Questions on lowlight planted setup.

[kubrich]

Just wondering what would be the recomended wattage for a lowlight planted tank? Plants i intend to keep would be java moss,tennelus and java fern,would these do well in a low light tank? As for CO2,does anyone know where i can get the valve to split the out put from my CO2 tank with manual regulator so i can split it into 2 tanks and how much it roughly costs? or should i just get the nutrafin thing for CO2 and then DIY the refills? Intend on using eden 316 and a sponge filter as filtration. And tank size is standard 2ft glass tank. Fishes will just be a pair of Agassizi. Was thinking of converting my apisto tank now into a lowlight planted,cos will make it look nicer,more plants for fishies to hide in and the CO2 will lower the pH hopefully. which would make them happy,cos i've tried for months to breed them and still no luck so might as well make a nice tank which i can still enjoy.[]
Btw,what kinda algal control fauna can i keep with apistos? Are ottos ok? If they are,roughly how many should i keep in there with them?

[pipsqueak]

Hi kubrich, you can get the needle valve, for about 30 bucks at nature aquarium, lost i know of it, Mr.Chan says he'll be ordering new stock for needle valves after chinese new year...can call to check first..

[kubrich]

Thanx for the lead pipsqueak. Just trying to compare prices and all. Uncle at that fish and pet place quote me about 30 bucks also for this T-connector thingy tt i put between the airline tubings and 2 regulating vaulves thing to control the flow on either output ends. Which system do you think would be better,the needle valve thing or the one the uncle at that fish and pet place recomend? Cos if i am not wrong,the needle valve thing is join to the manual regulator? and i'm scared i do wrongly the regulator gives way or even worse,blows up the co2 tank..hahaha

[kubrich]

Btw,would 36watts be enough for a low light setup or 44 watts? cos i currently have a 18watt fl light over and budget for another light would be kinda tight.[]

[vinz]

Kubrich,

Have you done the maths for lights? 36W will probably give you about 2+ W/gal. The current 18W may well be enough for the plants you have in mind.

Click here for links to posts about sharing CO2 between tanks.

[Goondoo]

Forget about getting the needle valve from Chan... the stocks are not in yet. I'm still haunting him nearly every weekend.....

[kubrich]

Thanx alot vinz! []
But was just wondering,you said tt the 18watts would be enough.But would it be enough for the tennelus to grow and spread to form like a lawn? and as for CO2 in a tank like tt,what should the BPS be?

[tawauboy]

you can try placing the lights directly above the tennelus.

you can start by using 1 bps and use the ph/kh chart to fine tune. when you start to inject, try to observe the fiahes. if they do gasp for air at the surface, reduce co2 bubbling rate.

[vinz]

I've no experience with tenellus... try Tawauboy's suggestion. What is the size of your tank anyway? 2'x?x? or if you know the gallons, even better.

[kubrich]

it's a 14 gallon tank, lighting 35watts.Right now i am torn between using the nutrafin DIY CO2 thing tt comes with a reactor for about 28 bucks or using a T-splitter and 2 needles valves which cos 30 bucks but doesn't come with the bubble counter and diffuser. And if i use the T-splitter, i heard tt the consumption of CO2 by both planted tanks will mean i have to top it up almost every month. Is tt true? And also,for a 2FT lowlight tank, would the nutrafin CO2 suffice or should go with the T-splitter. Anyone have any suggestions? what would u guys do,i really can't decide...
BTW,will using DIY co2 help lower the pH,cos if i use the one from the CO2 tank,i estimate i'll have to set it to about 3 bps in order to lower down to 6.5.
Thanx everyone!

[lorba]

my second 1.5ft tank in office has no co2, no fert, internal filter, 2 x 11W PL. The tenellus is one big mass with healthy java fern, crypt and hygrophila sp.

Not sure if u consider 22w low light tho.

[vinz]

lorba,

It'll be cool if you can share some pics of your office tank plus the details. I'm sure lots of forumers would like to know how to set up simple less demanding tanks. Start a new thread for that, though, if you do.

[kubrich]

i have a second 1.5ft tank which i intend to make a mini planted as well,so if what your saying is in ure office no fert and co2 and ure tennelus is doing well,can i assume tt the 1.5 ft i have at home can do well also? on the other hand,my lights are only 13 watts,thinking of getting the e-ballast changed to handle up to 18 watts. intend on only keeping java moss,java fern and tennelus in there only. from what i heard from one of the guys at gen-x,he said he managed to grow tennelus without co2 also,just tt the growth was alot slower and the leaves were finer and not as lush looking. But i guess the temperature in ure office also plays a part. the temp in my room swings from 25-28 deg. celsius.

but really curious as to know where you guys out there would rather get the nutrafin diy co2 thing or the splitter?

Pros of nutrafin co2:
long run,cheaper to do diy solution
slightly cheaper
Cons of nutrafin co2:
cannot control co2 rate
troublesome to always make new solution and having to get the measurements right.

Pros of T-splitter method:
Able to control co2 rate
feel more secure about co2 levels and all
Cons of T-splitter method:
cost of topping up the canister is indeed by supplying 2 tanks it runs out in about a month. Canister is i think 2L or 3L,can't remember
Cost of buying the bubble counter and diffuser.

would really like to know which choice you guys would make since the initial investment is roughly the same cost.i really cannot decide...[]

[sherchoo]

If you're asking for opinion, I would go for the 2nd option of sharing the CO2. I would prefer controlling the co2 making sure that plants have enough of it.
DIY may be cheaper but very troulesome. If not done properly, the rate of CO2 is very inconsistent.

[kubrich]

Does anyone know how much shorter the life span of the CO2 cylinder will be if i decide to use the T-splitter method to split into two 2ft tanks at 3 bps. Just need a rough gauge.
Thanx

[sherchoo]

When you mention life span, do refer to the rate of gas depletion or the the time before the co2 cylinder get spolt?

If the former, it should depends on the rate of co2 used and the size. The rate depends on:
1. The bps (for both tanks)
2. Duration of injection

If the latter, there's no reason why by using a T joint, it would damage you CO2 system.

[vinz]

It can't be calculated because we do not know how much CO2 is in each bubble... and there are no standards in bubble counters.

If you are already injecting to one tank at 3bps, then to two tanks at the same rate, will double your CO2 usage.