180 aga tank with overflow. low light planted

[ascensive]

I have a 180 tank that is a pitiful reef tank. I would like to turn it into a low light planted tank. Java moss, Java fern, Anubias, Crypto. Fish, cards, ottos, rummys. Right now there is a sump. Lighting is a six foot power compact. Id change the light to 6700k. My question is what would be a good substrate to use?

Another question for dosing. Has anyone ever made the dose amount, mixed it with water, and froze it? Days for dosing, just throw an ice cube in the tank?

 

[ascensive]

is there a low light 180 thread already on this site somewhere that i havent found that has the info there already?

frozen dosing? has that already been discussed somewhere as well?

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,
I have a 180 low light tank and thread.

Could you detail more about your light fixture? Low-light to you may not mean low-light to the plants.

WPG is not useful for determining light levels. Could you describe your goals please?

Not sure if freezing your dosing into a cube will affect it. I don't think so as it is only added water.

I use dry ferts personally, and it takes literally 45 seconds to add to water, stir, and add to tank.

 

[Tom Barr]

http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/3830-180-gallon-rimless-Starfire-wood-scape-thus-far/page3

A long thread, but I only use the PC bulbs, so it's about 2 w/gal or thereabouts, low light by many folk's standards.

But I have 2-3x the fish load and sell lots of plants and it is easy to keep up on.
Few can say all that plus I can grow any plant well they might say requires more light(which is to say, more light is NOT required).

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[ascensive]

My goals are:

bi-weekly water changes, or monthly.
low light and maintenance.
planted tank with java moss on driftwood, java ferns on driftwood, anubias, and low light type of plants that will grow in substrate.
i mention the frozen dosing because if I am not home during the times it needs dosing, someone at home can just grab a cube and throw it in the water.

Lighting is a 72 inch coralife pc, 4 bulbs, with the LEDs. 196 watts. i can only use half the lighting. the lights need to sit on top of the tank since i am using a canopy.
There are overflows, and a reef sump with sock, protein skimmer, mag 12 and mag 18 pumps

 

[ascensive]

tom, i will read your thread. what are the foreground plants? i believe i bought some of that from a guy who bought some from you.