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Darwin88
Guest
Hi all, it's been a long time since I've posted on the forums, I've just surfed the topics as an when I've needed info.
Here's my current tank:
The current setup is lots of rock work and wood with a few varieties of Java Ferns under a single TMC aquabar 1000, it's filtered by a 100 litre sump bringing the overall tank volume to 450 litres.
I want to push forward now and upgrade the lighting, increase the pressurised co2 and change the substrate to a proper planted one, it's currently Wickes block paving sand!
I've got the co2 system setup already, I've been running it very low as per the low light and plant density. Had no algae issues but the plants haven't shown any significant improvement with the addition of co2 but then it is a very low dose, less than 15ppm.
I still want to maintain a low light setup with the intention of packing the tank with mixed crypts and keep the Java ferns up high on the rocks/wood. Also maybe a carpeting plant that will do well under lower light. The single TMC aquabar is way under what I need for the above plants, it has very little spread and isn't that bright to look at so imagine the PAR is also too low for what I'll need.
Question one: Will two TMC gro beam 600's, placed end to end, give me enough light spread to cover the tank, dimmed sufficiently to suit the planting choice, or will there be too many dark spots? The tank is 1500mm long by 450mm wide, 500mm high.
I don't want to buy more LED units than I need, we all know how expensive they are
Question two: Substrate! How deep does it need to be for strong, healthy crypt growth? So many differing opinions out there ranging from 2" to 5" and the difference leads to a sizeable increase in cost. I've read about Akadama on the forums, there's some great information but I'm just not a big fan of the colour. Given my slow growing plant choice I'll probably be looking at it for a while before the plants fill out.
If I can get away with a 2" bed, I'll go for an off the shelf aquarium substrate such as Eco-complete or flora base. Any deeper and I think I'll have to economise and opt for something like Akadama. If that's the case, can anyone suggest a reliable carpeting plant that will cover the substrate fairly fast for a low light, co2 injected tank? I haven't had much luck with hair grass in a similar setup so it probably needs to be something less demanding than that.
Last question, anyone else run co2 injection on sump filtered tanks? I've eliminated water turbulence in the sump and covered it with glass but even then to reach 30ppm I was running at an uncountable bubble per second rate through an UP inline diffuser. Fortunately I get 6.5kg cylinders for £18 a few miles from where I live but still, it seems excessive. Anyone else have a similar experience or find that to be normal on this size tank?
Sorry for throwing 3 rather subjective and varying questions all at once but I've drowned in information while planning this and I've reached the point where I just needed to ask some people in the know directly!
Thanks,
Rich
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Here's my current tank:
The current setup is lots of rock work and wood with a few varieties of Java Ferns under a single TMC aquabar 1000, it's filtered by a 100 litre sump bringing the overall tank volume to 450 litres.
I want to push forward now and upgrade the lighting, increase the pressurised co2 and change the substrate to a proper planted one, it's currently Wickes block paving sand!
I've got the co2 system setup already, I've been running it very low as per the low light and plant density. Had no algae issues but the plants haven't shown any significant improvement with the addition of co2 but then it is a very low dose, less than 15ppm.
I still want to maintain a low light setup with the intention of packing the tank with mixed crypts and keep the Java ferns up high on the rocks/wood. Also maybe a carpeting plant that will do well under lower light. The single TMC aquabar is way under what I need for the above plants, it has very little spread and isn't that bright to look at so imagine the PAR is also too low for what I'll need.
Question one: Will two TMC gro beam 600's, placed end to end, give me enough light spread to cover the tank, dimmed sufficiently to suit the planting choice, or will there be too many dark spots? The tank is 1500mm long by 450mm wide, 500mm high.
I don't want to buy more LED units than I need, we all know how expensive they are
Question two: Substrate! How deep does it need to be for strong, healthy crypt growth? So many differing opinions out there ranging from 2" to 5" and the difference leads to a sizeable increase in cost. I've read about Akadama on the forums, there's some great information but I'm just not a big fan of the colour. Given my slow growing plant choice I'll probably be looking at it for a while before the plants fill out.
If I can get away with a 2" bed, I'll go for an off the shelf aquarium substrate such as Eco-complete or flora base. Any deeper and I think I'll have to economise and opt for something like Akadama. If that's the case, can anyone suggest a reliable carpeting plant that will cover the substrate fairly fast for a low light, co2 injected tank? I haven't had much luck with hair grass in a similar setup so it probably needs to be something less demanding than that.
Last question, anyone else run co2 injection on sump filtered tanks? I've eliminated water turbulence in the sump and covered it with glass but even then to reach 30ppm I was running at an uncountable bubble per second rate through an UP inline diffuser. Fortunately I get 6.5kg cylinders for £18 a few miles from where I live but still, it seems excessive. Anyone else have a similar experience or find that to be normal on this size tank?
Sorry for throwing 3 rather subjective and varying questions all at once but I've drowned in information while planning this and I've reached the point where I just needed to ask some people in the know directly!
Thanks,
Rich
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk