Arcadia Freshwater Or Arcadia Plant Pro

[George Farmer]

Plants are remarkably unfussy re. spectrums. Go for what looks best for your taste.

 

[backtotropical]

Ok. I got 2 x 54w 46" Plant Pro lamps. I'm going to also get 2 x 54w 46" Freshwater lamps. Will this be too many WPG?

I know it doesn't really apply so much to tanks this size but i dont want to be plagued with algae and i want to avid the expense of CO2 at this stage as i am a plant novice.

It's 57 Uk gals (69 US gals) and will be 216w.

UK = 3.8WPG
US = 3.1WPG

Also, any comments / tips for my new Amazon Sword appreciated. Thanks.

 

[George Farmer]

You need to plant more heavily to avoid algae issues, especially with that much light.

Covering well over half the substrate with plants i.e. fast growing "weeds", is typically necessary.

Anything over 3wpg you will also need good/stable CO2, best go for a pressurized system, and regular water column fertilisation such as EI (see the pinned thread on Estimative Index).

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks George. Any suggestions for what 'fast growing' plants to go for?

I am fertilising with Tropica liquid and root tabs. Does this sound ok?

 

[SuperColey1]

Elodia/Egeria Densa
Cabomba
Hygrophylia species
Rotala Species
Ludwigia Species
Riccia helps soak up some nutrient and grows superfast under high light
Bacopa
Echinodorus

Above I have just named a few of the more common families and there aremany different variations of each.

Andy

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks. I will look into getting some of those.