Need lighting suggestions

[wantsome]

Hi everyone, my names Josh. This is my first post, I've been keeping aquarium fish for 15 years. I've just discoverd the world of killie fish, and would like to learn how to breed them.

My goal is to create a moss tank. My funds are limited because I'm disabled so I'm starting with a small tank for now. I have a 5.5 gallon that I've been experimenting with for the past 3 months. The tank measures 40cm long x 20cm wide or 16 in x 8 in.

I was wondering if someone could help me pick the right light for my aquarium. I would like to keep the correct wattage so I don't need co2, but enought to keep moss.

I also need a filter, I have one in mind, in my price range but I don't know if it would be ok for what I want to do. I was thinking about a marineland penguin but would the bio wheel be ok for a moss tank?

I have some peacock or spikey moss to start with.

Any help would be much apreciated.

Josh

[FC]

Hi Josh,

Welcome here!

For low maintenance/light tank and non-CO2, mosses are good choice as they are mostly hardy in most cases.

Use light to acheive about 0.5 watts per litre or 2 watts per gallon. Your 5.5 gallon tank is small. Try use a flourescent table lamp but not too close to it, keep the light about 50~70 cm above the tank. Make sure the water temperature does not rise above 27 degree celcius during light on period.

A tiny (get the smallest you can get) hangon filter is more than enough. Any type, wheels does not matters. If your fish load is low, say 2~3 cardinals load and once a day feeding, filter is not compulsory.

Have fun.

[wantsome]

Thanks for the help Freddy I'll give it a try.

[SQUEAK]

Hi Josh,

For a small tank such as yours, can I suggest a sponge filter? By using an airpump, a piece of PVC tubing, and a open-celled sponge, you can create a very nice filter which will not overly disturb the water. I make the actual filter for less than $4 per filter (I normally make batches of 4), and an airpump is only $10 USD to $15 USD.

These filters are nice because they have a slow but steady current, and provide good biological filtering.

[wantsome]

Peter,

I have a sponge filter and an air pump from another tank but never thought about using it. Would the o2 cause problems for a moss tank?

I'm reletively new to planted aquariums and I read not to use an air pump in a planted aquarium.

I like the idea of it though.




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Josh

[SQUEAK]

Honestly, I am not sure if you can, or cannot. I have java moss in my 5.5 gallon tank running a sponge filter, and it grows very nicely in all reality. I am not aware if the oxygen would be a problem though, sorry.

[wantsome]

Honestly, I am not sure if you can, or cannot. I have java moss in my 5.5 gallon tank running a sponge filter, and it grows very nicely in all reality. I am not aware if the oxygen would be a problem though, sorry.

Realy, what kind of light are you using?

[ed seeley]

I've got moss growing in a 25l quarantine/rearing tank that has an air powered sponge filter and a 5W compact flourescent light bulb.

The moss does fine, but it doesn't grow as quick as it does in tanks with CO2 and fertilisation.

[wantsome]

Thx for the help and reply's guys,

I set my moss tank up two days ago. I decided to try something unconventional. Since I don't have much money I'm not using artificial lighting. I set my tank up in a window that gets no direct sunlight. I have a large tree in my yard that blocks out the sunlight. If I develope algae problems I'll put some parchment paper on the tank to filter light.

For a filter I have a small hang on the back type. I tied all my moss to some nice swahalla root wood I bought. My tank temp is set at 23c.

So far everything looks to be going good but I'll probobly need more time to see what happends.

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Jsoh