Need Advice on a 20g Planted Tank

[TaTeR ToT]

hi, i am fairly new to the whole planted tank thing.

i am setting up a 20g Planted Tank.

heres the specs i was thinking:

CoralLife 24" 65watt Single Bulb Fixture

Eheim Classic 2213 or 2215 Canister Filter

heater? Jagger 75watt or 100watt maybe? i dont really know what to get for something this small? but due to the heat output on the lights i was thinking of putting it on a ranco temp controller.

Background Maybe Blue or Black not sure :?

Not to sure i want to use co2 yet, but heres what i was thinking if i do go with c02.

i was thinking a 10lb tank, milwalki(SP?) regulator, and Glass Diffusser, and i dont know what else is needed.

for substrate i was thinking Seachem Eco-Complete.

as far as plants i was thinking  a couple Crytocorone(sp?) Wendtii, 4-6 Corkscrew Vallensneria, 2-3 Italian Vallensneria, 2-4 Micro Swords, 2 java Moss, 2x Scarlet Temple(dont know scientific name).

as far as decor i was thinking a few of my Seiyru Seiki Stones and a really nice, but small piece of driftwood, both of which i could anchor java moss to.

LMK what you guys think.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Need Advice on a Light for 10g Planted Tank

A diy retro is cheap and simple if you have a 70w ballast already.

But not ideal since you will have shaded edges. There are 20" fixtures by current and some of your offbrand or you can go with a T5HO setup.

There's also the 20" quad fixture coralife offers but that's 96w of light.

[TaTeR ToT]

Re: Need Advice on a 10g Planted Tank

would the quad be to much heat/ light?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Need Advice on a 10g Planted Tank

Well... I had a 70w retro over a mini-m which is about 5g... so...

[TaTeR ToT]

Re: Need Advice on a 10g Planted Tank

is it this the quad? if so i think this is the one i will be going with.

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=95

not a bad price imo, really nice lighting.

[cichlid1409]

Re: Need Advice on a 10g Planted Tank

Too much light can cause your plants to believe they're at the surface, producing emergent growth patterns
while still 6-10 inches under water.

[TaTeR ToT]

Re: Need Advice on a 10g Planted Tank

is that a bad thing?  sorry  i am new to this planted tank buisness, but am trying to learn. i think a 96watt CF CoralLife Quad fixture will be ok. with 96watts of light on a 10g, how neccessary is a co2 system?

[HoustonFishFanatic]

Re: Need Advice on a 10g Planted Tank

is that a bad thing? sorry i am new to this planted tank buisness, but am trying to learn. i think a 96watt CF CoralLife Quad fixture will be ok. with 96watts of light on a 10g, how neccessary is a co2 system?

That is a very good light. But I would not recommend it over a 10 G if you are starting out with plants without any prior experience. It would be too difficult to balance every thing. But yeah if your adventurous and are ready to tackle an algae bloom definitely give it a try.
And yes if you use this light you will definitely need pressurized co2.

Bhushan

[wesleydnunder]

Re: Need Advice on a 10g Planted Tank

Bhushan brings up a good point. If you're new to planted tanks, I'd suggest a lower light, low-tech set up to start. Learn how to grow plants first, then you can dive into the hi tech systems. I've seen too many people jump into hi tech tanks, only to get frustrated and quit when their tanks turned into algae farms. With 96 W on a 10 gallon, I think you're going to struggle a lot trying to balance co2, light and ferts. Just my two pennies.

Mark

[TaTeR ToT]

Re: Need Advice on a 10g Planted Tank

well, i ended up getting a 20g (24x12x18), curtisy of dblondefemme,   so i am now thinking of going with this light -

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=104

i think this light will be sufficient.  what do yall think?

i have decided to go with a moderatly planted medium light tank.  

lmk what yall think.

[wesleydnunder]

Re: Need Advice on a 20g Planted Tank

I like that fixture. I have one on my 36 bowfront. On a 20 it's still gonna be on the high side of medium, I think, but more manageable for you. I'd start with a 6 to 8 hr photoperiod, controlled by a timer. It's also a heat-generator. You may want to buy the standoff kit for it.

Mark

[TaTeR ToT]

Re: Need Advice on a 20g Planted Tank

i was going to ask if if i should buy that. also do i need a glass top? if so how do i put the standoff kit on the 20g with the top on it?

also its a rimliss 20g 8)

heres a pic -

[mahoro]

Re: Need Advice on a 20g Planted Tank

go for black background, planted tanks looks better with black bg vs blue,  i think most saltwater tank uses blue...

[mahoro]

Re: Need Advice on a 20g Planted Tank

micro swords as in Lilaeopsis brasiliensis?   2 - 4 is not a lot...  2 piece of java moss is not a lot either...

[wesleydnunder]

Re: Need Advice on a 20g Planted Tank

Don't know if I'd try to put a top on that tank. With an Eheim classic, it shouldn't be necessary to have a top. If you were going to leave the sponge filter in, you'd need a top to keep the bubbles from forming creep.

Mark