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I have a 3 foot tank with plants only on one side. The other half of the tank is rocky. I have some crypts, java fern, anubias nana, and some swords. As for lighting I have a 24" florescent tube, and a 20W compact florescent bulb, making 40W in a 38G tank. However, I have the lights positioned over the planted side of the tank, and not the rocky side. Visually I can tell that the planted side of the tank is much brighter than the rocky side. Would this do anything to the WPG rule?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

how are the lights positioned over the planted side

Hi,

Yes it would it would prove it as a thumb rule, many aquascapers do the same thing they only high light a part of the tank that they want to plant bright light plants in, and the rest gets a lower amount of light, you could say that that part of your tank is the one receiving 3WPG or even more and the rest is lower, this can be done with now problem what so ever, it only proves that rules can be broken.

This can also be used as visual aid as it will increse the depth look of your tank, or to control growth of some plants, i've seen tanks than even have dimmers (different kind of light source of course) to create a special effect or control even algae blooms.

Thanks, so you think the planted side of my tank would be recieving about 3WPG? I was only hoping for about 2. The compact flourescent bulb is positioned about 1/4 the way down the tank (plants are about 1/2) and the 24" obviously falls a little over the half line, but positioned over the planted side.

With this setup, do you think that running some DIY CO2 would be beneficial?

[span class="edited"][Edited by mattyboombatty 2004-07-05 15:43][/span]

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Well it's hard to tell exactly how much WPG the light side will receive as light and water result in refraction of light, but I think plants will do good, and as for Co2 I think it always helps if you control it, this meaning that you have to watch out the darker side for algae bloom, or plant fast growing plants in the bright side so they use all the nutrients and the co2

My Bristle nose is all over that algea bloom....

If I position the CO2 in the planted side of the tank, Will that help at all?

And are there any fast growing plants that look good, Cause everyone suggests wisteria, and I don't find that stuff very attractive.

[span class="edited"][Edited by mattyboombatty 2004-07-05 15:51][/span]

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

LOL yeay for the BN!!

Well yes they are several
-Bacopa
-Althernanthera rosaefolia
-Cabomba (green) stay away from the magenta one, need tons of light
-Crinum calamistratum I love those but people find them creepy, medium grower but sure sucks a lot of nutrients as almost all bulbous plants.
-Elodea Densa Most people don't like it, it a personal favorite though
-Brazilian Pennywort
-Any Ninphea lotus. You can even watch those grow!!
-Any Vallisneria, I love jungle valls, grows long long leaves and the visual effect is awesome
And of course hornwort, but I have mo experience with it, it's forbidden here so it's really strange to get it.

There you go there are quite a few you can successfully grow

Thanks for the help Falstaf, Next time I'm out I'll see which of those I like. There's bound to be a few.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Well the lighting is now up to 60W on the right 2/3 of the tank. and here is a link to my pics in PB. I ended up getting some jungle vals on your(falstaf) recommendation.

http://www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/thread.asp?id=43129

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Looks really cool!!

Thanks(though you might not have been able to see through the awful photo quality)...hopefully I will get some new growth in the back row to cover up the wall.

I'm working on some DIY CO2 right now!

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients