Converting A Standard Tank To A High-tech Planted One?

[flillia]

I've kept a 29 gallon tank running for around 6 years now.. it has the basic "fishtank" setup (gravel, basic lighting, etc) but I've managed to keep Java moss, Java fern, Anacharis, and Moneywort in there for a few years without them dying on me.

I think I'm ready to try a real planted tank and I've done a lot of reading on the requirements, but I'm not sure how I would go about actually converting everything over, specifically the substrate... Would I have to drain the tank? What can I do with the fish that are in there? Could I somehow convert it over slowly, taking out the gravel and adding in the soil in sections, or would the soil not settle correctly and kill my fish?

Does anyone have any tips in general on this?

Thanks

 

[Renate]

I have a 29 gallon tank with plants. The main problem I have had is getting the right light to get plants growing. Some use co2 with low light to get plants to grow. Tried diy lighting but it didn't help. Now have a current usa light strip with just 1 65 T5 dual light on. Fans on the small ones by current usa are loud. Plants are starting to grow now. Plants are hornwort, java fern, wisteria, cobomba, sags. Also have dirt topped with fluorite in my tank, walstead method. If you do this you have to put your fish in another container while you set it up.

Have googled ferts for plants and found subject how to grow plants cheap. The guy put peat moss under the dirt.

If you use dirt get the organic top soil and do a small test in a container to make certain that top media keeps it down. For top media you can use pool media or pool sand or your pebbles if they are small enough. Sand takes more effort to keep clean. If use playsand it may have an orange tint.



To prevent a complete cylcle you use filter or filter media from an established tank or filter media that has soaked in the tank for a month. Also put some of the water back in If you don't use the pebbles in your tank put some in a sock and hang them in the tank. You could also get a product for quick cycle.

After you set it up it may be a bit cloudy for a month but it won't hurt the fish. I had a ram in the tank with cloudy water and he was okay.

Walstead only does water changes 1x a year but she has a sterilizer in the tank. Found you have to do water changes at least 1x a month.

Also some use dry ferts from Rex Griggs. Since I have the flourite I just use potassium sulfate and calcium chloride. Some don't use any ferts just diy co2 and have great growth.

Oh, just wanted to say 1 lady has a 20 long which is not as deep as a 29 gallon and just has to clip on light with 2 26W CFL 6,500K bulbs with co2 and she has great plant growth.

Here is a link to el natural setup
Http/aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/el...-step-step.html
Here is link for high-tech verses low-tech
http/www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumap...ow-tech-el.html

Good luck!!!

 

[aaronnorth]

Hi, when i did my substrate this is what i did:

Drained 50%
(you can take fish out and out them in buckets but i didnt)
take old substrate out
put new substrate in (after washing it if need be)
wait for water cloudiness to settle
adjust anything if necassary
put fish in and fill back up.

You can also get some mulm from your filter and add this to your substrate to get it started.

Which substrate are you planning on uusing?