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Ned:

I have a 55gal freshwater tank with mostly plastic plants. I do have some live water sprite, java moss and a java fern attached to a piece of driftwood. The tank as been set up for 1 year and I would like to switch over to all live plants. I’m wondering how difficult this would be. I know I would need to change my substrate, I have blue stones in there now, but I’m wondering if I need to take the fish out first, can I just add some type of soil to the existing substrate, etc. I would appreciate it if you could walk me through it. I’ve searched the internet but haven’t come up with any good articles. I’ve bought a lot of livestock from you and you have always been great.

Thanks,

jj

I have a 55gal freshwater tank with mostly plastic plants.
so you probably have one 4-foot 40 watt bulb?
I do have some live water sprite, java moss and a java fern attached to a piece of driftwood.
Those are low light plants, and your less than 1 watt per gallon is adequate...you could also do Anubias plants with that ammount of low light.
The tank as been set up for 1 year and I would like to switch over to all live plants. I’m wondering how difficult this would be.
Easy.
I know I would need to change my substrate, I have blue stones in there now,
If it were my tank I'd get rid of the blue substrate.
but I’m wondering if I need to take the fish out first,
When doing a huge disruption like that , it would be best to catch the fish and put them in a bucket for 40 minutes while you work.
can I just add some type of soil to the existing substrate, etc.
I would not.
I would appreciate it if you could walk me through it. I’ve searched the internet but haven’t come up with any good articles. I’ve bought a lot of livestock from you and you have always been great.
Your kind words honor me, may your tribe increase.
Okay
first
if you want to stay with all low light plants
the equipment you have is fine (you might want to buy a fresh bulb every 11 months.)
Ideally , tho', you want 1.5-2.5 watts per gallon
(so get either a second 4' strip light..
OR get a new twin bulb strip light,
OR go totally nuts
and get a triple bulb strip light OR a power compact strip light)
If you get the power compact or triple bulb light I would strongly suggest a carbon dioxide system...
alternatively to a carbon dioxide system
you can use Seachem excel (which has extra carbon in it...)
for substrate the best and most popular is "Eco complete planted".
You want your lights on a minimum of 6 hours per day, and a maximum of 12 hours per day (easiest to use a timer)
Practically all of the equipment mentioned above is in stock at the store...maybe give me a call to double check before you come down.

Thanks for the info Ned. I've read a lot of good things about Eco Complete. I've got a couple of ten gallon tanks I could probably use to put the fish in temporarly. Right not I've got a Zoo Med 5500k bulb on there on a 10 hour cycle. Would that be enough light?

I've got a Zoo Med 5500k bulb on there on a 10 hour cycle. Would that be enough light?

5500K is the name of the color of the bulb
so a low number like 4400 K is very yellow or orange
a high number like 14000K is very blue
(plants supposedly like the orangy color like the bulb you have, but they can use any color )

what we really need to know is the wattage
if it is a standard florescent 48"
it is 40 watts

Thanks again Ned. I think I'll pick up a twin tube light strip as well.