32W for 1.5ft tank?

[wenwei]

Hi, I'm new to high tech tank.

Going to start a 1.5 x 1 x 1 ft tank soon and was thinking how much light i need for this set up.

As i am intending to go into Co2, and will try to plant more plants to start with. Would like to hear some advice from you guys.

Saw a 32W (4 x 8w; t-5) light at NA that time. looks good but not sure if its enough as i have read about the wpg theory doesn't work with all sizes.

thanks.

[WiNd08]

shouldn't be a problem if you're going high-tech (CO2) remember your liquid ferts as well!

[juggler]

This would make some interesting reading:
Lighting as a Function of Tank Size in the Aquaria of Takashi Amano

[wenwei]

wind08: thanks. As for liquid fert, i dun really understand what i need after from the links online. Currently i have a bottle of seachem flourish. Is it enough. or should i go for wondergro micro and macro?

juggler: thanks for the link. hmm, according to the link. my 54 litre tank required 76 watts?

what kind of liquid fert should i dose and how does different type of liquid fert actually help in the growth of the plants. sorry.. new to this.

[wenwei]

I have seen certain hobbyist putting addition pump in the tank to increase flowrate in the tank. Is it really necessary.

i will be using eheim 2211 for my filteration as i am going to reuse from my "soon to be" decom tank. Not sure if its flowrate it enough.

[juggler]

juggler: thanks for the link. hmm, according to the link. my 54 litre tank required 76 watts?

I guess not. That was just some research they did.
Amount of lighting depends on what you are trying to plant. If majority are slow growing low light plants, then you don't need high lighting.

[Shadow]

wind08: thanks. As for liquid fert, i dun really understand what i need after from the links online. Currently i have a bottle of seachem flourish. Is it enough. or should i go for wondergro micro and macro?

juggler: thanks for the link. hmm, according to the link. my 54 litre tank required 76 watts?

what kind of liquid fert should i dose and how does different type of liquid fert actually help in the growth of the plants. sorry.. new to this.

I have same size tank as your with 72W light . I purposely want them to grow fast, also I have glosso inside. Glosso will not creep with 36W, on the other hand 55W is too long for 1.5ft, so end up with 2x36W . More light means plants will grow faster, that goes for algae as well

I do not think seachem flourish alone would be enough. Seachem florish is a trace/micro fert, contain little bit of N. You need Macro fert, wondergro macro is a good start or you can go for seachem N, P and K for better control.

[Shadow]

I have seen certain hobbyist putting addition pump in the tank to increase flowrate in the tank. Is it really necessary.

i will be using eheim 2211 for my filteration as i am going to reuse from my "soon to be" decom tank. Not sure if its flowrate it enough.

Not necessary if you thing that your filter flow rate is enough. Also it is depend on your tank scape, if it is heavely planted with tall plant then you might want to have higher flow rate but if it is iwagumi setup then 2211 probably enough.

Another thing is how are you planning to inject the CO2? reactor or diffusor?

[wenwei]

I guess not. That was just some research they did.
Amount of lighting depends on what you are trying to plant. If majority are slow growing low light plants, then you don't need high lighting.

hmm i see, thanks. i only have a rough idea of what i want. haven decide yet. may have a combinations of fast a slow grawing plants. Love the looks of some moss like mini pelia and spiky.

[wenwei]

I have same size tank as your with 72W light . I purposely want them to grow fast, also I have glosso inside. Glosso will not creep with 36W, on the other hand 55W is too long for 1.5ft, so end up with 2x36W . More light means plants will grow faster, that goes for algae as well

I do not think seachem flourish alone would be enough. Seachem florish is a trace/micro fert, contain little bit of N. You need Macro fert, wondergro macro is a good start or you can go for seachem N, P and K for better control.

Glosso cant creep with 36W?.. OMG.. wanted to try it actually. now have to consider the lighting. anyway. can i ask where did you get your 36w light and is it PL?.

oh ya. as for the seachem nitrogen, potassium and phospate. do i dose them as per indicated? just curious, can i actually see the appearance of the plant and know which supplement they are actually lacking?

[wenwei]

Not necessary if you thing that your filter flow rate is enough. Also it is depend on your tank scape, if it is heavely planted with tall plant then you might want to have higher flow rate but if it is iwagumi setup then 2211 probably enough.

