A Few Questions - Primarily Gravel Heaters? *updated With Photos*

[macgyver]

Hi guys, this looks to be a great forum so I thought I would throw my questions up here first. Thanks for any help you can provide!

I am setting up my tank again at the moment, it has been running a pretty basic setup for quite some time now. The dimensions are 900mmx450mmx450mm (3ftx1.5ftx1.5ft)

I have stripped the whole lot out firstly and bought some Dupla laterite to put in my bottom layer firstly, but the main question I have is whether or not gravel heaters are worth implementing. I have heard mixed opinions but for what it is worth I am happy to spend the money on it.

Secondly being a smallish tank I am planning on using DIY Co2 to start with, and if all goes well or it seems like I need upgrade I will in the future.

For lighting I currently have one 30w aquaglow or some generic light for the tank but I have moved this to the front of the hood ands mounted itup and was going to get something stronger for the back - what is the gnereal rule here - 2 lower rated lights or one bigger light?

And finally for filtration I currently have an Eheim ball filter (dont know the exact model number) but will also be adding a fluval 204 which I can pick up at the end of the week.

ALright - well now that is out the way maybe someone with 5 minutes of spare time can drop me some recommendations/horror stories whatever you have! I am really looking for a nice planted tank more than a fish tank at the moment, once its running smoothly I will then get a few centrepiece type fish and leave it at that.

Thanks for any advice guys!

 

[RYO]

Hi m8. Your tank is roughly 40gals, too be honest id spend the money on lighting rather than the substrate heater, some people swear by them some people say there a waste of dosh. I have 1 in 1 of my tanks and too be honest cant tell much difference.
As the tank is pretty deep your going to need a fair bit if light. What sort of hood do you have?
T8 lights are cheaper and easier to get hold of but t5 tubes are more powerful for the size.
To give you some idea i use 3x 30w 36" tubes in my 4ft tank and 2x36w power compact T5 (over kill) in my 2ft. You want to aim for around 3 wpg for plants realy so you need around 120W
See Georges link on lighting - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=96754
Your talking on 5x 25w 30" t8 tubes. Or 3 x 39w 34" t5 tubes or 3x 55w 21" power compacts the choice is yours. lol sounds like a game show.

Run the 204 along side the other for a while until the bio load builds up. Lots of people slag the fluval off , i found it to be a great filter. 1 tip put vaseline on the rubber seal this helps big time. Maybe go for the 304 give ya a bit more filtration.
Hope this is some help.

 

[George Farmer]

Firstly a warm welcome to the Forum Macgyver!

Substrate heating is a subject that causes a little controversy.

Personally I swear by it and appear to have noticed better growth with rather than without. In my opinion the benefits are numerous if difficult to physically identify. Try this link http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=102580&hl=

This said they are not essential by any means and most successful planted hobbyists run beautiful tanks without them. It maybe more prudent using the cash saved by not buying one and putting it toward a pressurized CO2 system, this is what I would do in your situation unless I had a large enough budget to do both.

zig is a great source of info for your lighting as he runs an identically sized tank. I believe he runs 2 x 55W T5 PC Interpet Daylights with T8 Arcadia reflectors.

Are you UK? This is a good site - http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z497154.asp

I would be tempted to run T8s personally as they could fully span the tank, the T5 PCs are only 21" long I believe. 3 x 39W 34" would do the job well, or even 4 if you want mega growth. Bear in mind that with over 3 WPG you're talking very stable CO2 and nutrient levels required along with lots of plant bio-mass.

These T8 tubes are cheap and effective - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=107609&hl=

I run a Fluval 204, great filter in my experience. However I would be tempted to go for an Eheim as these are regarded as the industry standard. They also come with spray bars, great for planted tanks as they minimise current. I'd also eventually lose the internal once your external has established to minimise in-tank maintenance and improve aesthetics.

As for advice for other practicalities I recommend reading the pinned articles i.e. lighting, CO2, ferts and algae. The algae article has some good advice for starting out too.

All the best.
George

 

[macgyver]

Well thanks very much for the advice so far guys! I think I will probably just do it, I certainly dont have an unlimited budget but for something that is near impossible to do at a later date without alot of hassle i will probably just do it.

Thanks also on the advice re filters, I will probly just get the eheim instead, I really can't complain about the ball filter I have had which has been great (another eheim product) so I should probly stick with what I know.

In regards to lighting advice - below are some links to my freshly scrubbed and emptied tank. i have only just mounted the single light that used to run the whole tank at the front so now I can get a bigger 1 or 2 at the back in the spare room under the hood, I bought the tank from my brother after he got started and wasnt that excited and everything he had was quite basic so I am doing it properly this time around.

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4

With the neutral walls and the dark wood floors I am thinking some nice bright greens from the fishtank will really brighten the room up, I will keep everyone up to date with some new photos along the way.

Thanks for a warm welcome to a great looking forum!

 

[zig]

Macgyver where are you located what country are you in?

gf my tank is only 30 inches wide this is how i can get away with the Power compacts and tbh i dont really notice any noticeable falloff in the light or the growth at the edges of the tank, i wish the tank was 36 inches wide but i would have to knock the wall down as the tank is in an alcove, but i have to say i think 36x18x18 is probably a perfect size for doing aquascapes and i do wish i had the space for the extra 6 inches, but if i was asked what i think are really good dimensions for a tank i would definatly say 36x18x18 although 20 high would be nice as well.

On the filter, if you want a highlight tank you will need an external cannister filter to reduce the surface agitation if you are going to use co2, an Eheim 2215 would be perfect for your tank size and are generally reasonably priced although there are others you could use also, and as gf says have a look at the pinned articles and just start reading through the threads thats how we all start off, and if you are not sure of anything just ask.

 

[macgyver]

Macgyver where are you located what country are you in?

On the filter, if you want a highlight tank you will need an external cannister filter to reduce the surface agitation if you are going to use co2, an Eheim 2215 would be perfect for your tank size and are generally reasonably priced although there are others you could use also, and as gf says have a look at the pinned articles and just start reading through the threads thats how we all start off, and if you are not sure of anything just ask.

I am actually in Australia so a little bit away from a few of you in the UK. I have just looked up the eheim 2215 canister and I can find it for around $270AU at a quick browse, but I am sure I can beat up my mate at the fish store a bit better than that

Thanks again guys!

 

[George Farmer]

gf my tank is only 30 inches wide

Ah, I see now. Don't know why I thought it was 36".

 

[macgyver]

Well I thought it was about time I got some photos up of my fish tank and month or 2 after jumping into all of this head first. Thanks heaps for the advice so far guys, it was all super helpful, and i am pleased to report great early results (apart from a few hiccups, but I think we all get them) - oh and please excuse my ugly ceramic cave - finding the right piece of driftwood is proving a problem - maybe I am just too fussy? (and if my pleco had nowhere to hide I dont think he would be very happy!

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So far I have used Dupla laterite underneath the gravel, and a Tunze substrate heating cable to get things going down below and installed an Eheim 2215 filter which has been wonderful, extra money well spent!

I installed 2 extra hoodlights and using 2xSylvania 30 T8 6K fluoros and a Sylvania 30w T8 10k light for up the top and currently using DIY co2 with a Tunze diffuser which has been working very well. My plants are all growing really well, I think they just need some nutrients to even things out, (as can be seen with my swords in the final photo which are a little yellow! - any advice on this problem anyone?

I have started adding some Iron ferts to get things going but I havent yet got an Iron or Phosphates test kit so am being a little on the carefull side when adding any ferts at the moment.

Thanks again for all the help guys - just reading the back log of posts here was enough to set me on the right path!