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  • Thinking about starting a planted tank....

    Okay guys...I have a few ideas. I don't mind shelling out the money for a co2...it's not a problem.
    I just don't want a huge hassle, you know?
    I am about to post a few pictures of the new set-up. Maybe after yall see it, the ideas will keep flowing.

    So far, I'm looking into these few plants:

    Giant Marimo ball
    Star Moss
    Flame Moss
    Hairgrass


    I kind of like the moss look...but I'm not sure how quickly it grows, etc.
    Do I need some sort of new substrate?
    I have a giant piece of driftwood in the middle. I think the moss can grow on that.

    Oh yeah, here is the light that I have...I don't know if it will work.  


    Until the posts start flowing in, I'm google-ing all the plants I can find. The experiences that you all have had is valuable as well, and of coarse, greatly appreciated.
    Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
    Alexa Rae
    Co-President of CAK
    MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

  • #2
    Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

    That light would be awesome!

    Just change out the bulbs.

    As for moss, they don't really use much substrate other then for the nutrients that leech into the water column. You can tie it all to driftwood or rocks. As for the star moss I think that is actually terrestrial moss but can't remember for sure.
    With that lighting I would definitely go pressurized Co2! There is not much hassle to it compared to all the Yeast mixes and Supplements that are the options.  

    If you use lots of branching driftwood a moss that would look good is Vesicularia Ferriei or Taxiphyllum alternans
    700g Mini-Monster tank

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    • #3
      Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

      Hey ek...what bulbs should I get?
      You and I both know that lighting is my weak-point when it comes to aquariums.  
      I have no clue what all this  lighting lingo means: t5, ballast, wing-nut, bleh bleh. lol.
      If you could direct me to the bulbs to buy, I'd greatly appreciate it.
      Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
      Alexa Rae
      Co-President of CAK
      MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

        I would leave the Metal Halide bulbs (the two that are in the center)
        Replace the outer Compact Fluorescent/PC's( outer two) to something more plant friendly in the 6700k range like this in 96w square pin "6700k Daylight bulb"


        Then with that I would probably run the PC's for the majority of the photo period and set the Halides to do a "noon burst" of light for an hour or a few.

        Keep in mind though that more light will have the plants grow faster and when things grow it needs nutrients and such so you will probably have to start dosing or use some really good substrate. If you stick with low light/slow growing plants it will minimize some of the dosing and they will look really awesome under the high light.
        700g Mini-Monster tank

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        • #5
          Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

          Okay...."I'maaa I'maaa gettin' it."

          I just ordered a dang Giant Marimo ball.
          I have no clue what it is...or what to do with it.

          I just wanted bragging rights...
          Hey Ek...I think you have the most posts out of anyone on marsh AND fishbox.
          Instead of "The Original Dagon"...I think the ultimate ranking name should be *drum roll*

          I OWN A GIANT MARIMO BALL...NUFF' SAID.
          Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
          Alexa Rae
          Co-President of CAK
          MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

            I have two big marimo balls
            Scarecrow : I haven't got a brain... only straw.
            Dorothy : How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
            Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
            Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

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            • #7
              Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

              *POP*

              that popping noise was my bubble, Tim.
              jk.  :wink:

              Any luck with them? Special requirements?
              Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
              Alexa Rae
              Co-President of CAK
              MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

                No special requirements. They grow REALLY slowly and attract debris. My shrimp love staying on them and picking off the debris.
                Scarecrow : I haven't got a brain... only straw.
                Dorothy : How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
                Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
                Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

                  Well, good then.  
                  Hopefully the marimo balls will bring good luck to my tank. I think that's what the ad said...
                  Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
                  Alexa Rae
                  Co-President of CAK
                  MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

                    i guess the lighting question is moot at this point, imo one of the things with high lights is it forces the tank into high tech territory - high light requires co2 which requires dosing - so on and so forth, so if you have not done high-tech planted tanks previously (like myself), it imo its better to start with lower light, because in high light situation things can change very fast for the worse, but you already have the lights, so just make sure you do a lot of research, another thing, mosses easily get infested by different types of algae (specially in a newly set up tank before things settle down), so if you want mosses, i would put in the non-moss plants first or at least have the plant mature a little bit before adding the mosses - just my 2 cents
                    65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
                    55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
                    30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

                    live and let live

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                    • #11
                      Re: Thinking about starting a planted tank....

                      greatly appreciated finfan. From what I've read and what you said...I just may heed to your advice.
                      Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
                      Alexa Rae
                      Co-President of CAK
                      MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

                      Comment

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