New To Planted Tanks

[ben1987]

Hi,
im helping a mate set up a planted community tank.

Could someone just outline what exactly is involved please?
he will have about 2wpg dont think he will go CO2 though as he wants it cheap and simple

Will he need to add like a fertilizer under the gravel? if yes what are the best brands?
Any addatives needed?

cheers

 

[aaronnorth]

what size tank is it?
What 'T' Rating are the tubes?

 

[ben1987]

about 110L i think
and no idea

Its a jewel rio 125 i think

http/www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/rio.htm?cat=4

so maybe it has more watts than i thought. i also worked the volume out to be less than that.

 

[aaronnorth]

with 2wpg+ he will need CO2 innjection, otherwise he will get algae and the plants wont be able to grow as they wont have enough Carbon.

 

[ben1987]

ok, sp he went and bought a co2 kit today

 

[aaronnorth]

Ok,
having a nutrient rich substrate wil allow less rooom for error, so to keep things cheap he could use something like Tropica substrate or Tetraplant which is then capped with sand or gravel.
For a fertiliser, use Tropica plant nutrition+ and dose daily at 1ml per 20l (this can be adjusted according to plant growth.

 

[ben1987]

thanks a lot mate.