Another thing is how are you planning to inject the CO2? reactor or diffusor?

i enjoy the setup of Iwagumi, but i am afraid of the algae problem. i have heard many ppl saying that we should plant alot during the starting phase.

i saw ur iwagumi setup, is it easy to setup and maintain. As in do you have much algae problem?

hmm i was planning to use a diffusor. May i ask what is the difference between using diffusor and reactor. Other than the fact that more CO2 will be diffuse into the water in a reactor and also bringing about a lower flowrate.

thanks

[Shadow]

Glosso cant creep with 36W?.. OMG.. wanted to try it actually. now have to consider the lighting. anyway. can i ask where did you get your 36w light and is it PL?.

oh ya. as for the seachem nitrogen, potassium and phospate. do i dose them as per indicated? just curious, can i actually see the appearance of the plant and know which supplement they are actually lacking?

yes you can but by the time you notice it it would be too late, the plant will not be healthy and algae will probably take over

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_nutrient.htm

I got my light set from NA, it 2x36W PL light

[Shadow]

i enjoy the setup of Iwagumi, but i am afraid of the algae problem. i have heard many ppl saying that we should plant alot during the starting phase.

i saw ur iwagumi setup, is it easy to setup and maintain. As in do you have much algae problem?

hmm i was planning to use a diffusor. May i ask what is the difference between using diffusor and reactor. Other than the fact that more CO2 will be diffuse into the water in a reactor and also bringing about a lower flowrate.

thanks

That iwagumi was total failure, I was trying to grow HC emerse but then it all melt when I pour the water. I'm curently doing 2nd iwagumi try on 2ft tank.

for small tank diffuser is enough. Reacktor generally will mix CO2 better compare to diffuser.

[Loopy]

May i ask what is the difference between using diffusor and reactor. Other than the fact that more CO2 will be diffuse into the water in a reactor and also bringing about a lower flowrate.

thanks

I used a reactor for awhile. For some reason on all my tanks I keep going back to the diffuser. Call it a personal preference. I was told the reactor mixes 20% better .

But like you, I am really particular about flow rates. All my external canister filter's are not hooked up to any other peripheral, eg. Chiller or Reactor.

I run 24/7 CO'2 with 24/7 Surface agitaion. It is a matter of playing with the agitation that mostly calibrates the CO2, Oxgen mix for the fish and plants.

[wenwei]

I used a reactor for awhile. For some reason on all my tanks I keep going back to the diffuser. Call it a personal preference. I was told the reactor mixes 20% better .

But like you, I am really particular about flow rates. All my external canister filter's are not hooked up to any other peripheral, eg. Chiller or Reactor.

I run 24/7 CO'2 with 24/7 Surface agitaion. It is a matter of playing with the agitation that mostly calibrates the CO2, Oxgen mix for the fish and plants.

very interesting... may i ask how much Co2 are u injecting into your tank?... by doing so, will ur Co2 level rise during the night? you surface agitation is created by a fan?

dont think I will be using a reactor also.. i have this idea that good flow rate will bring about better growth. Not sure how true is it, please correct me if I am wrong.

[wenwei]

i have from some others that having more fan can bring the water temperature can bring down to as low as 26degree.

have anyone of you tried and experience this before? Personally, i have a fan running and the lowest i can reach is 28degree.

[wenwei]

yes you can but by the time you notice it it would be too late, the plant will not be healthy and algae will probably take over

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_nutrient.htm

I got my light set from NA, it 2x36W PL light

Thanks for the link. Its really helpful, learned alot from it. You guys out there should take a look at this too

just curious. if i am planting medium to high light requirement plants. will a 36W PL be enough?... or will it be better to have 2X36W. I am planning to on the light for 7-8 hours a day.

[PalmoAnest]

i have from some others that having more fan can bring the water temperature can bring down to as low as 26degree.

have anyone of you tried and experience this before? Personally, i have a fan running and the lowest i can reach is 28degree.

I did had a 6" fan running for my 1.5 footer, and the temperature is always 26-27 deg. (from 30 deg). The down side is the noise... can't take the noise anymore thus change to a mini chiller.

[Shadow]

i have from some others that having more fan can bring the water temperature can bring down to as low as 26degree.

have anyone of you tried and experience this before? Personally, i have a fan running and the lowest i can reach is 28degree.

it depend on your surounding temperature. Fan can only reduce temperature by 2 or 3 degree.

[Shadow]

Thanks for the link. Its really helpful, learned alot from it. You guys out there should take a look at this too

just curious. if i am planting medium to high light requirement plants. will a 36W PL be enough?... or will it be better to have 2X36W. I am planning to on the light for 7-8 hours a day.

It mainly depend on your plant. What plant are you having? 36W should be enough for most of the plants