Help With Planted Tank Hardscape And My Shopping List Please

[fiskkeeperpro]

Im still planning my tank which i willl be getting at the latter of march
The tank is a juwel rio 125 (81x36x50 cm LxWxh) and i would like the riverbed look, i have seen on zooplus cheap aquarium woods, and i would like opinions on which wood to get: [URL="http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/decorat...ural_decoration"]http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/decorat...ural_decoration[/URL] please tell me, i am leaning towards the Multipack 3 Pc. Each 35 cm - 45 cm mopani wood.

Aswell as having wood, would rocks be ok?

Also,

does my shopping list sound good at the moment:
The juwel rio 125 (comes with 2x28 watt t5) 1.7wpg
tetra complete planting substrate 5.7kgs
2x nutrafin co2 canisters
tetra tec ex700 external filter
2xjuwel structured background 450 (the black one that looks like bark)
the 4481 premium pack of plants from greenline (80 plants)


Have i missed anything? I dont know much about the dosing ferts so i thought i would leave them out, what substrate would you reccommend me having over the top of the tetra stuff? I would really like to to be black to contrast with the plants and the fish im going to have, as im getting corys, would black sand be ok? Or would you reccommend black gravel?


Thanks
Will

 

[garuf]

I personally hate Mopani wood, the burls are just too cumbersome for most scaping.
Post up what you want to achieve and we can work from there.
The other thing is that 80 plants Will be nowhere near enough for this tank, try multiplying it by 5 and you'll be closer.
I doubt 80 plants would be enough in my 10 gallon and that's a 3rd of the size.

 

[garuf]

Reading your hardware, I'd forget about nutrafin and go pressurised co2, It works out around £20 more expencive but its worth it to avoid the constant hassle.

Also, I'd go for a ex1200, I believe this is the same tank as Georges so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch if the monies available. More turn over means less chance of algae, and larger filters have larger canisters which means you'll have a larger number of bacteria to help break down ammonia and keep algae at bay.

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

i was told the ex 1200 was too big, ill have a look at pressurised co2. Ill also look at some 33gal journals to see how many plants they have got and go from there,

Thanks

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

blimey, these pressurised co2 sets come with a price tag dont they

 

[garuf]

I paid £70 for mine, 2 nutrafins is £50 from my local shop...
Under normal circumstances a ex1200 would be too big but in a heavily planted tank you'll need all the flow you can get.

 

[aaronnorth]

I have a external fluval205 on a 60l but it is reccomended for a 200l so there is no such thing as too big! Nutafin co2 are £20 in my lfs, you can get thhem off ebay for around £15. They are also on here all the time but they go quick!

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

well nutrafin co2 are 16 on aquatics online, as im going to be buying quite a lot from there ill get free delivery so its not that bad, ill keep an eye out for cheap pressurised co2 but nutrafin is ok for small systems ive heard and mine is reasonably small

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

which of the co2 systems that are not pressurised or above £40 would you say to get on here: http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue/co2-systems.asp , i think £40 is a lot but that is my budget so if anyone knows good co2 for £40 or under please say

 

[aaronnorth]

well nutrafin co2 are 16 on aquatics online, as im going to be buying quite a lot from there ill get free delivery so its not that bad, ill keep an eye out for cheap pressurised co2 but nutrafin is ok for small systems ive heard and mine is reasonably small

I've just been looking at that at aquatics online about 2mins ago... strange!!!!

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

that is quite strange lol

 

[lljdma06]

With only 1.7WPG, you should be fine with 2-3 nutrafins hooked up to one bubble counter. I have 1.8WPG in my 36g, with only 2 nutrafins and I do not have algae, nor do I dose ferts. Not saying that pressurized isn't a bad option if you can afford it. It certainly would take away a lot of guesswork, especially if this is your first tank. I have to change mixes on alternate days, which really isn't a hassle, but I can see why some don't love doing it. I recommend the larger filter as well. I have a filter for a 75g tank in my 36g and I really think that makes a difference.

I also suggest you plant densly initially, with fast-growing stemplants, however, I think 400 plants is a bit much, and can be expensive. 80-160 (including individual stems on bunch plants is a good start-off point. Aim to cover 75% of the substrate with plants, especially fast-growing stems. You can always add more later if you are deficient. People have cuttings to give away all the time. Also, stemplants are so simple to propogate, that you'll easily have as many plants as you'll ever need if you just replant your cuttings. I do not recommend you plant initially with the plants you want. Plant instead with hardy plants to get you through the maturation process of your tank, which can take up to a year to complete, but more around 6 months or so. Once your tank is over that hurdle and is stable (stocked, algae-free for a few months), then gradually swap out your weeds for the plants you actually want. I've seen many fields of HC and glosso ruined, because people ordered that initially instead of some good bunches of Rotala and egera densa. Yes, your scape may not initially be what you want, but you probably won't have the algae issues that others deal with.


I personally love mopani, as mopani with anubias and bolbitis make a striking combination, but it does leach tannins and usually needs curing before it can be put into the tank. I have enough patience for curing, however, and enjoy tannic tanks, so that is just my preference. May I ask what type of river bed are you going for? There are several types. Slow river bed, or one with more of a current? Again, post a few pictures of what you want to achieve, or whip out Paint, so we can see what you are planning.

llj