FishForums.com - View Single Post

JustOneMore20 · 02-20-2007, 04:36 PM

I would get a bulb that is 6700K or around there. With the 50/50 bulb, you'll only have about 10 watts of light that the plants can use since actinic light isn't too good for plants. That is very low light over a 5.5g and your plant choices will be very limited IMO. I'd get a full spectrum 6700K bulb or something with a Kelvin rating around that so that you'll have more plant choices. 20w of 6500K or 6700K would give you many plant choices. I'd dose some Excel every day and something like Flourish weekly.

You can use regular gravel for a planted tank. If you want a plant specific substrate, then I'd look at ADA Aquasoil and EcoComplete. You don't have to rinse either of those and they have alot of nutrients for plants. Flourite needs to be rinsed many times or it will cloud the water.

Also, take the carbon out of the filter so that it won't take the fertilizers out of the water.

02-20-2007, 04:36 PM	#5
JustOneMore20 Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 23 Posts: 3,654	I would get a bulb that is 6700K or around there. With the 50/50 bulb, you'll only have about 10 watts of light that the plants can use since actinic light isn't too good for plants. That is very low light over a 5.5g and your plant choices will be very limited IMO. I'd get a full spectrum 6700K bulb or something with a Kelvin rating around that so that you'll have more plant choices. 20w of 6500K or 6700K would give you many plant choices. I'd dose some Excel every day and something like Flourish weekly. You can use regular gravel for a planted tank. If you want a plant specific substrate, then I'd look at ADA Aquasoil and EcoComplete. You don't have to rinse either of those and they have alot of nutrients for plants. Flourite needs to be rinsed many times or it will cloud the water. Also, take the carbon out of the filter so that it won't take the fertilizers out of the water.