My Tank...ready For Overhaul

[PortWash]

I have been reading about planted tanks on this forum for a couple months. I need some advice on setup, plants...pretty much everything and anything that you are willing to provide.

Tank: 29g 24L x 12W x 21H (inches)
I have all the ferts mixed and ready for EI dosing
I have the nutrafin Co2 I have tested it out to get the mixture down, so that is ready.
The ligthing system should arrive tomorrow. T5 lights 96w. Although I was thinking that at first i would use only 72w
Substrate is a mixture of flourite, eco complete and regular rock.

This is what the tank looks like at current: There has been no EI, the one spout of Co2 and 15 total watts.




View attachment 44180


This was taken before i tied up the fern.

View attachment 44181

 

[Dave Spencer]

Hi PortWash,

Welcome to the darkside of the hobby. Seeing as you have already done your homework I won`t harp on about starting out with 75% coverage of the substrate with fast growing weeds, or how algae prevention is easier than the cure.

CO2 stability in a tank this size will be key. I have no experience of yeast based CO2, but always make sure that you are not running low on CO2.

96W is a lot of light. My first ever tank was 108W of T5 compacts with reflectors over 32USG, giving me 3.4WPG. I didn`t realise it at the time being a total novice, but those light levels made it seriously hard work for me at the start. The higher light levels you have, the less time and margin you have for error. I would just stick with the 72W for now, maybe using the full wattage for the in fashion midday burst at a later date.

From day one, aim for a tank full of fast growing, pearling weeds, and stable CO2 as near to 30ppm as you can get using DIY. Start EI dosing once you start to see your plants picking up after the initial planting, but only at a fraction of the required dosage, but increase it to full dosing as you see your plants really start to grow and pearl. You will see various types of algae appear, but provided you follow the principles of EI, these will only be minor and easily controlled.

As an aside, if you stick to the above principles, your tank will not go through a noticeable cycle due to your plants stripping Ammonia and nitrites of their Nitrogen. I added Otos and Amano Shrimp to my tank quite early on as a further means of keeping early algae issues at bay.

That Allosaurus in your tank picture must have caused a hell of an Ammonia spike when it died. Do you intend using any of those ornaments in your new planted set up?

Dave.

 

[PortWash]

Thanks for the reply Dave
I am planning on going to my LFS tonight and picking up plants as they have a fairly good selection of the most common. Any suggestions on ones I should have my eyes out for that would be quick growing? Cabomba, Wisteria, Anacharis?

As for achieving CO2 @ 30ppm would using a rough guide of the relationship b/w PH and dKH be sufficient as I am only using a diy canister?

I had been planning on picking up shrimp @ LFS if not them I will pick up some otos. As for the shrimp and quantity in reading I came to the conclusion of purchasing 5-7 ?

As for my ornamentation....The allosaurus will be departing as the development progresses and I determine my next scape. The Coliseum....well that was gifted with the tank from my lovely girlfriend. She has expressed discontent when the subject of ejection from the tank was discussed, thus it will need to stay, for the time being anywho. I figure i can surround it with plants and it will serve as a cave, the fish tend to like it.