Is low tech possible for this??

[mordrake]

i have a 6ft tank with 3 x 150W mh lights.
just rescaped the tank wholesale and now only have crypts, japonica, tenellus, java ferns. nanas & windeluv in the tank.
is it possible to go low maintenance with zero co2 and 2x150W mh (4hours)?
temp can only go as low as 26-27C (have discus in the tank).

thanks

[ranmasatome]

Melvin.. i shifted the thread for you.. if you have a question.. dont piggy back on another post thats heading in a different direction pls.. thanks.

[juggler]

Such a setup could work, why not?
Perhaps can use some fast growing plants like Hornwort to help soak up excess nutrients in case you are feeding the discus a lot.
You can slowly lengthen the photo-period back to the normal 10 hours too to see if algae appears. Can use floating plants as a shade.

[joe]

Yeah I believe it will work. But the transition from CO2 to non-Co2 tank is the critical stage. The plants will have to re-adapt and that's when algae might fight back.

[Weirong]

Actually you should have no problems upping the photo-period to about 8 hrs a day. But you definately need some floating plants to provide shade and soak up excess nutrients.

[mordrake]

Melvin.. i shifted the thread for you.. if you have a question.. dont piggy back on another post thats heading in a different direction pls.. thanks.

oops, sorry about that

thanks for shifting to a new thread

[mordrake]

thanks for the tips...
actually stripped the tank of all plants except some tenellus, followed by a 70% water change.
the ferns, windeluv, nanas, japonica & cypts are all newly added.
going to start with 2x150W (10kk bulbs) for 4 hrs and monitor.
if things go well, will slowly up to 6hrs. anything more than 6 hrs might invite trouble.

will be removing the 100+ cardinals/rummies to my dad's tank when the new setup stabilizes... then in goes an aro!

not sure whether the 9 adult discus (4-6 inches) will freak out when the baby aro goes in?

[bclee]

thanks for the tips...
actually stripped the tank of all plants except some tenellus, followed by a 70% water change.
the ferns, windeluv, nanas, japonica & cypts are all newly added.
going to start with 2x150W (10kk bulbs) for 4 hrs and monitor.
if things go well, will slowly up to 6hrs. anything more than 6 hrs might invite trouble.

will be removing the 100+ cardinals/rummies to my dad's tank when the new setup stabilizes... then in goes an aro!

not sure whether the 9 adult discus (4-6 inches) will freak out when the baby aro goes in?

I think it should be fine to extend the light period to about 8hrs. Plants need a few hours just to start off the photosynthesis process. If it is too short, the plants may starve and give the advantage to algae. Remember algae needs lesser resources than plants. I suspect if the lighting period is too short, algae may survive and plants may suffer.

On the other hand, I foresee some problem if you have low plant mass and have a arowana in it. The aro will create lots of ammonia, and this is a potential trigger for algae.

BC

[mordrake]

I think it should be fine to extend the light period to about 8hrs. Plants need a few hours just to start off the photosynthesis process. If it is too short, the plants may starve and give the advantage to algae. Remember algae needs lesser resources than plants. I suspect if the lighting period is too short, algae may survive and plants may suffer.

BC

hmm... okie will raise the threshold, thanks

[bclee]

hmm... okie will raise the threshold, thanks

I edited my previous post... you might missed this:

"On the other hand, I foresee some problem if you have low plant mass and have a arowana in it. The aro will create lots of ammonia, and this is a potential trigger for algae."

BC

[mordrake]

I edited my previous post... you might missed this:

"On the other hand, I foresee some problem if you have low plant mass and have a arowana in it. The aro will create lots of ammonia, and this is a potential trigger for algae."

BC

no worries, will ensure that the footprint is at least 70% covered with plants and "grown in" before adding the aro.
low maintenance setup but i guess a weekly water change to keep the ammonia down won't kill me...
hmm.... maybe add another canister

[nostalgia]

any pictures coming up?

[mordrake]

still waiting to get my hands on some more crypts to complete the planting... pics maybe by this weekend