Filter And Planted Tank

[fishafanatic]

I want to know what is the best thing to put in the filter if you have a planted tank. I have been putting carbon but I read somewhere that it's bad for plants. What can I replace it with? Also will there be any issues if there are snails present? I found 2 and took them out but I don't know if they can be harmful. Greatly appreciate any advice or help.

 

[three-fingers]

Just biological and mechanical media, don't bother with any carbon or whatnot .

Ceramic rings or sponge for the biological filteration, and some fine filter wool before the biological media so it doesn't get clogged up. You will just need to change the filter wool every now and then.

Snails are no issue, though ramshorn snails and malaysian trumpet snails always seem to make their way into the filter regardless of what media you have, they don't seem to do much harm .

 

[aaronnorth]

i use sponges, biomax and polishing pad, no chemical filtration although peat can be used if necassary.

 

[fishafanatic]

thanks for helping and so of my plants have clear tips....what does that mean?

 

[lljdma06]

I just use sponges. I don't really change them either, only if they loose their shape. I have a few that I haven't changed out in about 2 years. I just rinse them in removed tank water, and pop them back in the filter.

Clear tips on some of the plant, huh?

What is the wattage of the lighting for you tank? Bulb type? 10g is a tricky tank to light, as it is technically below the threshold for the WPG guideline to work efficiently. 1WPG will not work on a 10g like it would in say a 20g.

llj

 

[bricko]

Sorry for the hijack of your thread but does carbon have a negative affect in a planted aquarium? I am currently running a vision 260 with internal filter for chemical filtration (carbon, nitrate, phosphate pads) and a fluval 305 for biological filtration. Is this wrong?? Thank for any advice on this.

Mark

 

[aaronnorth]

carbon takes out the nutrients plant use to thrive. plants use phosphate, nitrate. AAround 20ppm nitrate is ok.

Back to the original post, there is a deffienceny link in my sig if that helps.

 

[fishafanatic]

thanks i have 1.5 wpg....is that ok?....i don't mind the hijak....and thanks for the plant deffciencies link...so can someone help me how to add ferts to my tank, all I have is flourite?

 

[aaronnorth]

1.5wpg is ok, for low to medium light plants, a good staring point IMO. Add ferts weekly, even better would be daily or every other day.

 

[fishafanatic]

what kind of ferts?...just anything that says it or is there something specific? I also have covered that tank with a lot of plants...at I haven't added it to the sig. yet but I added a lot more hornwort, cambomba, and anarchias(spelled right?) if that affects anything...also what is the best temp. for the light? I'm sorry for so many questions but I want to make sure I doing this right.

 

[aaronnorth]

an off the shelf fert, it will contain trace elemnts, th best brands are seachem and tropica