Freshly Planted 55 gallon

[dinokath]

Just planted my tank. Recently had some problems with what turned out to be a bacteria bloom. It made me do a lot of reading and resparked my interest in doing a real planted tank. I have automated CO2 injection and 216 watts of T5HO. This thing should flourish!

Let me know whatcha think! Thanks!

Dean

 

[joy13]

Nice! My favorite portion is the left side. Once your plants start growing to the surface it will really be awesome.

 

[Barnature]

Nice aquarium! It looks so pretty!

 

[dinokath]

Thanks! Here's a couple more shots...

 

[MichaelsLilGray]

i wish i could plant my 55... my oscar would redecorate it though.. and i dont like how he decorates =/

 

[dinokath]

Sounds like it is time to get another tank Gray!

 

[Jchillin]

If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been doing planted for quite some time, everything looks great!

 

[redsoxfan692]

very nice! I'm thinking of doing a planted with a 55gal also.. I've done some reading on it, but I'm curious as to how difficult this was.

 

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

Plants look great and healthy.

 

[dinokath]

Thanks Jchillin, red and ben! I appreciate it! The plants are from aquariumplants.com and came in awesome condition. Better than anything I have seen at any of my LFS's...

As far as how difficult it was, well, not difficult but expensive! The light was $280, the CO2 was about $225 after all is said and done and then substrate (Eco-complete ain't cheap!) was another $125 and then the plants were about another $125. So that's about $800 or so plus other goodies...

And, even though it looks great now, I am about 3 days into it, so the real challenge is maintaining it!! But I am already showing fresh growth on some of the plants, so I must have it nice and happy for them!! The fish are in love too....

 

[redsoxfan692]

wow I didn't realize it was that expensive. From the pictures though it certainly looks like it was worth it, especially since the fish love it

 

[dinokath]

It doesn't have to be. You can do DIY CO2 and a MUCH cheaper light, say around $125, but I wanted a heavily planted tank and that takes lots of light, lots of CO2 and a good substrate. You can cut a few corners here and there and do some stuff DIY (like the CO2 reactor) but the cost savings is negligible once you start talking heavily planted tanks! I saved like $35 on a DIY reactor, and while I wouldn't thumb my nose at a $35 savings, when you get into the $800 range, $35 isn't much, but it is something! Besides, you get to show off your DIY part that saved you $35!

 

[Bigfoot1030]

Very nice looking tank!!!

 

[dinokath]

Rearranged the tank a bit. Check my signature line for a link. Let me know whatcha think! Thanks!

 

[brutus]

I think its looking like a great start with your plant choices.Will be a jungle in no time.

 

[dinokath]

Thanks! That's the look I am going for. Lush and colorful jungle! If it gets out of hand, well, then that's why the good Lord gave us scissors and opposable thumbs!

Just update the albums with pics of the new light and the moonlights. About 4 hours after I hooked it up, the plants started pearling. Too freaking cool! I have had the plants in there for one week!