Planted nano help...

[walls]

I have a five gallon tank, AC 20, heater, and an incandescent top that I am going to use 2 ten watt screw in CF.
I was planning on loading the tank with Java Fern and Anubia Petite with four Pearl Danios and maybe a couple of shrimp.
SO........

1. Do I need any other substrate than gravel for these plants?

2. I have a clear plastic top that sits on the tank, should I remove it and just set the lights over the open tank or leave it on?

3. I have 4 watts per gallon but on a small tank this is still considered low-medium light so I should be OK without co2 correct?

4. Should I dose with ferts or Excel??


Thanks for any help in advance!!!

 

[WyldFya]

Check here first.

1. The substrate should definitely have some nutrients in it. I would use flourite myself.

2. Get rid of the plastic top, it will reflect some of the light away from the plants.

3. Unless you have something reflecting the light from going to the sides and up much of the light will actually go away from the tank, cutting you down to ~1-1.5 wpg. I use a ceramic fixture, with metal bowl to reflect light from these types of bulbs. Another problem is the twist CF bulbs are not that great, except for one specific one put out by GE that is a 6500K bulb. If you have these bulbs, and the reflectors, you will need co2 and ferts to keep algae at bay.

4. Excel is a liquid carbon that can replace co2, but will not be as effective. Dosing with ferts greatly depends on your water params. Keep a keen eye on them, and make sure that your phosphates and nitrates are staying in good ranges. Iron is another important thing to keep an eye on, but with a good substrate should not be a problem.

5. Get rid of the ac20. Either a small sponge filter, or none at all. With a tank that small, and that little in the way of livestock, you really shouldn't need it, just a powerhead will suffice.

 

[large_cichlids]

WHY ARE U DEDICATING ALL THIS WORK FOR A NANO TANK.GET A BIG TANK

 

[C J Castle]

I'm pressuming that you're attaching these plants to decor (as you will get better results this way; covering the rhizome could result in the death of the plant, rotting rhizome, or insuffient nutrient uptake) and you will not need to install a nutrient-rich substrate.

You will still (probably) find thatr algae grows very well... You are planting slow growers and these will not help fight algae growth. I would recommend CO2 (Flourish Excel is an option)... If you stick with growing just these plants, then I would probably lower the lighting level to around 3WPG...