What do I need? How to start ?

[fishboy87]

Hey guys so I moving to a different apartment and I feel like this is the best opportunity for me to start a planted tank. I plan on switching from my gravel over to ((( Carib Sea ACS00832 Peace River Gravel for Aquarium, 20-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002APMU6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RUVyCbYVBAZGF ))) . My tank is a 55 gallon with a fluval 406 and aqueon 75 filter. I currently House 2 blood parrot fish .. here are some of my questions / concerns

1. Do I need soil? I just some basic plants to start off with..

2. Is this substrate good? It’s not sand but it’s very fine; If anyone have experience with this, I would love to hear your review since I have my second bag being sent to me.

3. What lighting fixture do you guys recommend ?

 

[fishboy87]

So I started reading a few articles and decided that a low light maintenance tank will be better suited for me. Any ideas?

 

[fishboy87]

??*??*??*

 

[King Fisher]

Low light plants would be a good starting point. Nearly any light will work with them. Beamswork makes an affordable light. They sell it on Amazon.

 

[fishboy87]

Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus Light for Aquarium, 48 to 60-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C7OTF9E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_uJlzCbXTVQT8A


What you guys think???

 

[fishboy87]

Low light plants would be a good starting point. Nearly any light will work with them. Beamswork makes an affordable light. They sell it on Amazon.

I wish it had a remote or can be controlled from an app lol

 

[Leeatl]

Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus Light for Aquarium, 48 to 60-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C7OTF9E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_uJlzCbXTVQT8A


What you guys think???

I think that light is overkill as far as expense goes . like King Fisher said , if you want to go low tech use a Beamswork . I use them and love them . Also don't go for any fancy substrate . I use Black Diamond Blasting Grit . It is cheap , and lets me grow plants just fine with supplements , which you will need anyway . Low tech is fun and doesn't cost a fortune . It just takes time for a tank to get settled .

 

[fishboy87]

What do you think about the substrate I picked?

 

[Leeatl]

The link you posted doesn't work for me , but if that is just standard "gravel' should be ok . I have grown plants in gravel , but I switched to BDBS and have been much happier and have had better results overall . Like anything it is all personal preference ....lol EDIT: Ok, I copied link and went and looked at . It is just a small gravel . Too bad you have bought it already because BDBS is cheaper and better in my opinion , you will still be able to grow most plants in that though .

 

[fishboy87]

What’s BDBS?

 

[fishboy87]

The link you posted doesn't work for me , but if that is just standard "gravel' should be ok . I have grown plants in gravel , but I switched to BDBS and have been much happier and have had better results overall . Like anything it is all personal preference ....lol EDIT: Ok, I copied link and went and looked at . It is just a small gravel . Too bad you have bought it already because BDBS is cheaper and better in my opinion , you will still be able to grow most plants in that though .

Thanks but what’s BDBS?

 

[Leeatl]

Black Diamond Blasting Sand/Grit

 

[fishboy87]

Black Diamond Blasting Sand/Grit

I love sand but was very sacred of it getting in my filter ..

 

[Leeatl]

Just use a prefilter sponge on the intake of the filter . Helps keep the filter from clogging so fast and keeps sand or grit out too .

 

[fishboy87]

Beamswork DA FSPEC LED Aquarium Light Pent Freshwater 0.50W (120cm - 48") https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LFF07XS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NSIzCbVQZ1CJA

 

[fishboy87]

That’s what I went with as far as lighting

 

[fishboy87]

I’m hearing that it might be too bright ?

 

[King Fisher]

I don't think that light is too bright

 

[fishboy87]

I’m hearing that it might be too bright ?

For a low maintenance/tech planted tank ? I’m not sure if I want to the co2 thing yet

 

[King Fisher]

Ya I'm pretty sure that light is for low to medium light plants. Just don't run them longer than 8 hours a day.