lighting question

[SouthR]

After down sizing I am just setting up a new tank (46x16x19, think 65 gal). Want to set up an south american tank not to sure if with discus, or simple community. Have 2 x 40 W t8 (works to be 1.3 w/gal i think). What type of plants would survive, is it considered low light or med light which I know makes a difference on what type of plants that can go in. Would love to change lighting but maybe down the road. Will be making home made CO2 for the system. Right now just simple amazon, brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa) and parrot feathers and red ludwigiz (at least I think it is).


Eric thats for the info on that, makes things a little easier for me. This is what I have done so far, couple more plants, think will add some of the other plants, val, java fern, crypts, not to sure of the moss not unless some way I can some how attached to the wood. Mind you I can use my old MH system (250w) if I wanted to specialize in high light plants. think I will stick with low light right now.

[exv152]

After down sizing I am just setting up a new tank (73x16x19, think 65 gal). Want to set up an south american tank not to sure if with discus, or simple community. Have 2 x 40 W t8 (works to be 1.3 w/gal i think). What type of plants would survive, is it considered low light or med light which I know makes a difference on what type of plants that can go in. Would love to change lighting but maybe down the road. Will be making home made CO2 for the system. Right now just simple amazon, brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa) and parrot feathers and red ludwigiz (at least I think it is).

That depends on the size of your tank, a 73x16x19 is actually a 96 gallon tank. Are you sure these measurements are accurate, if so, which one is the height measurement?

[androo303]

That depends on the size of your tank, a 73x16x19 is actually a 96 gallon tank. Are you sure these measurements are accurate, if so, which one is the height measurement?

Eric, he has 46x16x19 for a tank (not 73).

[exv152]

Eric, he has 46x16x19 for a tank (not 73).

See his edit time stamp - came after my post.  But you basically have a 55 gallon tank which works out to about 1.45w/g but since you're using T8s they're not as strong as T5 HO or powercompacts so your lighting is considered low. With that there are many plants that will still survive in that intensity - plants like anubias, moss, crypts, swords, hygrophila, java fern and vals do well in low light. But adding co2 with this light intensity will yield modest results, I would even say it's not worth doing unless you can up the wattage to somewhere between 2-3 wpg of PC or T5HO bulbs. You can have a successful low tech setup with that wattage, and the bonus is you only need to add ferts once every week or so.

[androo303]

See his edit time stamp - came after my post.

Touché.

[exv152]

...Eric thats for the info on that, makes things a little easier for me. This is what I have done so far, couple more plants, think will add some of the other plants, val, java fern, crypts, not to sure of the moss not unless some way I can some how attached to the wood. Mind you I can use my old MH system (250w) if I wanted to specialize in high light plants. think I will stick with low light right now.

Looks like you have the hagen rimless waterhome tank, those are nice because if you take the hood off you have this really nice rimless look. The 250w metal halide is a bit too much light but by adjusting the height of light from the substrate you can achieve the PAR/LUX you want for a high tech planted tank. If you do that know you have to up the CO2 (pressurized for a tank that size) and ferts on a daily basis (macro & micro). As for the moss, you can easily attached it to the driftwood with some string or line, check out this link http://www.aquamoss.net/Articles/MossLog.htm. Once established the moss looks great.