rescaped my 20 long

[rhettdepauw]

hey all here is my 20 long.

1x male Firemouth
1x male convict
8x rummy nose tetras
4x otocinclus

I am currently running a 65 watt 10,000 k rated bulb and use flouish excel. im having trouble finding a low growth plant to cover the floor a little better, that stays healthy with this setup. im using sand for subrstrate which i know is problematic for these types often. What do you guys think i shoud look for?

I hate mosses and even though they grow amazingly in my tank i feel like they are a plague, haha.

what should i change to kick these plants into high gear? Water treatments?



thanks for the advice in advance.

 

[I'mHooked]

what should i change to kick these plants into high gear? Water treatments?

Fertilizers are definitely going to help your plants grow fast. Flourish excel helps, but DIY CO2 is nice to add also. I use both Excel and DIY CO2 in my planted tanks and my plants grow like crazy. I also use seachem's line of fertz for my tank, but they can get expensive. You may want to research using a dry-dose method (EI method) instead.

I'm sure after my comment there's going to be someone who argues that DIY CO2 isn't necessary, which it may not be (there's a sticky on it), but I find my plants grow MUCH faster with it's addition.

 

[skaaa]

beautiful tank man. I take this as inspiration for my 20 gallon that i will scavange from my attic

 

[velanarris]

Yeah you don't NEED Co2, but there's nothing better for increasing plant growth.

Make sure you're getting a regular iron dosage as well. That can "stunt" your plants.

 

[Deaths Sting]

looks great!

their are few options for low growth plants to cover the floor, Glossostigma elatinoides or Hemianthus callitrichoides.

these plants require a lot though!

the last option is to use java moss.

if u want to improve growth rate i highly recommend DIY Co2.. its very simple to make and works great! you could also start dosing Flourish and other ferts too.

how often do u dose Excel?

 

[TwistedPenguin]

It's beautiful! I love it exactly how it is. I've got all my 20 longs shoved into closets all over the house and you've given me some wonderful incentive to pull them out and use them.

 

[rhettdepauw]

looks great!

their are few options for low growth plants to cover the floor, Glossostigma elatinoides or Hemianthus callitrichoides.

these plants require a lot though!

the last option is to use java moss.

if u want to improve growth rate i highly recommend DIY Co2.. its very simple to make and works great! you could also start dosing Flourish and other ferts too.

how often do u dose Excel?

I usually follow the recomendations on the back of the bottle of excel doing a large dosage after each water change, which is about once weekly. Then sometimes in between i will do another small dosage,

i ahve read places of people overdosing their tanks, and to me it seemed extreme and did not want to risk my water quality. How do you do it? is this large quantity dosing safe?

And lastly, im running over 3 watts per gallon, i have the option to add another 40 watts (over 5 per gallon) if i need to but didnt want to overdose it with light. Would this extra wattage help or have negative effects?

 

[Deaths Sting]

I usually follow the recomendations on the back of the bottle of excel doing a large dosage after each water change, which is about once weekly. Then sometimes in between i will do another small dosage,

i ahve read places of people overdosing their tanks, and to me it seemed extreme and did not want to risk my water quality. How do you do it? is this large quantity dosing safe?

And lastly, im running over 3 watts per gallon, i have the option to add another 40 watts (over 5 per gallon) if i need to but didnt want to overdose it with light. Would this extra wattage help or have negative effects?

with more light u will need more Co2.
on my 15 gallon i dose 2ml everyday of excel and 10ml after water changes.
im running about 4.5watts/gallon. i run DIY co2 as well, i use whats known as a 2'' ceramic airstone to diffuse the Co2. its one of the most expansive highest quality air stones avavible. their about $6-8 each for a little 2'' er. ive been told by people on APC.com that they are the best for DIY diffusion. other then using a powerhead....of course.

 

[rhettdepauw]

A few more pics about a week later, did some more rearranging and added another 40 watt compact flourescent lamp, i also added a few more plants i had growing in another tank. I have been dosing 2ml of excel daily and have yet to come up with a DIY reactor.





Just some iphone pics but i will post good pics later if there is any interest.

I also recently sold my convict. so he is no longer in the tank

 

[I'mHooked]

The plants have really grown in - looking good!