Tank Upgrade 450-550g Planning

[mrrobxc]

You are giving me a lot to think about. I originally got the finnex a couple years ago because I strictly wanted some light and loved the 24/7 capability. I was not concerned at the time with growing plants. From a maintenance stand point bare bottom is the way to go and gets rid of so many worries. I just really do not want an empty tank with an aimara sitting there. And I am sure a bare bottom acrylic tanks is going to get scratched very fast.

I’d run with your finnex as is and take it from there. The lighting can always come last in your set up.

 

[nzafi]

Yup. One idea is to just paint the bottom a darkish red like my red fluorite and then I can get some fake tree stumps from universal rocks and some other pieces. This way I keep bare bottom but have decorations. I’m all over the place for now at least.

 

[mrrobxc]

You can always get those slim backgrounds from universal rocks and attach it to the floor. That could work.

 

[mrrobxc]

We just at a local lfs and they are usingbhome Depot husky brand pendent LEDs for their planted tank. It works!

 

[nzafi]

mrrobxc I have given up on the idea of carpeting plants. I do think I would like to try to go for plants that get tall and wide to help hide the hmf corner filters. Are you aware of any plants that fall into that category?

Also, I am not looking to light the entire tank frankly. I think I would not mind doing two small lights that focus on just the corners. Any idea of such lights? Or another idea I have is buying some wall mounting light fixtures and then just buying a high quality LED bulb.

Thoughts?

 

[nzafi]

Can an LED equivalent of the below bulb work? That bulb was recommend a couple years back for growing some plants. I just have no idea what to look for. I know on theplantedtank forums they focus on par ratnigs and not so much watts or even lumens.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Feit-El...L-Light-Bulb-ESL40TN-D/203252142#.Ucwtr_lOSSo

 

[mrrobxc]

mrrobxc I have given up on the idea of carpeting plants. I do think I would like to try to go for plants that get tall and wide to help hide the hmf corner filters. Are you aware of any plants that fall into that category?

Also, I am not looking to light the entire tank frankly. I think I would not mind doing two small lights that focus on just the corners. Any idea of such lights? Or another idea I have is buying some wall mounting light fixtures and then just buying a high quality LED bulb.

Thoughts?

Plants that grow tall and wide can be broken down by rosette plants and stem plants. Any of the larger sword species would work as will aponogeton plants. They just need time unless you can source large plants like the mother plants that I got myself.

If you want to go with stems, there are several easy stem plants that can be planted thick to create the width you want. Green cabomba, water wisteria, hygrophila corymbosa, hygrophila angustofolia , water sprite, and bacopa come to mind as easy plants that grow bushy and tall.

Did you see the photo I posted right above your post? These are husky brand Home Depot pendent LED lights that a local LFS is using. It is working for their low-medium plants. I was shocked and impressed. Might want tk look into those.

 

[mrrobxc]

Can an LED equivalent of the below bulb work? That bulb was recommend a couple years back for growing some plants. I just have no idea what to look for. I know on theplantedtank forums they focus on par ratnigs and not so much watts or even lumens.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Feit-El...L-Light-Bulb-ESL40TN-D/203252142#.Ucwtr_lOSSo

They could. But these bulbs are built for spread and not intensity. A 30” tall tank could pose a challenge to them.

Pendant LEDs are the way to go.

 

[mrrobxc]

People also use LED flood lamps retrofitted above their tanks. They give plenty of light.

 

[nzafi]

Plants that grow tall and wide can be broken down by rosette plants and stem plants. Any of the larger sword species would work as will aponogeton plants. They just need time unless you can source large plants like the mother plants that I got myself.

If you want to go with stems, there are several easy stem plants that can be planted thick to create the width you want. Green cabomba, water wisteria, hygrophila corymbosa, hygrophila angustofolia , water sprite, and bacopa come to mind as easy plants that grow bushy and tall.

Did you see the photo I posted right above your post? These are husky brand Home Depot pendent LED lights that a local LFS is using. It is working for their low-medium plants. I was shocked and impressed. Might want tk look into those.

I want to buy already large plants like you did. I do not want to spend time trying to grow them. Too much time and effort.

Do you know what I need to look for in flood lights? Specific lumens, type of light, etc?

The other big thing I am worried about and did not mention algae. My tank is near a window and suffers from algae. I plan on putting up curtains for the new tank. Wont running flood lights like these create a ton of algae?