Hey guys,
I have used this website for research on aquarium related topics for quite a while and am impressed with the depth of information thats given. I've decided to start a freshwater planted tank for the first time. I keep lots of African cichlids right now and thought it would be fun to try something new. I just recently acquired a 58 gal show tank that I want to make into an amazing planted tank with colorful, active, and peaceful fish. I would like your thoughts on everything from substrate to CO2 injection. And if possible I'd like to save some money doing it, but only if that doesn't sacrifice quality. I'll just start with some of the ideas that I have had. I want a dark substrate, so I was thinking Estes deep river regular gravel mixed with flourite to act as a fertilizer. What ratio of flourite to gravel would be ideal and how deep should the bed be? Or is there a better product than flourite? I know that the type of plants I plan on keeping probably has an influence on a lot of your answers but all I know that I want is a large variety of different plants and possibly some different colors. For lighting I have done a lot of research and believe that VHO lighting is the direction I'd like to go. How many watts do I need for a 58 since this is a little taller than a standard tank? Or do watts even matter so long as I have the right spectrum? One of the other areas I need some advice is in CO2. What kind of a system would be high quality while still being realistic? That brings me to filtration. I would like a canister filter and have had success with Eheims 2026 Pro II filter on other tanks. Is it good to have a large canister filter for planted tanks (or does the surface agitation greatly reduce the CO2 in the water?), and if not is there a smaller one that will still get the job done well? Another thing to ask about is the inhabitants of the tank. Does the inch per gallon rule still apply to a planted tank or do all the living plants let you get away with a little more? And finally, are UV sterilizers recommended in a planted tank? I think thats about it unless there's something else you think I should know. Thanks for all the help and please reply quick! I can't let this tank sit empty much longer!
Thanks for all your advice,
Josh
Ames, Iowa
I have used this website for research on aquarium related topics for quite a while and am impressed with the depth of information thats given. I've decided to start a freshwater planted tank for the first time. I keep lots of African cichlids right now and thought it would be fun to try something new. I just recently acquired a 58 gal show tank that I want to make into an amazing planted tank with colorful, active, and peaceful fish. I would like your thoughts on everything from substrate to CO2 injection. And if possible I'd like to save some money doing it, but only if that doesn't sacrifice quality. I'll just start with some of the ideas that I have had. I want a dark substrate, so I was thinking Estes deep river regular gravel mixed with flourite to act as a fertilizer. What ratio of flourite to gravel would be ideal and how deep should the bed be? Or is there a better product than flourite? I know that the type of plants I plan on keeping probably has an influence on a lot of your answers but all I know that I want is a large variety of different plants and possibly some different colors. For lighting I have done a lot of research and believe that VHO lighting is the direction I'd like to go. How many watts do I need for a 58 since this is a little taller than a standard tank? Or do watts even matter so long as I have the right spectrum? One of the other areas I need some advice is in CO2. What kind of a system would be high quality while still being realistic? That brings me to filtration. I would like a canister filter and have had success with Eheims 2026 Pro II filter on other tanks. Is it good to have a large canister filter for planted tanks (or does the surface agitation greatly reduce the CO2 in the water?), and if not is there a smaller one that will still get the job done well? Another thing to ask about is the inhabitants of the tank. Does the inch per gallon rule still apply to a planted tank or do all the living plants let you get away with a little more? And finally, are UV sterilizers recommended in a planted tank? I think thats about it unless there's something else you think I should know. Thanks for all the help and please reply quick! I can't let this tank sit empty much longer!
Thanks for all your advice,
Josh
Ames, Iowa