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[adam98150]

Also any plants you could suggest would be great which will grow well under two arcadia tropical tubes.

 

[dasmall1]

For fertilizer, I would use Flourish Excel.

 

[netcode]

For fertilizer, I would use Flourish Excel.

"flourish excel" isn't really a "fertilizer" it is a liquid organic carbon source. This contains no nutrients. However adam in your situation I would highly recommend this product as it will help fight algae indriectly because it will increase the growth rate of your plants.

As for a fertilizer I highly suggest seachem's flourish. It is a trace fertilizer which contains micro nutrients for the plant. This will be a good addition with your substrate. I would also look into fertilizers to dose your N-P-K macro nutrients. If you are unsure about this check out the EI pinned article at the top. Of course you wouldn't follow it exactly as your not supplementing co2 but it gives you a general idea about nutrients and uptake..etc

Also I do suggest adam that you plant heavily. If your not using any source of co2 (including excel) then your going to need a lot of plants to fight off any algae issues you may run into.

If you need anything else.. ask.

 

[Silverlady]

Thanks, this is the list (soon to be) of the things i think i will need:

2x Arcadia tropical 15 watt tubes. (Have)
1x TetraPlant Complete Substrate 2.8kg.
1x Some form of fertilizer, havent decided yet.(Suggestions?)

Anything else i should add to the list?
Should i just add 2cm of the tetra plant substrate and then cover it with gravel?

That's what i did, i used 5kg on a 50 gallon tank ,i just used the whole tubful.

 

[adam98150]

Thanks.

 

[adam98150]

Ive decided to combine the Tropical and Freshwater bulbs, will this be enough to have a fully planted thriving aquarium? (Low-Mid light plants)

 

[netcode]

Ive decided to combine the Tropical and Freshwater bulbs, will this be enough to have a fully planted thriving aquarium? (Low-Mid light plants)

its always good to have a combination of different tubes so you cover all the spectrums of light

your wattage is still the same however.. so do not worry

 

[adam98150]

Thanks. Anymore comments? What plants would you suggest for the background/midground?

 

[adam98150]

Also if i purchase the arcadia Freshwater bulb and combine it with the arcadia tropical and put reflecters on each will i get good colour rendition, and will it double the wattage of each bulb?
Cheers

 

[Beemeeup]

i am cycling my first tank at present - last week i took adivce from experienced fishkeepers and trwlwed this site for advice and finally did as follows

3cm of tetraplant complete substrate substrate - on top i put 8cm of 1/8th size pea gravel (very small and round gravel)

the plants are looking good and i have been assured that they will soon root down to the tetra and have all the nutients they need for some time to come. hope this helps.

 

[adam98150]

Thanks,

Ive also found some root tabs (Seachem Flourish Tabs x10)

This is my 'what i need for a planted tank list' so far:

-1 Freshwater arcadia 18" tube. (With reflector)
-1 Tropical arcadia 18" tube (With reflector)
-1 Seachem Flourish Tabs (x10)
-A tub of tetraplant substrate
-Fert: seachem Flourish

What else should i be adding or is that it? (No co2)

After ive added a few cm of the tetraplant substrate im adding small gravel (Small gravel). Is this a suitable substrate?

Also anyone know where to buy a nice piece of bog/drift wood for my tank?

 

[adam98150]

???

 

[adam98150]

???

 

[BWBettas]

i am cycling my first tank at present - last week i took adivce from experienced fishkeepers and trwlwed this site for advice and finally did as follows

3cm of tetraplant complete substrate substrate - on top i put 8cm of 1/8th size pea gravel (very small and round gravel)

the plants are looking good and i have been assured that they will soon root down to the tetra and have all the nutients they need for some time to come. hope this helps.

You have 11cm of substrate in your tank?

Bret

 

[adam98150]

I should think you only need 2-3" of substrate?