Hi all, Im new to this hobby. Besides ada soil which I know its expensive, what other cheaper substract and base fert can I use. I am currently using lapis sand, base fert cant remember the brand. I heard aqua clay can last longer then ada soil?
Also would like 2 ask is one 150 watt mh with two 9w pl light support hanging light from giesemann enough for my tank? Im having a 322 tank. Appreciate for your advise. Thanks man.
Lapis sand is a great sand for use in planted tanks. Base fert isn't important, but its good in the sense that it acts as a backup reservoir of nutrition for your plants. I don't know about Aquaclay lasting longer than ADA Aquasoil.
Light-wise I can't say much because I've never touched 3ft tanks in my life. But from the sounds of the MH, it should be enough, although it will be a little low imho. The two 9W won't make an impact. Try at least 18W tubes or two 36W tubes in place of them.
For my 3ft tank, i am using 3 55W T5 lights and 2 36W PL lights. Currently using lapis with root monster in it.
Hi
Regarding cheaper substrates and substrate fertilisers. I am having good results using a combination of JBL Aquabasis and JBL Florapol mixed with 10 parts 1-2mm gravel , topped with plain 1-2mm gravel. The tank is also CO2 enriched.
Regards,
Des
Hi all thanks for the advise. Squeel, wat does u mean by imho? The additional lights that you recommand just act as light fill-in right? ie make the tank look better because mh lighting are hash and will not impact on plant growth rite?
Currently I am using 4 t5 39w each, 2 magnium light set but plants doesnt seems to grow. Im just having mainly moss, java ferns and windelov in the tank. Thats why im thinking of switching to mh light for deeper light penatration as i wanna keep hairgrass and ap. What if I use mh light and 2 set of 2 feet one tube flouracent by each side of the tank. My tank is 322. Will that be okie?
Secondly, my base fert and gravel. I will go check out wat is my base fert brand and let you guys know. Really need your recommendation wheather i need to change all my fert and substract. Tank is looking lousy now...
imho = in my honest opinion.
anyway, besides subtrate there are other factors which also affects plant growth. Hmm.. like photo period (how long you got your lights on) ? any type of nutrient deficiency (any yellowing and such)? How long you planted them ( plants need some time to adjust before they can establish and grow) ? ..etc
It's simple...but no one said it will be easy
I should be working not posting
I'm using mH 150W + 2x18W fl on my 3x2x2 tank. The bulb is your regular mH. I intend to change it to ADA's white 8000K bulb soon. Got HC, ferns and mosses, hg, crinums growing well.
Substrate is mostly holland sand with aquasoil sprinkled 2 inch deep in the bg. Front is some decorative white sand.
Last edited by StanChung; 11th Mar 2007 at 21:55. Reason: with-white [duh!]
You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung
Hi StanChung, thanks much for ur advise. Just to check, are you running a chiller? As my lighting time is at nite which i will on my aircon, and day will set a timer using a fan, is it good enough?
I should be working not posting
I'm only using a fan and it's running 24/7. Temperature, if you can maintain it around 25-27.5C is good enough.
Mine's around 26-27C. There's little heat transfer from the MH so don't believe what you hear about MH being very hot. Sure it's hot, but it's because it's a point source light. It's hung high enough so that heat transfer is minimal anyway.
I like using MH because of all the free space on top of the tank for me to work! My only dislike now is the regular mH bulbs colour is not very nice for red fishes/plants
You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung
Ic, thanks much for your advice. By the way, wat brand of light set u using? Do u have any recomendation for a mh light set. I saw a 2 X mh light and 2 X t5 light set, but guess its too much for my 322 tank right?
2XMH might be a little overkill (that will be 300W of light on your tank
Your present configuration of 1 150W MH should enough already isn't it? Your fertiliser is Lushgro Aqua only? You should be providing the full range of nutrients to your plants via liquid. Try Lushgro Aqua with Lushgro Micros and KH2PO4 and Seachem Equilibrium. All should be able to be bought from where you bought your Lushgro.
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Yeah 2X150 is overkill. That's enough to light up your room as well!
I got mine as 2nd hand for $200-it's arcadia S3. Shop around the marine forums. Sure some fellas upgrading.
You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung
To reduce costs, I mixed 3 packs JBL Aquabasis plus 5 packs cocopeat ($2 each from Cold Storage) in my 470L tank. Topped with 1" of lapis sand.Originally Posted by jackskeli
koah fong
Juggler's tanks
Hi sqeel and juggle, thanks for the advise on fert. Juggle, just wondering hows ur tank and plants doing after you use ur 'budget' base fert mix?
Secondly, rite now im not using an mh light but just t5 tubes. Not enough penetration to the base of the tank. My friend got a HILUX 3 ft MH light set 150W DE 14K (used 4mths) + 2 FL blue moon light and an foc mh 10k to sell me. What do u think of this light set?
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You should be able to use the mH10K but the blue moon fl's you should change it to something like phillips 865.
You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung
They are doing quite ok. See my home page with some description of the setups.
koah fong
Juggler's tanks
Hi Stan, need to clarify with you wat does k means in lighting? I just know 6500k is good for planted tank. Why is 14k not good for plants? Also, wat is this blue moon fl light, is it those blue in col? Why use philips 865 and not other tubes? Normally the petshop just recomemd me this arcardia fl light...
Also, if i get this mh light set, how high away from the top of my tank should i hang it? How many hours should i on it?
Wow juggler, very impressive ur tankssssss!!!
I should be working not posting
The K[kelvin] rating on bulbs is just a rating from a manufacturer for a light that exhibits a strong spike in that colour temperature range. IMHO is just a guide to let you know what overall colour that bulb is.
Plants need light in the red and blue spectrum and some in spectrum that we can't see. What plants need are light in the PAR (photo- synthetically active radiation) .
A 14K bulb may have some PAR qualities but unless it said so[on the packaging], it most probably won't be effective for plant growth.
So you'd be better off spending your Watts on something more suited for plant growth.
The 865 is just a cheap solution off the top of my head. You're free to go Designer!
Hang it just high enough to cover your tank lor!
Your lighting photoperiod should be commensurate with your objective, dedication and budget!
6 for startup-[1st month]
8 for moderate maintenance growth long term. [where I'm at]
12 if you are very dedicated, want fast results and don't mind high maintenance[effort and $$$]
You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung
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