I think the 20L is finally going to...

[jeromee]

become what I wanted it to be! ;D

Been doing research, I think I'm finally going to change over the 20L to a fully planted tank. I'll be ditching the whisper HOB filter, in favor for a fluval 203 caniser with an in-line CO2 Reactor (Custom made ), with the DIY CO2 Generator (which will be covered in black cloth, as no light, but plenty of warmth will bring out the best CO2 supply) supplying it all. Also, 15LB of Flourite, with Gravel on top of this, and will be supplementing with Flourish as I recently aquired a whole hell of alot of it.

Lighting:
(1) 20W Flora Glo Tube

The Possible Plants:
Java Fern
Java Moss
Crystalwort
Amazon Swordplant
Dwarf Anubias
Red Cabomba (Supposedly needs alot of light, but Its growing amazingly on a basic flouecent light.. but their might be other reasons for this)

The Occupants:
CT Male Betta
Otto

The Goal: To have an insanely planted tank, and maybe make a little bit of money off my clippings.

Any opinions would be appreciated!

[bettons]

Wow that sounds like a big project you have there jeromee ! I may be wrong so don't take what I am going to say as word from an expert but, isn't a 20W too little for a 20L? and also I have heard that the amazon will get too big, or is it another plant?

[jeromee]

Yes, the amazon will get much to large for that aquarium, but I'm getting very very small plants to start out with (given to me from a friends father) in which I want to grow up before I introduce into my 55 gallon. The 20w is to small for some plants, but not for others, most of the plants I've chosen are low light plants, and I plan on getting a stronger lighting system if all goes well, that way I can grow more things.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, the lights of the room where the tank is are pretty powerful, 34 watt x 4 in the area where the tank sits, so I'm sure that will help it quite a bit!

[amanichen]

20W might be a little low for that tank (not because of the tank volume but because of the physical dimensions.)

Everything else sounds good, just watch the CO2 production so the pH doesn't fluctuate too much.

[bettons]

a 40W might be the best, i think.

[jeromee]

bettons said:

a 40W might be the best, i think.

Well, after looking around I decided that I should probably go with 2 watts per gallon, so I ordered up a Twin-Tube Light strip, 40w total.... Most all fish were moved to the 55 gallon tank already, Will soon be moving the clown loaches down there aswell, once I'm sure they've fully recovered from their ich outbreak, and I'll then be setting this planted tank up... schweet.

[bettons]

great, hope all goes well.

[amanichen]

Just remember that watts per gallon is a bit of a useless ratio, even though everybody and their grandmother uses it.

There's a better formula that involved the surface area you want to saturate with light, and how far away that surface is from the light source.