Aquazonic 39w x 4 T5HO 55 Gallon Planted Tank..(Growing Hc Cuba)

[kingdamm]

Hello all,
I would like to grow Hemianthus 'Cuba' in my 55 gallon Planted Tank. I would like to list my tank specifications as far as i have now.Kindly Guide me the exact need for cuba to form an intense Carpet.Will this light/ filter be enough for them . kindly guide me with your suggestions and opinions ..


My Tank Dimensions and Specifications

90cm(L) x 50cm(w) x 45cm(H) {200 Ltr}/ (54 Gallon)

Substrate : Aquasoil ADA amazonia

Lighting Thinking of getting : Aqua sonic 39W x 4 T5 HO (2 X 10000K & 2 X 12000K) 6-7 hrs / day (Will this be enough for Cuba )

Pressurized Co2 : 4-5 bps

Dosing - Aquarium fertilizer's Micro macro Nutrient Mix (5ml Daily) / Glutaraldehyde 1.5% (5ml Daily) / Ferrous Gluconate ( 4ml on alternative Days)

Water change : 40% every week

Filtration : Hang On Filter (800 hr/L) Should i replace them with canister filter for optimal water circulation


Thank You all
Kingdamm

[Greg Watson]

Hi Kingdamm ...

Thank you for your PM. There are about 132 threads here on the BarrReport which reference Hemianthus ... here is the most recent by ionut g (includes gorgeous pictures of his tank!): http://www.barrreport.com/showthread...ght=Hemianthus

I think you will find that your lighting is going to be just fine. But lighting is only part of the process. In the thread above, you can compare your specs to the specs of Ionut's tank and you can check out the pictures of his tank and see whether you think his growth is similar to what you would like to achieve with the Hemianthus in your tank.

So the short answer to the first part of your question "will this light be enough for them" is - yes ...

How well you can grow an "intense" carpet - will depend upon a lot of other factors. Water circulation, CO2, nutrients, how much light actually gets to the foreground where you plant it, overgrowth from other plants. There is a lot of discussion here in the forums about that very topic.

I am sure that others will chime in here and hopefully ask you questions and express their opinions ...

Thanks,
Greg

[Left C]

Hi Kingdamm

Starting with submersed grown HC makes it easier for some.

Some like to do a dry start method and then flood the tank. Here is a link to the dry start method: http://www.barrreport.com/showthread...-you-add-water

Good luck with your tank!

Left C

[kingdamm]

Thanks for the info . I have got some submersed Cuba from my friend,trying my luck this time..Will post the pics later on.

Regards
kingdamm

[Left C]

Are you going to use Amazonia Powder or the regular version of Amazonia?

[kingdamm]

I already planted them with Regular Version Of Amazonia..Any problems

[Left C]

Mainly, I was just asking. If the little stems/plants are staying planted, you should be OK.

I have two small brushy nose plecos. Whenever I plant HC, their scavenging in the open substrate keeps it kicked up and unplanted.

I just got some more HC in and I'm going to top my Amazonia in the foreground with the Powder. Then plant my HC in it. I'll have to pull up the glosso growing in there first to do so. My glosso grew really well in my aquarium and I hope the HC does the same. I'm still concerned with the plecos though. I have some eggcrate diffuser material that I can place over the freshly planted HC to keep the plecos off of it if I need too.

[kingdamm]

Hi Left C,
I have just scaped my tank sterday, thanks for the advice iam not adding any livestocks for the first 3 weeks to ensure proper root anchoring .wen I need to start dosing ,wat would b the ideal photoperiod time?

Regards
Kingdamm

[Left C]

I haven't had any success with HC. You are asking the wrong person to answer about anything ideal for HC.

This is what I'm going to do with my 4x39w fixture. I'll run 2 bulbs for 11 hours and all 4 for 8 hours.

Why are you using 12,000K bulbs?

[kingdamm]

I hav changed them all 2 10000k.me actually hav grown ug, glosso without pain,But numerous failures with cuba.patience is wat all matters. As tom N Grey suggests.May my luck favors this. Time.