Hi everyone.

I'm gathering supplies to start my first planted tank. So far I have most of what I need for pressure co2 injection, and am hung up on 2 things. I've read countless articles on lighting but I still just don't get it.

I've got a 155 tall, and want to start an aquascape tank.

Most plants I see requre 5-7k kelvin and 3-4 watt per gallon. I realize because my tank is a tall, ide have to go a bit higher.. here's my dilema. This means ide need either 14 54w t5's or go to metal halide. Well, I've done some research and a lot of people use metal halides for growing but it seems people always reccomend t5 fixtures.

To cut my long drawn out question short, I've been eyeing this light up for quite some time, and, assuming its a decent quality light, (ballasts don't go to crap etc). Will this light meet my needs or not?
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...id=51906873940

Its enough wattage.. but the wrong kelvin.

Also, substrate seems to be in the top 3 most important things to a planted aquarium.

Currently I just have natural colored aquarium gravel. About 4" deep. (Normal size)

Seeing is how I'm already going big with co2 and lights.. would the gravel be a major downfall if not swapped out, or layered?

I plan to grow hairgrass, hornwort,ludwigia perenius (sp?), money wort,myrio red and green and a few others.

Ok after looking at the lighting sticky again, I kinda feel dumb. Lol. Now I understand why people reccomend t5s. I was just so cought up in wattage and actinic bulb talk..

I've also decided although it will be very costly to change out my gravel for better substrate, I might as well go ahead and do it.

One unanswered q though... how long does the added nutrients in the plant substrates last? And when its gone.. what happens?

Can anyone reccomend a cheaper substrate to me? I prefer black and need about 200lbs

You do not need that much! I have two 125s that are both planted and CO2. What are the dimensions of your tank?

The footprint is 48"x24". I've always heard you want a minimum 1lb per gallon. Granted mines a "tall" tank but I prefer a deeper substrate. I've got roughly 200lbs of gravel in there now I believe, and its about 4" thick.

I'm new to this whole planted aquarium thing (obviously) I have no idea how big the roots get or what to expect/plan for. I hate to sound ignorant, but wouldn't. Deeper substrate with minerals aid in larger plant growth because the roots would spread out to reach the deeper material as they use the suppliments from the higher substrate, causing a larger root and therefore probobly a larger plant?

Also does anyone know how long these fortified substrates last? Or is it more to just jumpstart growth, or just a better footing to grow through? See all these questions.. lol I need to do some research.

I was talking about the light. What is the height of the tank? Getting the right light is all about water penetration to the substrate.

For the substrate....2-3" is best. Whatever it takes gets you to that point. Not so sure you would need 200lbs. Too much is not good. With a 48" tank it should be fairly inexpensive. As far as the nutrients, just depends. None of them last forever. I have eco-complete in a few of my tanks. Some type of root tab will still be needed for heavy root feeders.

The. Tank is 31 inches deep. So 48x24x31

Wow, that is one wet-armpit tank.... I can only imagine the fun in planting it.

I personally think the problem is going to be getting even light distrobution because your tank is also large front to back. I would think that a 48" T5HO fixture with 3 X 54W would be adequate for anything you'll want to grow. I would also seriously consider getting a custom fixture made by Catalina Aquariums and getting them to give you their widest fixture and then have them place the lights spread evenly within the fixture. This would give you about a 12.5" fixture and would make the light front to back more evenly distributed. I have 5 of their fixtures and they are top-notch.....worth every penny. I would guess a fixture like that would be around $350.

I'll send you a pm with info on where to get much better advice than mine.

Thanks a ton JR ^^

There is good info there, and you'll find me there if ya try

Sorry if I double post my browser is failing.