another lighting question

[morefirejules08]

hi
Im looking for a little advise on my intended lighting set up for my future planted tank.
the tank is 72x20x24 which makes it around 560l without substrate/decor. Im planning on 4 54w T5 tubes with reflectors. I wont be using pressurized CO2 but will be using soil substrate, ferts and excel.

cheers

 

[J Butler]

Hello again Morefire,

In my opinion the lighting should be fine, especially considering the depth of the tank.

I do wonder about dosing excel for such a large amount of water though, although a lot more trouble to set up initially, I feel pressurised CO2 would be a lot better for this size tank in the long run. The cost of the excel will soon outstrip that of the pressurised CO2, I think PFK did a little article on it not so long ago and found this to be the case. Excel is much more viable for nano tanks as a carbon source.

I could be jumping the gun however if you just plan to use it as an algaecide if it crops up and keep the tank low-tech.

all the best,
Joe

 

[morefirejules08]

hi
the excel was going to be my main source of carbon for the time being as its a large outlay over a long period of time rather than all in one go. i think a pressurized system will come in time depending on how well i get on with a planted tank long term.