My 90g planted - DSLR

[Digital]

Just wanted to start a journal as far as the development of my 90g goes. This is considered a low light tank, seeing that there I'm running only about 180watts over a 90g (standard size)

Here's a video of the tank as it is now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC4Vfs4alAo

Lighting: Corelife 2x65 + Hagen Glo T5 HO 1x54 (I'm going for the amano lighting setup)
CO2: N/A
Ferts: Flourish, Flourish Potassium, Flourish Root tabs
Water Changes: 2x weekly
Filtration: AC110, Emp400 (temp until my Eheim 2217 gets here this week)
Temp: 78-80

FTS



INHABITANTS

















Comments welcome.

[Gerryd]

Hi,

Very nice. Healthy looking fish! You know the congos are all males correct? I like the bloodfin tetras......

You may think 2 wpg is low light but I think it is higher than you think, especially since you are not using c02.

T5 are better/brighter than you think......Is the fixture mounted above the tank or resting on it?

How long are the lights on for? 8-9 hours is more than enough.

Do you plan on using c02 or not? That is a big decision that will have a ripple effect........

You also could use to add more plants.......What kind do you have now?

The more details you can provide, such as substrate, etc will get you better responses.....

I would read some of the threads on low light tanks, the EI method of dosing dry ferts (easier and cheaper than Seachem products), and c02.

[Digital]

Hi,

Very nice. Healthy looking fish! You know the congos are all males correct? I like the bloodfin tetras......

You may think 2 wpg is low light but I think it is higher than you think, especially since you are not using c02.

T5 are better/brighter than you think......Is the fixture mounted above the tank or resting on it?

How long are the lights on for? 8-9 hours is more than enough.

Do you plan on using c02 or not? That is a big decision that will have a ripple effect........

You also could use to add more plants.......

The more details you can provide, such as substrate, etc will get you better responses.....

I would read some of the threads on low light tanks, the EI method of dosing dry ferts (easier and cheaper than Seachem products), and c02.

Hi Gerryd,

Thank you for the compliments on the fish. Their well being is most important to me. With the lighting and co2, I'm a new guy. I heard that doing a 90g with pressurized co2 would be quite expensive and high maintenence, so I shyed away from that.

I do the lights for about 9 hours, 10 hours when I forget. I don't have them on timers.

I have more jungle val coming in this week, I hope it does well...

The substrate is black gravel right now, haven't even thought of changing it due to the $$$ it would cost to do so. My wife would think I'm crazy for changing out all the substrate, and spending all kinds of money to grow plants

I am interested in buying ferts though, I think that is one of the best things I could do next. CO2 would be something that I'd consider down the road a little bit, once I get more comfortable with the ins and outs of it by reading.

How much would a entire CO2 setup run for a 90g?

[Biollante]

Hi,

Beautiful tank!

That is more light than you think.

What Gerry said.

Biollante

[Digital]

Hi,

Beautiful tank!

That is more light than you think.

What Gerry said.

Biollante

Hi Biollante,

Thank you for the compliment!

What more information must I provide?

[Gerryd]

Hi,

It is the LIGHT that will drive the maintenance in some respects.......Higher light will drive plants to grow faster. C02 is the MAIN plant nutrient and has a ripple effect on the intake OF OTHER NUTRIENTS. So, since you are NOT supplying c02, the other nutes will not be optimally assimilated, and poor growth and algae will result.

Your plants will basically starve.......

I know there are cost estimate threads around for c02 and what you need. If you buy used, or can build a regulator (see Leftc posts for this), you can get an auto c02 setup for <$75-100 usd.

Set the lights on a timer and save yourself the on/off struggles.

Use a timer for the c02 as well, instead of a PH controller. That will also reduce cost.

Trust me, you will spend way more time and money on dealing with algae and growth issues, than you will on the c02 setup. Invest well as you might as well have good equipment.

Plain gravel is fine. I use flourite which is pretty but inert........

Remember that growing aquatic plants is GARDENING just inside on a smaller scale. Plants need time, attention, and food to grow well.

If you neglect the plants and their needs, they will not grow outdoors either.........

[Biollante]

Hi,

I was posting as you were replying to Gerry, so you kind of answered the main questions. It is a conversation.

I keep tanks with inert substrates and they are just fine, they simply require a little different strategy. Frankly, the black gravel is dramatic, a very good look. Rather than switch out substrates, think pots with enriched soil and Osmocote.

The lack of CO2 is going to be a challenge, though not insurmountable.

How are you set for water changes? I am guessing the tank is not drilled.

I think you are going to need to back off the light, removing bulbs, adding shade cloth or a screen. Perhaps floating plants, or Tiger Lotus, even aponogeton to get leaves on the surface to cut the light.

How is Miss Odessa these days?

Biollante

[Digital]

Hi,

It is the LIGHT that will drive the maintenance in some respects.......Higher light will drive plants to grow faster. C02 is the MAIN plant nutrient and has a ripple effect on the intake OF OTHER NUTRIENTS. So, since you are NOT supplying c02, the other nutes will not be optimally assimilated, and poor growth and algae will result.

Your plants will basically starve.......

I know there are cost estimate threads around for c02 and what you need. If you buy used, or can build a regulator (see Leftc posts for this), you can get an auto c02 setup for <$75-100 usd.

Set the lights on a timer and save yourself the on/off struggles.

Use a timer for the c02 as well, instead of a PH controller. That will also reduce cost.

Trust me, you will spend way more time and money on dealing with algae and growth issues, than you will on the c02 setup. Invest well as you might as well have good equipment.

Plain gravel is fine. I use flourite which is pretty but inert........

Remember that growing aquatic plants is GARDENING just inside on a smaller scale. Plants need time, attention, and food to grow well.

If you neglect the plants and their needs, they will not grow outdoors either.........

I have two fixtures so I can either turn off the Hagen 1x54 T5 HO or the Corelife 65x2 PC to cut back on lighting.

If you find me a setup that will work well for my 90g, I might just have to bite the bullet and buy it...

Just piecing everything together is a nightmare for me, the only thing I know I'd need is a drop checker, and a milwaukee co2 regulator, and of course a co2 container. But that's what I know.

Until then should I just cut back on lighting?

[Digital]

Hi,

I was posting as you were replying to Gerry, so you kind of answered the main questions. It is a conversation.

I keep tanks with inert substrates and they are just fine, they simply require a little different strategy. Frankly, the black gravel is dramatic, a very good look. Rather than switch out substrates, think pots with enriched soil and Osmocote.

The lack of CO2 is going to be a challenge, though not insurmountable.

How are you set for water changes? I am guessing the tank is not drilled.

I think you are going to need to back off the light, removing bulbs, adding shade cloth or a screen. Perhaps floating plants, or Tiger Lotus, even aponogeton to get leaves on the surface to cut the light.

How is Miss Odessa these days?

Biollante

Oh ok, just making sure you didn't need to know something different.

Enriched soil and osmocote, never even thought or heard of that!

I do 40% two times a week. I do it to promote growth in my angels and congos mainly. I'm pretty sure plants don't care much about new water... I've heard of planted tanks only getting topped off and not thoroughly changed in months.

Nope the tank isn't drilled.

MissOdessa is in California, she's well, just had a baby. I guess you seen my videos LOL.

[Digital]

I have 5 more jungle val coming in on friday.