PaulieFish
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2010
- Messages
- 313
Well this is going to be my first true planted tank. Right now I have a 45g tank with like 3-4 plants in it, but I have no clue how they are surviving. There is no good subtrate (currently have typical gravel). Actually, pictures speak a 1000 words right?
So this is my current set up, its ok but pretty bland as you can see most of my plants are not vibrant and look like they are barely hanging on. Well after realizing my passion was in the plants over the fish (I know right?), I decided to do some heavy research in planted tanks (hello forum!). I came across an amazing site which basically had an outline for any newcomer to planted tanks could ask for. Here is what I gathered.
Substrate: Should be porous with high CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity), some good ones are Flourite, Eco-Complete, and Onyx-Sand. Also was told a light dusting of peat or Lenardite or mulm is good for a substrate as well.
Was also told to avoid soul substrates because they can have unwanted ammonia spikes and hidden parasites. So basically I decided I am going to go with the Flourite or Eco-Complete, depending on what my LPS has. If both I will go with what everone looks cooler to me.
Next Lighting: Well I was told the general rule for lighting is 2-5 WPG, for low tech tho you want to go about 1.5 WPG ideally. The reason I am mostly looking up low tech is the co2 injections, kinda bothered by them with the extra testing, trying to do as much, well, as least work as possible. I am trying to go for a self maintaining tank. I have read that the more plants the better. Anyway!
For lighting it talked about a multitude of things like. SPiral CFL's are less efficient so I should aim for ones that are 2-2.5 WPG instead. I also read that T5 tubes are super effective and can do about 1-1.2 WPG for them.
Also read about a rating where people say go for bulbs that are 5500k-8000k, where the ideal would be around 6500k. No clue what that means, but I am sure its on the box somewhere, when I buy the light. lol.
Next Planting: Was told when starting out should get very dense, and only be able to see about 10-15% of the substrate, and about 50% of the plants should be fast growing.
Also Filtration should be have at least cycle the tanks water 10-15 times per hour. Which for mine is about 450-675g per hour. Since my AquaClear is 110 series and is for upto 100g tanks, I assume it does that.
So my list:
[ ] - Eco-Complete / Flourite
[x] - Aqua Clear 110 filter
[ ] - T5 tube, or some other lightbulb depending on cost
[ ] - Plants!! [Gonna need some help with picking these out guys]
The choices i have are:
limnophila aromatica
Amazon Sword - narrow leaf
Anubias barteri v barteri
Crypt Wendtii
Crypt Moehlmanni
Cryptocoryne ciliata
Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
Java Fern - baby plantlets
Java Moss - christmas moss
Kleiner Bar Sword
Mint Charlie
Star Grass
Hornwort
Naja grass / Guppy Grass
"Red" - Tiger Lotus - Nymphaea Zenkeri
Sub Wassertang - unusual / rare
“Tiger” Vallisneria spiralis
Vallisneria spiralis
Water Lettuce - Pistia stratiotes
Water Sprite ( thin and regular )
Pond Penny
I have no clue what 90% of these look/are so I need you guys help with the planning of which plants I can get. The guy who has the plants has a lot of extras and I told him once I get my substrate and everything I would contact him for a list of things I want!
So guys, for this journal to go anywhere I need your help on picking out some plants, and any other additional information would be great!
So this is my current set up, its ok but pretty bland as you can see most of my plants are not vibrant and look like they are barely hanging on. Well after realizing my passion was in the plants over the fish (I know right?), I decided to do some heavy research in planted tanks (hello forum!). I came across an amazing site which basically had an outline for any newcomer to planted tanks could ask for. Here is what I gathered.
Substrate: Should be porous with high CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity), some good ones are Flourite, Eco-Complete, and Onyx-Sand. Also was told a light dusting of peat or Lenardite or mulm is good for a substrate as well.
Was also told to avoid soul substrates because they can have unwanted ammonia spikes and hidden parasites. So basically I decided I am going to go with the Flourite or Eco-Complete, depending on what my LPS has. If both I will go with what everone looks cooler to me.
Next Lighting: Well I was told the general rule for lighting is 2-5 WPG, for low tech tho you want to go about 1.5 WPG ideally. The reason I am mostly looking up low tech is the co2 injections, kinda bothered by them with the extra testing, trying to do as much, well, as least work as possible. I am trying to go for a self maintaining tank. I have read that the more plants the better. Anyway!
For lighting it talked about a multitude of things like. SPiral CFL's are less efficient so I should aim for ones that are 2-2.5 WPG instead. I also read that T5 tubes are super effective and can do about 1-1.2 WPG for them.
Also read about a rating where people say go for bulbs that are 5500k-8000k, where the ideal would be around 6500k. No clue what that means, but I am sure its on the box somewhere, when I buy the light. lol.
Next Planting: Was told when starting out should get very dense, and only be able to see about 10-15% of the substrate, and about 50% of the plants should be fast growing.
Also Filtration should be have at least cycle the tanks water 10-15 times per hour. Which for mine is about 450-675g per hour. Since my AquaClear is 110 series and is for upto 100g tanks, I assume it does that.
So my list:
[ ] - Eco-Complete / Flourite
[x] - Aqua Clear 110 filter
[ ] - T5 tube, or some other lightbulb depending on cost
[ ] - Plants!! [Gonna need some help with picking these out guys]
The choices i have are:
limnophila aromatica
Amazon Sword - narrow leaf
Anubias barteri v barteri
Crypt Wendtii
Crypt Moehlmanni
Cryptocoryne ciliata
Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
Java Fern - baby plantlets
Java Moss - christmas moss
Kleiner Bar Sword
Mint Charlie
Star Grass
Hornwort
Naja grass / Guppy Grass
"Red" - Tiger Lotus - Nymphaea Zenkeri
Sub Wassertang - unusual / rare
“Tiger” Vallisneria spiralis
Vallisneria spiralis
Water Lettuce - Pistia stratiotes
Water Sprite ( thin and regular )
Pond Penny
I have no clue what 90% of these look/are so I need you guys help with the planning of which plants I can get. The guy who has the plants has a lot of extras and I told him once I get my substrate and everything I would contact him for a list of things I want!
So guys, for this journal to go anywhere I need your help on picking out some plants, and any other additional information would be great!