C
csmith
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Hello all. I'm not new to planted tanks per se, just new to doing them right. Algae does count as a plant, right? I hope so, as I've sucessfully cultivated every type of algae I know of at the expense of my desired flora. This first thread will be about my newest (and second) tank. It's a 55 gallon, with GLO T-5 2x54 watt bulbs (one 6,500 LifeGLO, one 18,000 PowerGLO. The 18,000 isn't as bad as it sounds, it's actually pinkish). Substrate is Flourite Black, not dosed with anything as far as macros. I've been using a Seachem regimen on my 10 gallon, and seeing as you can't mix their P and K, I didn't want to mix the two with N in a spray bottle. I'll be getting Miracle Grow later on for this. Seems the easiest to do, unless anyone has other suggested products. Eventually it'll have a Fluval 305 attached, but that's to come later.
To get to my point, I'm attempting the DSM using Lilaeopsis Mauritiana (micro swords) and need a little guidance. The two attached pictures are day 1 of my tank.
With the light on, the front and side glass were wet about three quarters of the way up, and the back glass is dry to maybe three to four inches above the substrate (as observed better in the second picture). Is this cause for concern, as in is my light producing too much heat to maintain a proper amount of moisture? My driftwood started a light brown color, and now it's very dark in spots which would lead me to believe it's humid enough. The light sits above two glass tops, and the tops have masking tape around the perimeter to ensure as much retention of water as possible. I do open it and mist the plants/allow gas exchange twice a day.
I understand the clumps of plants aren't ideal, but they had such a good root structure I was hesitant to break them apart. If need be I can break them up, though.
Any help would be much appreciated.
P.S. The wire/probe on the wood is just a thermometer.
To get to my point, I'm attempting the DSM using Lilaeopsis Mauritiana (micro swords) and need a little guidance. The two attached pictures are day 1 of my tank.
With the light on, the front and side glass were wet about three quarters of the way up, and the back glass is dry to maybe three to four inches above the substrate (as observed better in the second picture). Is this cause for concern, as in is my light producing too much heat to maintain a proper amount of moisture? My driftwood started a light brown color, and now it's very dark in spots which would lead me to believe it's humid enough. The light sits above two glass tops, and the tops have masking tape around the perimeter to ensure as much retention of water as possible. I do open it and mist the plants/allow gas exchange twice a day.
I understand the clumps of plants aren't ideal, but they had such a good root structure I was hesitant to break them apart. If need be I can break them up, though.
Any help would be much appreciated.
P.S. The wire/probe on the wood is just a thermometer.
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