low-tech planted tank.....please read

[diskboy]

ok when we move into our new house i would like to make my tank a planted tank. I can only do one side of the tank as my saltwater tank took the second 24" hood. can i do it with one 24" florencent strip light? what type bulb should i use? What type of plants? I'd rather not spend a lot of money on special soill is there somthing cheap i caqn buy? I really hope to have a nice tank when i am finished. please respond i would lie to start to buy the supplies.

[Dissident]

You won't have close to enough light in there it keep algae alive, not to mention plants.
You need at least 2 watts/gallon for a low-tech tank.

[diskboy]

ok with two 24" florescent strip lights could I do it? If so what type of bulbs should i use?

[Dissident]

You really need 2x48" 40W to get plants to grow in a 55gal

what wattage is the 24" bulb?

[diskboy]

honestaly i dont know it came with the tank the only other bulb i have was a florasun that my uncle game me and it's 18". im getting some money shoudl i just buy a 48" strip light?

[lhforbes12]

Diskboy,
A 48" Shoplight will work for you. If you can, get one that has an electronic ballast (it should tell you whether or not it's electronic on the packaging), and a reflector. Any lamp (bulb) that you think makes your tank look good will work. With that much light you will be able to grow most low and medium light plants. Anubias, Echinodorus (Sword Plants), Java Fern and Java Moss, Cryptocoryne should all do well for you with that light.

Larry

[diskboy]

is that somthing you can get at lowes or home depot?

[AmberC]

Kevin...

I have 2 25W bulbs (one on each side of the tank) on my 125 gallon tank and my plants flourish with no fertilizers.

On my 55 I have one 32w bulb (it was what they handed me when I bought the tank lol) and the plants flourish in this tank as well.. when I had it planted.

Amber

[diskboy]

was the one 32w a 48" or 18" bulb?

[AmberC]

48 inch.. sorry
Amber

[diskboy]

idk ill try just two 18" and get some good plant type bulbs.......ok moving on i want to have sand as part of my substrate but whenever i do wc it sucks it all back up what can i do to have sand but not lose it durng water changes? what type of soil do the plants need, is it something i can get at lowes or home depot?

[diskboy]

can anyone help me?

[Dissident]

can anyone help me?

Goto Home Depot and get a 2x40W shop-light (electronic not magnetic).
Build a wood canopy for the tank mount lights in canopy.

Plants will live on stored up energy for a while after you put them in a tank. If you do not have proper lighting they will die.
http://www.rexgrigg.com/

read that guide to start.

Trust me 4x25W on a 125gal will not grow plants, one 40W bulb on a 55gal will not grow plants. You are just prolonging the death of the plants.
IME (6yrs) on a 55gal you should have 80W total to get moderate results, not great just moderate.

[diskboy]

ok i will do that do you have an awnser for my substrate question

[Dissident]

ok i will do that do you have an awnser for my substrate question

You can use pretty much anything in a low-tech tank. Soilmaster is a good choice and is inexpensive. Read the guide that I posted a link to there is a section on substrates.

Message LArry (lhforbes12) for places to get soilmaster if you want to use that.

[wolfbane]

The 2 bulb shoplights work well for a 48" tank, I have 2 sets over glass tops on my 150gal. Like Diss says, low to moderate light plants do well this way, and are good easy starter varieties. I use the daylight bulbs, but you can use any ones that you like the effect or color. some folks recommend a rating of 5000k to 6500k color temp, its listed on the package. Lowe's and Home Depot are good places to shop for these fixtures and bulbs
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1078837269.1153767270@ @@@&BV_EngineID=ccckaddigkgfdjmcgelceffdfgidgjk.0&CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc/searchResults.jsp&MID=9876&N=2984+4233&pos=n12 similar

[diskboy]

do you know ho i could have sand on top of that without sucking it up every water change?

[diskboy]

do you know how i could have sand on top of that without sucking it up every water change?

[diskboy]

what type of plants do you sugest?