Pet Forum / Aquaria / Plants / September 2005

I was wondering if anyone here could help me find the spectrum for the
following CF bulb:
Phillips PL-L 36watt/41/4p
TIA

I posted this to aquaticplantcentral but I thought I would stick it here
too so you guys could have a look
I'm looking to setup another tank and I'm having some trouble with
lighting. Basically I have comitted to having a tank made, which is

I need some general advice.
I found a nice piece of wood by a river and thought it would look nice in my
aquarium. I took it home and thoroughly cleaned it with a scrub brush. I
then boiled the wood completely, making sure anything alive on it would fry.

I am setting up a new SeaClear 40 Gallon Acrylic aquarium and just learned
about Undergravel heating cables. I want to know is it possible to use a
Undergravel Heating Cable in an Acrylic Aquarium?
Also how do you read the stick on thermometers on aquariums?

I use a Red Sea Turbo CO2 injector for my planted aquariums. The brand name
media for this 1 l reactor cost $9 a pop and is rated to last a month. Are
there any comparable and cheap home recipes for C02 that will last equally
as long as the brand name Red Sea media?

When I plant bunches of Elodea & Cabomba with lead strips around the bottom
of the stalks the bottom 10cm start to rot.
What am I doing wrong?
Info:

Some of you may remember me from about two weeks ago; I had problems
with my MH bulbs popping the GFCI outlet on turn-on.  That's all sorted
out. It turns out that replacing the GFCI outlet solved the problem.
Now I've got a different problem, that I noticed when I was working on

Is this normal?  My plants are growing roots off of the leaves and it
appears they are trying to get to the substrate.  Is that okay or is there a
problem?
Dan

   Is there a general consensus among the group for a good plant book, or
set of books for a newcomer to plants? I didn't have much luck when I tried
years ago, and I want to start off right this time with new tanks.
   I'm looking for a list of plants, with lighting needs, ...

Is it just me, or has traffic on the planted aquaria newsgroup taken a
dive? I thought this was one of the more-heavily trafficked aquaria
groups...
B

I need some advice.  I have set up a 75 gallon planted aquarium a little
over a month ago now.  I do not believe it has cycled yet.  My ammonia
reading is .1 while Nitrite and Nitrate remain at 0.  My plants are growing
a fuzzy brownish algae on them.  I did a water change last ...

If wonder if any of you guys could help me. I did my usual 30% water
change on Saturday night, I got in on sunday to find all of my tetras
swimming near the surface gasping for air, the only thing I had done
differently was increase the CO2 slightly. Then I noticed some bleeding

I have what I think are some odd things happening in my tank.
I have a 125 litre planted tank with a Sera Seramic PH controlle
connected to a Sera co2 system
The PH Controller has been bought second hand and its my first so I

I have a few plants in my freshwater aquarium.  Recently I have noticed
a stringy substance coming off of them.  It almost reminds me of a web
being stretched by the water.
I have discussed it (verbally describing the situation) with some other

Does anyone have a good stock of E. Tenellus that could spare a cutting
or two? I'm in Lovington, New Mexico and there aren't any local groups
of aquatic gardeners here.
Thanks,