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Hello everyone. I know its been a while, but ive been busy. Any day now between now and Christmas, i will be going up to that fish place to buy a 30 gallon setup. It will be planted. My question is will i be able to get away with 2 watts per gallon without the need to use co2? I figure i will because i started using Natural aquarium vital(The natural aquarium carbonater) about 1&1/2 months ago and its been working really good on my tank now with 1 watt per gallon of water. Plant growth in my hornwart has doubled. Ancharis growth is not growing any faster but the leaves are starting to grow greener and thicker. My java fern is reproducing more with the same growth as before. The anubias in my tank has had no change. As you can see it seems to be working great. Also, i read somewhere that you dont have to worry about co2 until after 2 watts. All of you experts should be able to tell me. In case you are wondering what kinds of fish i will be getting, i have this so far-1 red tailed black shark and 1 bristlenose pleco. This will not be a fully planted aquarium.
ALL HELP AND SUGGESTIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Last edited by clownloachfan at 04-Nov-2004 17:25

Hi,
To answer your specific question - Yes 2 watts/gallon
is fine, and No, you do not need CO2 for them to thrive.

Just be sure to purchase plants that fall within the low
to medium light range and everything should be great.

One never NEEDS to add CO2, but in doing so the plants
will really take off. They will grow faster, larger,
greener, and lusher, than without it.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks, but after looking into it i probably wont be able to get the 2 watts per gallon anyway.

If you buy 2 strip lights, hold 2 light tubes each, you will have 2watts per gallon.
I have a 30G, and the florescent lights for these are 15watts each. 15x4=60, divided by 30=2.