Planted 20gL light and equipment?

[CAPSLOCK]

I'm planning to set up a 20g long planted tank - low/mid light, low tech. No CO2 and likely no added fertilizers. This will be my first planted tank - not counting a tank with just a java fern.

I'm looking for suggestions on (affordable) lighting for this. I do already have the hood, which is 1x T8 fluorescent ~17W - if this would be enough light I'll just stick with that. But I'm guessing that is going to be too pathetically dim. I would like to stick in the low/mid light realm.

Stocking with sparkling gouramis, ricefish (Oryzias woworae), pygmy or habrosus cories, and cherry shrimp. These guys prefer calm water, so I don't want too much flow and will probably have some kind of floating plants in there as well. Would an Aquaclear 30 (150gph) be the right size for that plan? Or would I do better to get two Aquaclear 20s (100gph each)?

 

[FreshyFresh]

Sounds great CL! I'd LOVE to find sparkling gouramis locally. I've never seen one aside from pics online. I've heard they "sing" when you've got a content group of them.

I like 20g longs. Had one years ago. I'm not sure that 17watt T8 would do much for you, but it might if the tank get natural light too. Might be an ideal candidate for slow growing anubias or the likes. An AC 30 would be a great choice for filtration IMO.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I've seen the sparkling gouramis in 2 stores - for sale in one, and even in the "minimal aquascape" sale tank they looked like they've got personality - plus super tiny and cute! The other had one in a nano display tank. I actually am planning stocking around these guys (and the pygmy cories) as they like the lower flow level. I was initially looking at celestial pearl danios (galaxy rasboras) as a schooling fish, but they like higher flow and cooler water. Check out the ricefish: Neon Blue Daisy - I'm hoping I can get a "nearby" store to order me some .

It will be in the bedroom with low ambient light. The light on the tank is just kinda pathetic. I really like the dual T5 on my SW tank but that would just be too much on the shallow 20L.

My problem is I know a lot about fish, minimal about plants (and coral). And I kill non-aquatic plants ridiculously fast - it is actually impressive. Like I dry out and then drown in under a week, to the level at which they can't be saved...

 

[FreshyFresh]

Have you tried aquatic plants in larger tanks? IMO, smaller tanks are more challenging in so many ways. It's tough to find appropriate lighting for them and then when you do, you have to be careful because of the shallow depth. I've got floramax substrate, 20 watts of plant CFLs, use root tabs, liquid CO2 and liquid iron in my 10g and the plants still look like poop in it. On the other hand, they're doing awesome in my 55g with cheap substrate, a 48" T5 HO light and the above ferts.

My 29g is in our bedroom and gets no ambient light. All fake decor, aside from some creek rocks in that tank. I run the LED hood ~8hrs/day with a timer on it. The LED hood gives off really great light. It just doesn't kick out nearly enough PAR to sustain plants.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I had java fern in a 37g. And years and years ago I tried (ie, killed) a few other plants that I just threw in the tank. The 30" length is standard enough that lighting is readily available, I'm just not sure which would be the best choice. I do really like the T5HO on my SW tank but that same light on a 29g is considered mid/high lighting so on a shorter 20g it would be too much for what I want.

I've seen so many pictures of wonderful nano and 20g planted tanks, and I know that mine won't look as good as what I've seen but it can at least look better than the clown puke gravel and silk plants that I've had before. I'm thinking smaller low light plants, eco-complete substrate, and smaller fish should make for a nice display.

All my previous tanks were bought used and were all these horrible tall tanks - tall and slender is a pain in so many ways. I'm looking forward to doing a short / long tank for a change - I had my SW setup in there for about 8mos and it was much nicer, and now the 40B SW is a nice dimension as well. I had looked at the Aqueon Evolve 8g as it is essentially all set up as a low/mid light planted tank, but I figure a larger tank where I can have proper schools would just be better all around.

 

[Orion]

I've had my eye on a 36" long tank that was around 8" deep and 8" tall for a long time. I think trying to scape a tank with those dimensions would be a neat challenge in itself. I like the short tanks

For lighting, depends on what type you want to fool with. LED is pretty sweet, not to bad expensive if you DIY, and with dimmers and lenses, it doesn't have to demand a high tech tank. I would really say you need more light even for a low tech tank than the T8 you already have.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Yeah I was pretty sure the current light wouldn't cut it for anything more than fish, algae, and java fern.

What lighting were you looking at for the little 36 incher?

I actually think a single T5HO would work but I haven't ever seen a single bulb fixture. "DIY" and "electricity" are not a good combination with me...

 

[FreshyFresh]

I was thinking maybe an incandescent strip light (that you can fit with plant CFLs) for the 20L, but it looks like you can only get them in 12" and 20" widths anymore. You could do two 12"s, but I'm not sure there's room in them for CFLs. They only hold a single lamp too IIRC.

 

[exhumed07]

my 20 gallon is a zoomed 22 inch dual th5o. got it on amazon for 60 bucks i belive. I run dirt in my 55 (started in my 20) and i tell u what i've never been happier growing live plants. they love it and no need for ferts. dirt works best with a heavily planted tank and it's a good idea to have java fern,moss or christmass moss, anubias. things that take nutrients out of the water column in a hurry. the dirt will leech out nutrients for a while and the first months are kinda a pain for algea because of that but things that grow floating realy helps. duckweed is also a choice but not exactly recomended. i did it in my 20 and about every few days i had to remove about half of it. there are alot of videos on youtube for dirted tanks. my favorite guy has a channel called dustins fish tanks. also fishtanktv is a good one. i just find that to be one of the best ways to do a planted tank. oh and i also dose with flourish excel. just be carful with it. a full dose will kill off jungle val and anachris if u plan to use it. i used 2.5ml a day in my 20 and 5ml a day in my 55 and they did fine. right now my jungle val is due for a trim cause it's about 6 feet long right now lol.