40 gallon planted aquarium

After many, many years with my 58 gallon planted tank, I decided to tear it down (for relocation) and redo the planted tank in a 40 gallon (breeder dimension) tank. Main difference is that instead of pea gravel and sand, I used a 2" base of bentonite clay (non-clumping, unscented kitty litter) covered with sand and pea gravel. Plant selection is geared toward easy-to-grow, low maintenance selections. I do have two compact flourescent striplights and pressurized CO2 injection. Currently, I have only red cherry shrimp in the tank but plan to get a few otocinclus fish.

Correction: I mis-identified some moss. The ball of moss on the left is Subwassertang moss. The low flat moss on the far right is Pellia.

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Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• planted
• shrimp
• aquarium
• tank

[lbtheman12345]

Whats a good fluorescent light fixture for a 40 gallon breeder that you recommend?

[mishmosh2000]

@lbtheman12345 - I can't say I am up to the latest in lighting. I think the move to LED is a little premature but they are promising. I use a striplight that has two 55W or 65W compact fluorescent bulbs. You can use two of those striplights for high intensity requirements and those bulbs are cheap and easy to get. I like 10,000K light color but any "daylight" bulb should be OK.

[lbtheman12345]

@mishmosh2000 Where did you get your striplights?

[mishmosh2000]

@lbtheman12345 - usually ebay. They have cheap power compact bulbs too.

[mishmosh2000]

@sayurasem Put the Pelia under the mesh. Sooner or later, as the mass expands outward, the inside will become necrotic. You can either trim it regularly, or let it enlarge until one day you need to do it all over again.

[sayurasem]

@mishmosh2000 so just some round pellia on top of flat mesh? Does the inside died because no light?

[paducahFishFan]

Great looking tanks. You make me want to get a CO2 system. You should consider Rasbora or maybe a Black Tetra that schools and is not hard on the shrimp. Plants are amazing.

[OnlineFishTank]

This is a great looking tank. Well kept and trimmed!

[mishmosh2000]

@sayurasem Hey sweet! Just start with a flat small stone and wrap it under plastic netting. It'll grow out like that.

[sayurasem]

hey dude! Im at plantedtank too, but how do you grow your round pellia (subwassertang) like that? It looks so round and nice! please replay thank you!