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Jamie87

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Okay..so I have a 56g tall tank. I really want a sand bottom with live plants.

I've read on here that a lot of people use laterite to help the plants grow...
Does this ever need to be replaced?

I don't plan on going super all out with the plants..but maybe in the future I may want to go all out when I get more experienced.
I don't have the lights or filter or heater..yet..so if there's certien ones that will help out a lot..let me know so I can get those.

Also..if I have really good lighting do I not need a co2 diffuser? Or do I really need the laterite?

And I read a lot of people here use pool sand, right? So is that the sand I should get??



Any help and advice is greatly appreciated..thanks!....I really can't wait to get this all set up!!
 

I've read on here that a lot of people use laterite to help the plants grow...
Does this ever need to be replaced?


I have been told that it is effective for up to 18 months. You can then start to use root tabs which enables you to place similar nutrients at the root of the plants in the substrate.


I don't have the lights or filter or heater..yet..so if there's certien ones that will help out a lot..let me know so I can get those.

With no filter or heater, i take it that the tank is empty? any heater that is suitable for the tank will be fine as far as plants are concerned. With regards to lighting, have a look at the pinned topic. The amount of lighting will dictate what plants you can grow. The better the lighting the more types of plants you can grow. Under 2 watts per gallon is classed as low light. Tubes can make a big difference too. Make sure you get ones that are good for plant growth.

Also..if I have really good lighting do I not need a co2 diffuser? Or do I really need the laterite?

They all do different things really. laterite provides part of the nutrients that the rooted plants need. If you have good high level lighting, you will definately need CO2 or you will end up with a tank full of algae unfortunately.. CO2 helps to keep alage down a bit and provides another element that the plants need for healthy growth, especially with high light levels.. Although, even low level lighting like mine wtih 1.3wpg prefers a bit of CO2.

BTW.. the diffuser is just the bit that takes the bubbles of CO2 produced and enables it to be drawn into the water rather than just floating to the top and dissapearing into the air.


And I read a lot of people here use pool sand, right? So is that the sand I should get??

Correct, they do.. although i used playsand from argos at £2.49 per 15kg.. cheaper than aquatic sand. The main point though is to make sure its not abrasive or sharp, and that it is NON-TOXIC... fish like corys love it!!! Just pick the colour of sand you like.. my sand can be seen here.. MY TANK

My advice would be to read the pinned topics in this forum at the top.. Very useful.. You may have to read them a few times though to take it all in.. i did..hehehe... don't be afraid to ask more questions though :good:

Hope that helps..

Squid
 
Tall tanks are not easy to grow plants in. I'd suggest choosing an alternative tank shape if you can. If not, don't worry, hope is not lost! Things might just be a little trickier to manage and slower growing. High lighting is best, and make sure it is good quality (Ie the right sort of light, correct spectrum etc.) There is a pinned article on this I think.
CO2 is essential, even more so with high lighting, as otherwise algae is likely to form as plants won't be able to utilise the light that you have provided whilst algae will.
Laterite is good, as are other specialist planting substrates that go underneath the main substrate like the Tetra Complete Substrate Mix, which I use in my planted set up. I'd suggest that you use a product like this, or laterite and put this beneath your sand/gravel. (which one you go for is often highly debated, but my vote goes for sand - possibly because it looks more natural to me and the fish appreciate sand more than gravel, especially bottom dwellers and cichlids, who are in regular contact with sand (not that your tank is likely to contain cichlids.)) The laterite should be replaced or refreshed every year or so (this depends on the individual tank.) If you really don't want an annual overhall (which is often nice to have a change) root tabs and liquid fertilisers can replenish the minerals available to the plants (to a fair degree.)

edit - Sorry to repeat things, we posted at the same time.
 
I have the tank and it was a christmas gift from my parents...I know, I would have rather had the 55gal long..but gotta deal with what I have. So I am now working on getting the heater, filter, the co2 thing ,and laterite Is flourite and laterite kind of the same thing? Does flourite work as good? Or should I stick with the laterite?
Also anyone ever use this...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...p;N=2004+113223 ?



Okay... also I'm look at heaters, my tanks is 56gals..should I go with a heater for 55gals, or go to one for 75gals?

Also would this be an okay filter http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...mp;N=2004+22777 ?? Or do I not need that much filtering?


So since I need to have..at least 100wats for lighting I'm going to have to get a light strip that holds like three tubes then? Right..damn, that's another 100 right there.
Is it okay to use like VHO Actinic White Fluorescent Tubes ... even if it's for marine tanks? ... it's the only ones I can find that has a decent amount of watts..everything else is like 20wats.
 

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