Beginning My First Planted Tank

[metaldemonix]

I found a nice 20-gallon long tank in my attic, and I am planning on starting a planted aquarium for some smaller community fish. I have a bag of laterite and a co2 diffuser that I know I will need to have good, healthy plants. The one thing that im unsure of is how to use the laterite. I dont have any directions for use, its just an unopened bag, and I was told that if used incorectly the laterite will turn the water brown, so...

1. how should I use the laterite, and should it be mixed with other substrates...if so what would work/look the best?
2. what kind of filter should I use for a planted aquarium? I have a marineland 170 gph powerhead/spongefilter, would that be fine?

thanks

 

[Liam]

For the laterite, give it a good wash until it stops turning the water rusty, then lay it first on the glass and cover it with gravel. For the filter anything that gives good circulation and filters the tank for the fish is fine, am not familiar with the powerhead!

 

[vinylman]

IIRC, you'd only really need CO2 if you're planning to have a lot of lighting. Make sure to have plenty of plants from the start.

 

[weathermen]

Hi ya,

are you going to go for undergravel heating, I have seen some real good plant growth from using these?

 

[Themuleous]

are you going to go for undergravel heating, I have seen some real good plant growth from using these?

Please don't, their effectiveness is dubious at best, spend the money on things that are proven to increase plant growth, such as better lighting, CO2, decent trace mix etc.

Sam

 

[Castellop123]

...

 

[lljdma06]

are you going to go for undergravel heating, I have seen some real good plant growth from using these?

Please don't, their effectiveness is dubious at best, spend the money on things that are proven to increase plant growth, such as better lighting, CO2, decent trace mix etc.

Sam

I agree with Sam, most of us here get excellent growth without substrate heating cables.

In addition, really like the look of laterite, because if you tweak around like the rest of us, it's going to come up to the surface and mix with the rest of the substrate. So if you plan on adding dramatic black gravel or that fancy onyx stuff, then get used to seeing little shots of rusty red. I use a very fine grain natural gravel, 1-3mm, so if it mixes, I really can't tell. Same story with sand. That being said, laterite is great stuff, kind of old-fashioned, but tried and true. I love it personally, and it's in all of my planted tanks, I've got 4.

You can inject CO2 into lower-light systems, 2WPG or less. I find it does wonders for plant growth, and you can grow some more moderately demanding species because the CO2 injection sort of compensates for the lack of light. I say if you've got a diffusor, and your good with DIY, you can rig up a nice CO2 system that's very inexpensive. There's a pinned topic on this.

Is the tank a 20g long or high?

llj

 

[metaldemonix]

You sais that you had a CO2 diffuser ( but have you got the rest of the yeast-based system/pressurized CO2, from a cannister )...

oh yeah, I got the whole thing. Its the Hydor CO2 starter kit

Is the tank a 20g long or high?

its a 20 long


Ive heard about using undergravel heaters, but since Ive never seen one at any pet/fish store around where I live, Its not very convenient for me to purchase one...I think I have a 150 watt submersible heater lying around somewhere ok but anyways, thanks for all your help guys, much appreciated. If anybody has anything else to add that would be great

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Is the hydor co2 the ario 240v plug in type? I use one of those on my 50gal with diy co2 works brilliant!