Complete Beginner, Just A Few Questions.

[johnnyr]

Hi guys and gals,

Well, I think I've decided to give a planted tank a try. This will be my first attempt, and I will be using a 20 gallon tank. Here is my plan so far:

Substrate:2-2 1/2 inches of Fluorite on bottom, 1/2 - 1 inch of sand on top.

Lighting: 2-3 WG

CO2 system: Still not sure, I'm going to need to look at prices for a pressurized system. Willing to spend up to $100 on this.

Fish: 2 German Blue rams, 5 Cories, and 2-3 Bamboo Shrimp (If the Rams will leave them alone)

So, for my questions:

1) Are fish necessary for starting up this planted tank? Should I have them in there the whole time, or just add them when I've done most of the construction work (adding plants) and the plants have had time to grow? (Keep in mind this tank I’m using is a mature tank that I'm redoing, replacing the substrate, and basically starting from new. I do intend on seeding the tank with the current filter media)

2) How much maintenance is involved with a planted tank like this, once it is all set up? What type of maintenance is required?

Thanks guys!

 

[chibi]

1.) Fish aren't needed, they are optional. It's okay to put fish in when the plants have started growing. Just make sure the fish aren't fish who like to eat plants. Then you've got a problem!

2.) I have a 29 gallon planted tank, and I do maintenance 2-3 times a month. Just basic things like cutting down big or dying leaves. Takes anywhere from 5-15 minutes depending on how well the plants are taken care of and how many there are. It's really worth it. !

 

[johnnyr]

1.) Fish aren't needed, they are optional. It's okay to put fish in when the plants have started growing. Just make sure the fish aren't fish who like to eat plants. Then you've got a problem!

2.) I have a 29 gallon planted tank, and I do maintenance 2-3 times a month. Just basic things like cutting down big or dying leaves. Takes anywhere from 5-15 minutes depending on how well the plants are taken care of and how many there are. It's really worth it. !

Thanks for your info! I went out and purchased a CO2 kit, some sand, a few rocks, and a small piece of driftwood. All I need now is flourite and the lighting kit.

Just one last question, I would like to do flourite, with sand on top. How can I achieve this? Won't the sand find its way underneath the florite eventually, and ruin the whole look of the tank?

 

[chibi]

I wouldn't put sand in unless you wanted a mixture of the two. It's very hard to keep both looking perfect when one is on top of the other. I'd go pure flourite. But that's just me. Plus, it's siphonable! Sand is not siphonable. That would make the mix extremely hard to clean.

 

[johnnyr]

I wouldn't put sand in unless you wanted a mixture of the two. It's very hard to keep both looking perfect when one is on top of the other. I'd go pure flourite. But that's just me. Plus, it's siphonable! Sand is not siphonable. That would make the mix extremely hard to clean.

Ug, well I think you might be right. My sand is just not going to work. And I'm not going to just put sand, This tank is primarily a planted tank.

Well, do you have any other suggestions for substrate, such as eco-complete?