CO2 plants would be wise to put in this setup. I haven't decided on what fish would be nice. Right now all I have in there are a few loaches.
low CO2 plants
- Thread starter web2844
- Start date
low CO2 as in low-demand for nutrients as well? The issue I see is that you are gonna be using alot of light, without plan to use CO2 / fertilizer. I have a feeling you're gonna be brewing a pot full of algae. If you stack it with fast growers though, from the start, you may be ok. Plants like wisteria, ludwigia, cabomba, anacharis, bacopa, pennywort, moneywort fit in this category. Low demanding plants would include anubias, bulbitis, java fern, most cryptocoryne species, and amazon swords.
I would suggest stocking with a fair amount (25-50% of available ground cover) in fast growing plants, at least to start with. They'll use up most of the available nutrients before algae will be a chance to start. Then you can slowly change out plants for some of the slower, less demanding plants in the 2nd list.
If you haven't installed the new MH bulb yet, I'd put the fast growers in there for a week or so, and let them start on nutrient uptake before you add the brightness of the sun over the tank.
I would suggest stocking with a fair amount (25-50% of available ground cover) in fast growing plants, at least to start with. They'll use up most of the available nutrients before algae will be a chance to start. Then you can slowly change out plants for some of the slower, less demanding plants in the 2nd list.
If you haven't installed the new MH bulb yet, I'd put the fast growers in there for a week or so, and let them start on nutrient uptake before you add the brightness of the sun over the tank.
That is a setup for disaster unless you like algae. The w/d is a huge limiting factor. I'd start with several swords. Definitely need CO2 on there though. Even though you will waste a lot of it from the w/d it is better to have the additional support rather than have a disovled co2 level of 0.0 ppms. Without the co2 and ferts you will without question grow stunning amounts of algae, more than 100 otos could deal with.
Howdy,
Indeed a w/d is hardly compatible with healthy plant growth for most species. I personally wouldn't waste any money on CO2 for your set-up. It'll be a money sink since the w/d simply gasses it out. I also recommend against many of the fast growers mentioned above. Plants like Cabomba need CO2 to grow long term. Again, a waste of money IMO.
Metal halide is very nice lighting, but too much since in your case plant growth is limited by other factors (such as CO2). It will work great for algae, though....
Here's what I would do if I were you - assuming you do not want to change any hardware for a more plant-friendly set-up:
Your best bet to get good use out of your metal halides would be to get a canister (e.g. Eheim 2260). I wouldn't even bother with CO2, whatever is generated naturally is sufficient for many plants. But then, I love the plants that grow without CO2 best anyways
HarleyK
Indeed a w/d is hardly compatible with healthy plant growth for most species. I personally wouldn't waste any money on CO2 for your set-up. It'll be a money sink since the w/d simply gasses it out. I also recommend against many of the fast growers mentioned above. Plants like Cabomba need CO2 to grow long term. Again, a waste of money IMO.
Metal halide is very nice lighting, but too much since in your case plant growth is limited by other factors (such as CO2). It will work great for algae, though....
Here's what I would do if I were you - assuming you do not want to change any hardware for a more plant-friendly set-up:
- do not use any fertilizers
- get floating plants like water lettuce or Hydrocotyle leucocephala to block your tank from too much light and to reduce nutrients in your tank.
- get easy plants like Cryptocoryne, Anubia and Jave fern for your tank. Those plants need very little attention and are slow growers under low-light conditions (remember, you block you light with floating plants to reduce algae)
- Get Java moss. Together with the floating plants it will take up nutrients and reduce the likelihood of algae growth.
Your best bet to get good use out of your metal halides would be to get a canister (e.g. Eheim 2260). I wouldn't even bother with CO2, whatever is generated naturally is sufficient for many plants. But then, I love the plants that grow without CO2 best anyways
HarleyK