90 Gallon S.A. Discus/Pleco Tank Journal

[TaTeR ToT]

geismen bulbs

[Mzungu]

My Quote button isn't working, sorry. But...

"Glen, your actinic is not doing nothing for the plants, maybe just pop you discus colors. For your plants you have only 3x54w=162watts =1.8gpw."

Not true. Actinics ARE beneficial to plants. However, they just provide light in the lower end of the spectrum, not in the 650+nm range that plants ALSO need.

[jeebus]

So my set up now hits them on the high, middle x2, and low end. Okay. I'll just have to watch and see how it goes. Thanks for the advice everyone! The forum has been such a big help to me over the last year.

[TaTeR ToT]

i agree with mzungu on this, i grew plants like mad in my old 5g tank with a oddysea 24watt 50/50 compact flourescent, i was growing ferns, pennywort, vals, anubias, hygro, and various mosses including flame moss without any problems.

the actinic is benificial just at a different end of the spectrum.

[Darbex]

In my experience you can get some good growth with a combination of daylights and the pink bulbs cant remember the name. They give a good spectrum of colors.

[jeebus]

Just a little New Year's update..

Everything is doing great, and all our plants have exploded in growth..

[jeebus]

Here are our settings:

T5 HO 4 Bulb - (2) 12k, (1) 10k, (1) Actinic Blue
54 Watts x 4 = 216 / 90 Gallons = 2.4 Watts Per Gallon
Photo-period of 12 hours

Co2 PPM = Unknown
Co2 Bubble-counter "bubbles per second" = 2
Co2-period of 10 hours via direct-injection to filter

Water Changes of 75% every four to seven days (depending on schedule)

Filtered with an Eheim 2262 with bio-balls and filter-floss. No ceramics, porcelain, bio-bale, or carbon.

Seachem Ferts:
Flourish - 2 capfuls x 2 weekly
Potasium - 3 capfuls x 2 weekly
Iron - 2 capfuls x 2 weekly
Root-tabs bi-monthly

Flora:
Sagittaria
Compact Amazon Sword
Tiger Lotus
Dwarf Hair-grass

Fauna:
9 "Tiger" Turquoise Discus
1 Bristlenose Pleco
1 Galaxy Pleco
1 Green Phantom Pleco
4 Rummynose Tetra (soon to be 20+)

At this point all we're looking to add is some more Rummynoses, and perhaps later some cories and rams. Pretty happy with the results of adding co2 so far.

[Darbex]

looks good

[mgarrido]

Looks good Glen

[jeebus]

Thanks guys. I can't find the words to fully say how impressed I've been with adding co2 to this tank. The nearly neon/electric shade of green the plants all are now is amazing. Even the the individual hairs from the Dwarf Hair-grass all glow. Really amazing. Hopefully within the next few months everything will grow in and we'll be set.

[Complexity]

Looks really nice! The CO2 will make a huge difference. Are you adding ferts, too? Oops, skimmed over the details. I see you listed your ferts already.

[Complexity]

T5 HO 4 Bulb - (2) 12k, (1) 10k, (1) Actinic Blue

Replace the actinic blue for another 10K

54 Watts x 4 = 216 / 90 Gallons = 2.4 Watts Per Gallon
Photo-period of 12 hours

Good lighting, but a really long photoperiod. Watch for algae.

Co2 PPM = Unknown
Co2 Bubble-counter "bubbles per second" = 2
Co2-period of 10 hours via direct-injection to filter

Your next upgrade, add on a pH controller and get a drop checker.

Seachem Ferts:
Flourish - 2 capfuls x 2 weekly
Potasium - 3 capfuls x 2 weekly
Iron - 2 capfuls x 2 weekly
Root-tabs bi-monthly

I strongly recommend that you look into using dry ferts. Not only are they much better, but they're also much cheaper. The difference will be incredible. With the CO2 already in place, you'd then have everything you need to grow the plants to their best.

[jeebus]

Replace the actinic blue for another 10K

Still on the fence about the lights. I want to leave the Actinic because of what it does for the blue luminescence of the Discus. I might pick up another 10k and a 6.7k to replace the two 12k's I've got now. I think that will brighten the tank more and push some more beneficial light into the tank.

Your next upgrade, add on a pH controller and get a drop checker.

Yeah.... eventually lol...

I strongly recommend that you look into using dry ferts. Not only are they much better, but they're also much cheaper. The difference will be incredible. With the CO2 already in place, you'd then have everything you need to grow the plants to their best.

I am interested in dry ferts - they just seem a little more intimidating. Right now buying the liquid ferts from HAW is not only easy but it makes me feel better that I'm supporting a local mom & pop.

[myjohnson]

Tanks looks rightside heavy.

[jeebus]

Tanks looks rightside heavy.

Try NOT drinking before browsing the box.





j/k.. its supposed to look that way. I'm going for the whole "riverbed - bank - treeline" effect: rocks, short grass, medium plants, tall stump. I wanted to have a large open area for the discus at feeding time and this layout helps hide my equipment.

I haven't trimmed the runners on anything growing yet, only because this is the first time since we've added the co2 that we've seen the growth, and we're just too fascinated by it lol..