Beginning planter needs more advice

[squirrelrabbits]

So I've added a new light (a 65W coralife compact flourescent) to my 15 gallon tank and I've also added (just two days ago) a Hagen Plant Grow CO2 canister. Now I have a couple of questions...

1) Is there anything I need to do with the C02 canister or do I just let it run for several weeks until it doesn't make any more bubbles (and then change it)? I have four platies, 2 dwarf loaches, and two dwarf african frogs in the tanks and they don't seem to be adversely affected after two days of c02 bubbles....

2) Is 65 watts of compact flourescent light (6700) too much for 15 gallons? I have some amazon swords, a dwarf sagitarius, and some dwarf hairgrass in there. The tank is 18 inches tall.

3) Finally, I am gaing to add better lights to my two thirty gallon tanks (18 inches high). Currently I have some water sprite, cabomba, and amazon sword in there but I really love hairgrass and might like to add some of that. Should I go with a 1x65W light or a 2x65 light over each 30 gallon tank? And if I do that, what's the most economical c02 can I add? Can I just add 2 of the hagen plant grow canisters at each end of the tank?

Thanks so much for your help--any ideas are appreciated. This stuff is so confusing when you're just starting out!

Best, trish

 

[Nospherith]

my slightly skewed yet not entirely misinformed advice would be such.

1) try to maintain a constant level of CO2 in your tank, usually somewhere around 15ppm at least for the higher light tanks. If you don't have a kH test kit, then wait until there's 1 bubble (or cluster if using an airstone) every 1.5 to 2 sec to change the yeast/sugar mixture. I try to change mine every 2 weeks.

2) It's alot but I wouldn't say it's too much. You have a high tank and the light gradually gets dispersed as it runs through water. That in addition to the wpg rule really only applying to tanks ~25g+ (you need more light for anything less) I would say that's almost ideal at 4.3 wpg. The catch is with alot of light like that, I guess the tank would be more prone to nutrient depletion/algae problems. Preventing algae is about maintaining the balance of nutrients. Preventing algae with more light, it's like driving really fast: you can still stay on the road but you can crash and burn alot quicker and with less notice. Believe me sometimes I think I can watch that thread algae growing. I have 70w over a 20g.

3) 130 watts is a little much for a 30g. Try shoot for ~3.0 wpg. Yes you can use 2 of the Hagen systems, but it's alot more economical to use DIY: 2L soda bottles w/ a yeast/sugar mixture, although those bubble ladders aer sortof nifty.

Hope that answers some of your q's. Do you have a pic of the aquarium by any chance?