newbie with a new tank

[ma_clement]

hello ovas


I've had a reef for a few years and i wanted to get a planted tank for a while

I had a 24x12 stand collecting dust for years and like everyone, a few aquaclears

I also have a double t5 ho Glo fixture

So I picked up a 24x12x16 20 gallon tank, put some florite in it and well, that is where I am now

I like the amazon type of environment and I was planning to get a dozen or so cardinal tetras, maybe some rams or apistos

So I was wondering what kind of beginner plants I should put in there, considering I don't have any co2 unit (at least for  now)


thanks in advance

[OrbitalTwist]

I would like to recommend " Java Fern " , personally I have found that particular plant fairly easy to keep and robust(Depends if you have certain herbivore type fish). CO2 and light strength only matters, pending the plant bio mass. For most smaller tank designs, just a few small healthy plants can consume minerals and tank space quickly. Simply calculate your plant bio foot print and adjust your needs accordingly.  Start small and work your way up.

Hope this might help a little.

[exv152]

Some plants to consider when you don't have CO2 are; anubias, mosses, crypts, swords, vals, hairgrasses, hygrophila, java ferns, ludwigia repens and a few others too.

[ma_clement]

Hi

I don't have any fish yet. Mostly, for now, I plan on having cardinal (or cherry barbs), rams and ottocinclus

Nothing that should eat the plant

I did get some anubia nanas and java fern, which are the only two plants I knew were hardy. I'll look into the rest

Considering I have no co2 system, will my single T5 HO (6500k) be enough?

[exv152]

Considering I have no co2 system, will my single T5 HO (6500k) be enough?

Yes, most definitely if it is 24w of T5HO. At a hight of 16" you should be fine. I would recommend you begin with the hardier fish though, the cherrry barbs over the others you've named because they're more hardy.

[charlie]

, will my single T5 HO (6500k) be enough?

I also have a double t5 ho Glo fixture

Just checking, in your opening post you stated you have a double t5 HO, in another post you asked if your single T5 HO will be enough.
Can you confirm if it is a single fixture with 2 bulbs?
Welcome to the green side 
Regards

[ma_clement]

I have a double fixture but there is only one bulb in there

I'll add another one when I get some co2

So cherry barbs it shall be

I was planning to add those fish one week after I started the tank

For now, I have plants only and I have a sponge that was taken from an established tank

is that a good plan?

thanks everyone for you answers

[charlie]

Some plants to consider when you don't have CO2 are; anubias, mosses, crypts, swords, vals, hairgrasses, hygrophila, java ferns, ludwigia repens and a few others too.

The above mentioned plants are a great choice & will do well with your one bulb & no CO2, you mat want to stay away from most swords as they would out grow that 20 gallon tank.
Regards

[ma_clement]

right

swords are big.

Anyways, I was not planning to get them. They are not only tall, but produce larges leaves. I'd like to get plants that have small leaves so that my small 20 gallon tank may look bigger

I'm already reading a lot about co2.

I figured out a good way to make a diy system.

I understand what a diffuser and a generator are, but I don't get what the "atomizer" does

Is that just a fancy word for something else?

[exv152]

right

swords are big.

Anyways, I was not planning to get them. They are not only tall, but produce larges leaves. I'd like to get plants that have small leaves so that my small 20 gallon tank may look bigger

I'm already reading a lot about co2.

I figured out a good way to make a diy system.

I understand what a diffuser and a generator are, but I don't get what the "atomizer" does

Is that just a fancy word for something else?

An atomizer is a form of diffuser that has a stone with fine pores which releases micro bubbles of co2. But it only works with a pressurized system, it wouldn't work with DIY. If you're planning DIY, there is a new method that uses two bottles, one containing citric acid and the other a base, and apparently it lasts a lot longer, up to 8 weeks as opposed to 2~4 weeks with yeast.

[ma_clement]

great

i'll check that out

so i guess i'll just use a plain diffuser, or an air stone

[daworldisblack]

Not sure if the Glo dual fixture actually allows you to run one bulb at a time - i had one and it wasn't possible so might want to check that out. If you end up using both bulbs, then co2 is definitely necessary in a tank that size. You may also need to raise your light a little. Anything to prevent unwanted blooms

[fischkopp]

Just sharing my experiences: I run the same tank, 20H, with the same light, Hagen double Glo, and the same filter, AC30, as plant nursery at the moment. Not pretty, but keeps the plants alive, and actually doing quite well. Though the pant in there aren't particularly demanding, just some crypts, crinum and mosses. I don't use CO2 and run the lights for 5 hours only; that does the trick to keep algae out. I don't fertilize either, but I started off using fresh substrate 3 months ago. I choose black onyx sand for it's high buffer capability, and it seems to do well so far. I had similar good results with black flourite.

Happy gardening!

[ma_clement]

The GLO double is indeed not made to be running a single bulb at a time.

It,s kinda weird what happened actually. When those lights where on my reef, i had bought a Fiji purple bulb. It worked for like a week or two and it died. But the other one was still lighting up (a 6500k I got for 6 $ at lee valley)

Since I had bought the Fiji in Montréal, I didn't want to go back there just to exchange a stupid bulb so I kept it, thinking it might become handy eventually for a planted tank w/o co2

Which is now!

Anyways, I'm already looking into co2 setups... but first things first.
I only have a few plants in there, of which I don't even know the name because I grabbed them in another tank, except for the anubia nana and something which I believe is called baby tears

[ma_clement]

ha!

3 days and already some visible growth

I love it!

I'm more used to corals taking forever to grow

There are also dead leaves, but i suppose that is to be expected with new plants needing to grow roots

and of course, snails

I saw my first one

squashed it

[exv152]

Got any pictures?

[ma_clement]

If you are looking for a picture of a squashed snail, I'm sorry, I am not the one who will satiate you need for cruel violence against defenseless animals


problem is that I have no idea how to insert a picture. When I click on the Insert image Icon, all it does is write img /img...

(sorry, i'm new to forums

[ma_clement]

[ma_clement]

it's not much, for now. but it will grow


is there a good place to get plants cheap?

The place I went is nice, but the prices were ridiculous

I guess they have to make a living...

[sas]

Our monthly meetings are a great way to obtain plants as well posting a
LF plants ad in the classifieds although you'd have to buy a membership.
Or just keep an eye on the classifieds for people trimming their plants.

Tanks looking good so far, I'd suggest putting a backing on it though,
it'll keep your eye focused on the tank inhabitants and not the hardware
behind the tank.