Got A Reef Tank Now To The Planted Tank!

[bollands]

ok so i got a small 25l cube. will put pics up tommorow. ok so i need a nutrient substrate, would this need to be changed often? ive kept a few plants in there before and grew great under my compact flurecent i think its a 11w white. will this be fine

On to the co2 matter can i buy and use tablets atm and invest in the proper kit in future (low on the cash front )?

i was thinking in such a small tank just having 3 -6 tetras or more. and some shrimp etc. what else do i need? ill get lfs to test water got heater and filter pump thing. shoul i run carbon? also got bio bacteria stuff need more de-chlorinator tho.

Now to get cleaning the tank out . Going slow with this set up guys i want a nice clean subtle look. On weekend will try and go to garden centre to get some nice rocks etc and go to lfs and get some dechorinator got air pump should this be run at night

Thanks for the input guys really want to do this well to start with

 

[BigIan]

Hi there,

My first recomendation would be to do ALOT more research of what you want your tank to look like, look through magazines, Books (any of takishi amano`s books are great) and websites and see what look you like,
and then do research on what plants you want, slow growing species such as crypts and swords need less neutrients in the water column and more in the substrate, fast growing stem plants tend to use more from the water column,
co2 may or may not be needed at all depending on what set up you want to go for,
and also consider how much time a day/week you are willing to put into it, the high tec approach with lots of ferts, light and co2 can be vert time consuming,

I have done the hightec system and am currently planning a low tec tank with no extra light, or ferts in the water column, a simple sand substrate with fert tablets at the base of the plants,

Hope that helps