Qs about marine plants

[reiverix]

I'm getting closer to the stage where I will be setting up my marine planted. Still be a month or two but it gives me time to plan ahead. Ok so here's some things on my mind.

1. I'll be using a 29g that is currently occupied with an arrowhead puffer. The puffer is being moved to a 55g. Substrate is onyx sand with some eco complete mixed in. It's about 4 inches deep since the arrowhead is a lurker that likes to bury itself. So can this substrate still be used? Would it need washed out or fine as it is? Or will I have to replace the substrate altogether?

2. Can marine plants become carbon limited? I'm assuming all plant life can but is there a certain light level where CO2 or maybe even Excel should be supplemented?

3. On the 29g I have 112w T5 (6700K and 10000K). How is this for the marine plants?

4. Dosing. Is there a certain NO3/PO4 ratio? What about micros? I intend to plant fairly heavy and incorporate the FW style of aquascaping.


That's about all I can think of just now. I know this is a kind of offbeat question but any answers (even if just common sense) are welcome.



Thanks,

John

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Qs about marine plants

Skilters, Bak Paks (or similar devices) work very well, recall the cO2 mist?

Try this with aeration and you'll fine it works very well, you do not need CO2, excel likely will do more harm than good.

I have not tried it, but given what it's done to a number of larger FW macro algae, I wouldn't.

I prefer aragonite, onyx will do well also, perhaps even better.
Add lots of mulm from a marine system, preferable a mature refuge with worms etc......

Light is a bit light. More would be nice. Most species will do okay though.

You can dose fairly well with everything except PO4, you'll see a diatom bloom if you add too much PO4, 0.2ppm every once in a awhile, 5-10ppm NO3, traces 2-3x a week

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[reiverix]

Re: Qs about marine plants

Thanks for the info. I made a typo on the lighting though. I only have 72w at the moment but intended to upgrade to 108w. Still, if that's on the low side, what would you recommend for wpg?

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Qs about marine plants

4-6 w/gal of PC lighting works well