Help needed for 5ft!

[msmurf]

to all expert out there

i have just set up a 5x2x2.5ht planted tank. now i faced with the following problem. kindly advise!

1. wat kind of light and amt of light in watt to use if i might be buying a aro later(no MH cos dun wan to drilled hole)

2. so now most likely i left with PL or FL, and i hav try a few places, all no 5ft light. where to get one?

3. i assume it shd be abt $300 for 4x55w PL. is there anyway i could save some money? DIY? (base on my tank vol, i shd need 480w rite? and that cost me abt $600)

thank u guy for ur time to finish these qn. pls advise! tks!

[benny]

Have you tried Nature Aquarium? C328 can also order 5 ft light for you.

[vinz]

msmurf, if you're putting an aro, I believe the aro experts say the light should not be too bright for good colour crossing?

What comes first for your tank? The aro colour development or the plants? Normally, we recommend 3W/G for light demanding plants, and 2 to 2.5 W/G for low-light plants.

I have an untested theory that 2.5W/G plus 20 to 35ppm of potassium will be good enough for light-demanding plants.

Are you using CO2 and base fertiliser? Can tell us more about your tank? What plants, fish? You set up your planted tank without lights?

Click here about a post I made regarding planted arowana tanks.

[PeterGwee]

Mmmm...Vinz..how many members here have tried out and can verify the effectiveness of potassium on good plant growth? I started on the potassium regime recently...hope it helps..[]

[budak]

i can see my java ferns start bubbling after starting a weekly does of 25 ppm of KSO4. it sure works.

[vinz]

I haven't heard a lot of feedback, but the few I have spoken to have good results. I have had good results in 2 tanks.

Peter Chua's tank is very low-light, < 2W/G. His moss started growing better (after months of poor growth), the moss closer to the lights pearls and his plants grow lusher instead of rushing for the surface.

[msmurf]

tks all

yup benny, i called NA. Chan say no casing. might try C328.

more abt my tank (set up on 25/11/2002)

Base fert- aquatic compost fr Far East Flora
- add horti tablet
- no any add'l trace element, potassium or magnasium......
Gravel- $20 for 20kg type fr Soon Heng
Plants- (dunno their name, try to describe)
- lots of onion plant looks like lalang
- some looks like tai yang chow
- some red short species
- some b.japonica
- lots of crawling foreground (teo call them 116)
Light- 2x35w FL
Co2 - 2.5l co2 tank with solenoid at 2-3bubble per second
Fish - some feeder fish for cycling
Filter- Dymax7 at 1500l/hr brand new cos old Attman 3338 just crack at its connecting pipe. my hse almost flooded n i'm in JB on Wed. used silicon but no avail. LL buy new one???

so now my main concern is LIGHT ( also $$$$$ )in order to incorporate Aro n Plant. i intend to use min. light for plant n hence not to hurt Aro.

maybe, u guys can share some lobang, new or used or DIY also can! heeee..... tks again!