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Plants in Deep Tanks


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</DIV><H1>Plants in deep tank</H1><DIV id=Qtextbox><P><STRONG>Author: searlesy</STRONG><BR><BR>I am thinking of converting a tank over to a semi biotope type tank, probably of a South American region of some kind. The tank is 28 inches tall, and I will probably be able to fit in 6 or 7 NO flouro tubes over an 18 inch foot print. Will this be enough light to grow plants on the bottom of the tank?

</P></DIV><H2>Replies »</H2><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: YeW2001</STRONG><BR><BR>Hi -

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It would probably depend on what plants you wish to grow. I'm sure Anubias/Java moss & ferns would grow but for high light plants you might need to consider a metal hallide lamp.

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</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: searlesy</STRONG><BR><BR>Thanks, I do have metal halide on the tank at the moment, but I was planning on moving it to another marine tank. Does algae generally become a problem when using MH on fresh water tanks?

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One idea I had, was to terrace the tank, put some higher light plants midway up the tank, and have lower light species, such as anubias etc at the bottom.

</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: mtchye</STRONG><BR><BR>That sounds like a good idea. We have just setup a similar tank, but its only 24" high. I think the consensus is that metal halides are much more effective penetration wise, and also more cost effective once you start talking about that number of normal fluoros. EG you can get commercial MH fixtures from lamp specialists for around the $200 mark, including a daylight tube. Funny thing is wattage is not a huge factor in price at those places.

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One problem i've encountered is that of light distribution. The metal halide needs to be mounted a fair distance above the tank if you only have one over a 4ft distance like mine. Ideally i think you would probably want 1MH/3ft of tank..

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However, I'm sure the slow growers will do fine in a tank like that. Even some of the less demanding fast growers such as water sprite and Hygrophila polysperma 'rosanervis' (two of our favourite less demanding plants) will do OK, just dont let the plant grow till the tops shade the bottoms..

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HTH

</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: searlesy</STRONG><BR><BR>Thanks again, I already have a 150w MH mounted about 5 inches from the water surface, but as I said, I am moving it to another marine tank. I can pick up 10000k 150w DE MH fittings and globes for about $160 ish, but I didnt want to spend too much money on the lighting, I already have an abundance of 4 ft tubes, and for $15 per batten, half a dozen would only set me back $90.

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I will see how I go once I get started.

</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: jamesmcsyd</STRONG><BR><BR>I have a 24inch high tank with 2 fluro's. Never had any problem in growing swords, anubias, aponogetons or crypts

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James

</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: searlesy</STRONG><BR><BR>Thanks James, sounds good to me, I will have at least 5 flouros, probably a lot more if I work out how many double battens I can fit in the tank.

</P></DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: Davo67</STRONG><BR><BR>Gday,

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I have 4 x 40w NEC Tri Phosfor tubes on my tank and the plants are really going well. They say that you need 2-4 watts per gallon. My tank is a bit under that and I am going to install another tube or maybe two.

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BTW, where did you get the MH fixtures for that price? How did you mount them above the tank?

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Thanks,

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Dave.

</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: searlesy</STRONG><BR><BR>I got the MH from a friend that runs an electrical supply business, through work, but if you can get trade prices from a local lighting shop, then you should get them for about $180.

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