need ADVICE!

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rtcgibbo

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 7, 2011
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newcastle upon tyne, england
Hello these are the plants I am goinf to use-

-dwarf hairgrass
-micranthemum umbrosum
-naphon japinica.

Think I got spelling right. Anyway I have a rio 400 that im wanting to use 5 feet by 2 feet by 18 inch wide. I contacted the seller and he said the standard two 54 w t5 bulbs would be enough light for these. CANNOT TRUST MOST SELLERS.

So is that lighting enough so 108 watt altogether for these plants. Please reply I dont understand the charts etc on here.
 
dwarf hairgrass (needs light and Co2)

micranthemum umbrosum (I think you mean HC (Hemianthus callitrichoides) what you listed is baby Tears, noone ever wants baby tears they are looking for Dwarf Baby Tears) The regular baby tears arent really that demanding.

naphon japinica. Which I think you meant BLYXA JAPONICA. needs Bright light and a nutrient rich substrate.

Now onto the tank...That 24 in height is going to hurt a little especially trying to grow these carpet plants. You will need another 108w lighting system. What I would do is run 6500k+10k / 6500k +10k. You will HAVE TO have Co2 for this selection of plants and I would srongly consister either a dirted substrate or the expensive planted substrates you buy at the store.
Co2 will run you 200.00+ the additional lighting 115.00.




BLYXA JAPONICA
 
Ok was not expecting that lol. The names I wrote is what they are listed as on website. Ok havr you any recomendations for some green hardy plants? That dont require co2.

Am glad I asked as the seller is obviousley lieing.
 
rtcgibbo said:
Ok was not expecting that lol. The names I wrote is what they are listed as on website. Ok havr you any recomendations for some green hardy plants? That dont require co2.

Am glad I asked as the seller is obviousley lieing.
Click to expand...


What did the seller say?

As for going low-tech to want to LIMIT the time the 108W (HO) are on OK, for the width of the tank 18" you're still going to need another lighting system that isnt HO.

24" depth (lighting on top of the tank) 1 T5ho puts you in LOW lighting
24" depth (lighting on top of the tank) 2 T5HO puts you in HIGH (however width is important here as well)

24" depth (lighting 4" above) 2 T5Ho puts you in the medium. And that's kinda a safe spot.

What I would do is have you Standard lights that you run all the time T5 NO system DUAL. Then for 4 hrs a day (2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon run the HO) and you still might need to dose some ferts to keep the algae away.
 
Ok thanks mate but am still kind of confused. So I have my standard lights on what I have now then add another t5 system with 2 54 w tubes ill be good to go?

By the way mate thanks alot for your input I know you have helped me out on here before.
 
JasonG75 said:
What I would do is have you Standard lights that you run all the time T5 NO system DUAL. Then for 4 hrs a day (2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon run the HO) and you still might need to dose some ferts to keep the algae away.
Click to expand...

I agree with running 2 of the 4 bulbs for only 4 hours a day but why 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. I run mine 4 hours at peak (afternoon to early evening) to ensure that my C02 levels are at the highest when I have all 4 bulbs on. Maybe I'm missing something, please elaborate.
 
Without C02, high lighting is a waste. Your plants can only use the light (Grow) if they have supplied all the other necessary conditions. Without providing C02 the lights will not be utilized and all you will be doing is feeding algae. I would pick plants that do well in low C02 and low to medium lighting so that you aren't continually fighting the unrelenting algae bloom. Just my two cents.
 
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