From: "levittd"
Subject: Octagon Tank....
Date: June 2, 2003 11:40 AM

I am about to purchase an octagon tank. I would like to set it up as a
planted tank with little fish like neons and the like. I know that I can't a
slew of fish in it, but what I am wondering is...

How would the light positioning affect the plants? Does it matter? What type
of light should I use? A grow light? And something else, or not?

I can be difficult to set up an octogonal tank for plants. They are high, with
a small footprint, and that means they need a lot of light, but you don't have
much room for them.

What size tank are you getting?

And what kind of plants will you be keeping?


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

mid posted

"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
I can be difficult to set up an octogonal tank for plants. They are high,
with
a small footprint, and that means they need a lot of light, but you don't
have
much room for them.

What size tank are you getting?

The tank is a 15 gal hex. I bought it sight unseen and the person I bought
it from said "octogon". But it was cdn $20, so I'm happy anyway.

And what kind of plants will you be keeping?

There are 2 LFS here. Neither one of them has a good selection and seems to
bring in whatever is cheapest that week, at random. Buying live aquarium
plants here always means nursing them back to health. So basically, I'm
going to buy whatever they have and see what lives. At least they're mostly
cheaper than fish. (otoh I haven't lost a fish in a long time)

Would a compact flourescent do for at least some plants? If so what colour,
brand, wattage, etc would be best?

Also I was thinking of a 1-2L bottle DIY CO2 system. Any suggestions?

levittd

The tank is a 15 gal hex.

Can you post the dimensions? Just roughly. I've seen 10 gal. and 20 gal. hex
tanks, but I have no idea what the dimensions of a 15 gal. hex tank are.

Would a compact flourescent do for at least some plants? If so what colour,
brand, wattage, etc would be best?

You could probably grow some low-light plants at least. Java fern, java moss,
anubias, Bolbitis, etc.

Post the dimensions of the tank, and I'm sure someone here will have
suggestions for what type of lighting to get.

Also I was thinking of a 1-2L bottle DIY CO2 system. Any suggestions?

It may not be necessary, if you can't get enough light over the tank.



Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
The tank is a 15 gal hex.
Can you post the dimensions? Just roughly. I've seen 10 gal. and 20
gal. hex tanks, but I have no idea what the dimensions of a 15 gal. hex tank
are.

Each side is 9" by 19" (23cm by 49cm) I know it's 15 gal because it took 15
1gal buckets to bail it out when I checked it for leaks, and 3 5gal buckets
to fill it.

Would a compact flourescent do for at least some plants? If so what
colour,brand, wattage, etc would be best?
You could probably grow some low-light plants at least. Java fern, java
moss, anubias, Bolbitis, etc.

I expect that's what I'll look for

Also I was thinking of a 1-2L bottle DIY CO2 system. Any suggestions?
It may not be necessary, if you can't get enough light over the tank.

Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/