mrblobby666 Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Decided I want to set up a planted tank, miss having a tank in my room ( My saltwater in the spare room now, too noisey for my room) so setting up a small tank 110 litres or so. Well i want it to be pretty heavily planted with a few smooth rocks and some driftwood. I got the tank, will use daltons aquatic mix and that propagating sand is it? And will be getting a cannister filter soon but I don't want to run CO2 never looked into it or anything so just want to leave it for now anyway. I got a 150watt metal halide here and i was wondering would that be to much without CO2? would be running a 6500k bulb. Cheers everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 There are three things which plants need for rapid growth: Intense light A source of carbon Fertilizers You will not get the desired result unless you add all three to a well planted and established tank. It is a bit like cycling a tank 1 Set up the tank and plant it out with moderate light 2 Add a few fish to start cycling 3 When plants are established and the heavy root feeders are feeding start increasing light, fertilizers and CO2. Plants like swords may take many weeks to establish and start feeding heavily so until that happens you are just feeding the algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrblobby666 Posted January 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Thanks so you reckon i should set it up with lower light and add more as my plant stocking level increases? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 That is what I would do. Others may have other ideas. The problem comes when the plants aren't established and removing nutrient. Plants need all three and leaving part out doesn't work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrblobby666 Posted January 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Thanks is there another way to dose carbon without using like the CO2 thingee's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 flourish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrblobby666 Posted January 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Ah so does flourish dose carbon with dosing that will i not need a co2 thingee? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 is an organic carbon source. does not.. or should i say is not supposed to alter the water pH. but if you overdose on it - badness happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 That would be Flourish Excel, not straight Flourish. Flourish Excel in standard dosage will melt Riccia and Vallisneria. Double dosing is sometimes used to combat Black Beard Algae, but can be hard on some fish, someone may be able to elaborate on which fish in particular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 yes, flourish excel... not just flourish. also keeps iron in the 2+ ionic state, and stops it from oxidising to the 3+ state which is not of much good to the plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Flourish excel makes iron available in the water soluble ferrous (2+) state rather than in the ferric (3+) virtually insoluble state. It also makes carbon available so can be used instead of CO2 (but more expensive) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrblobby666 Posted January 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Ok thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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