Hey,
I've been posting on another website for a little while now but am struggling for quick replies as it's based in America and I'm in the UK, also, I've had some conflicting information on the forum (no surprise there really 🙂 ) and I want to get advice from people that understand our water, fish, plants, market etc etc.
Basically, I am on my last attempt at getting a sustainable planted tank for my main tank (only have another nano). However it has to be low maintenance and low-tech as at this stage I have no plans to spend time dosing it or adding CO2 to it. I also don't want to garden it every week.
The other forum has advised me that I have very powerful lights and it might be an issue going to low-tech with hi-lights unless, as one strong poster advised, I plant very heavily and use lots of floating plants.
I have a RIO 180 Jewel with internal filter and an additional fan.
I plan on using 'dirt' and will be choosing the John Innes no.3 capped with a mixture of sand, gravel and horticultural mix (may actually just be the same mix as sand and gravel).
I plan on keeping Guppies (for the algae eating abilities), Tetra's and Blue Rainbows along with an assortment of snails and shrimp (ala Diana Walstad method of self supporting environments).
I am looking for recommendations on what plants I can use and how I should tackle the hi-light issue.
My lights are as follows:
2 x 45w (895mm)
T5-technology High-lite.
and they sit roughly 450mm from the substrate surface.
Any advice/tips are very welcome.
Regards
Lee
I've been posting on another website for a little while now but am struggling for quick replies as it's based in America and I'm in the UK, also, I've had some conflicting information on the forum (no surprise there really 🙂 ) and I want to get advice from people that understand our water, fish, plants, market etc etc.
Basically, I am on my last attempt at getting a sustainable planted tank for my main tank (only have another nano). However it has to be low maintenance and low-tech as at this stage I have no plans to spend time dosing it or adding CO2 to it. I also don't want to garden it every week.
The other forum has advised me that I have very powerful lights and it might be an issue going to low-tech with hi-lights unless, as one strong poster advised, I plant very heavily and use lots of floating plants.
I have a RIO 180 Jewel with internal filter and an additional fan.
I plan on using 'dirt' and will be choosing the John Innes no.3 capped with a mixture of sand, gravel and horticultural mix (may actually just be the same mix as sand and gravel).
I plan on keeping Guppies (for the algae eating abilities), Tetra's and Blue Rainbows along with an assortment of snails and shrimp (ala Diana Walstad method of self supporting environments).
I am looking for recommendations on what plants I can use and how I should tackle the hi-light issue.
My lights are as follows:
2 x 45w (895mm)
T5-technology High-lite.
and they sit roughly 450mm from the substrate surface.
Any advice/tips are very welcome.
Regards
Lee