New To Proper Planted Tanks :d

[MadMan-JaMeS]

Hey Guys,

I've recently brought a second hand tank measuring 36x12x18 inches = about 25 UK Gallons.

I want to create a very nice looking planted tank and wondered what i would need to do so ?

at the moment it has one 18w Florescent bulb a small filter and sand in the bottom.

So i guess what i'm looking for is cheap substrate which i can put sand on top of cos i like the look of sand....

some decent co2 kits ( maybe 2 nutrafin ? )

a decent amout of light so i can have medium light plants

and ofcourse a few recommendations of plants and somewhere decent to buy all this suff from !

so guys help me

Thanks

 

[nry]

I have bought:

Lighting from www.aquatics-online.co.uk (Interpet T5 Power Compact)
Plants from: www.aquaessentials.co.uk (Tropica) and www.aquaticplants.eu.com (Greenline, good packaging and quality)
Substrate from local shop, I used JBL AquaBasis Plus though Tetra etc do similar products that also work as you describe
Nutrafin CO2 via eBay as it was onlyu £16.49 delivered (no idea if they are still there for that price)

You could do CO2 via empty pop bottles and a small ceramic diffuser, works quite well, I replaced my Nutrafin ladder with something like this as the diffuser is much much much smaller than the Nutrafin ladder.

 

[MadMan-JaMeS]

I have bought:

Lighting from www.aquatics-online.co.uk (Interpet T5 Power Compact)
Plants from: www.aquaessentials.co.uk (Tropica) and www.aquaticplants.eu.com (Greenline, good packaging and quality)
Substrate from local shop, I used JBL AquaBasis Plus though Tetra etc do similar products that also work as you describe
Nutrafin CO2 via eBay as it was onlyu £16.49 delivered (no idea if they are still there for that price)

You could do CO2 via empty pop bottles and a small ceramic diffuser, works quite well, I replaced my Nutrafin ladder with something like this as the diffuser is much much much smaller than the Nutrafin ladder.

i am using 2 x 2ltr bottles in my tank upstairs but don't like the look of it wanted something a bit more professional

 

[nry]

More professional? Pressurised may be the only other option then!

 

[blabadie]

We don't do professional

 

[MadMan-JaMeS]

is this substrate any good ?

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...d-substrate.asp the on at the top of the page !

TetraPlant Complete Substrate
TetraPlant Complete Substrate : Long-Term substrate fertiliser concentrate for all freshwater aquaria


For luscious, healthy growth of plants and reduced water contamination
Consists of a high-quality mixture of sand with a naturally high iron and micro-nutrient content as well as natural black peat with useful humic substances
The grain size of the sand enables the quick ingraining of plant roots and an optimum use of the nutrients
Guaranteed free of nitrates and phosphates, in order to prevent the unattractive growth of algae
Aquatic plants grow quickly, preventing the growth of algae during the critical setting-up phase
For all freshwater aquaria

 

[arif_93]

is this substrate any good ?

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...d-substrate.asp the on at the top of the page !

TetraPlant Complete Substrate
TetraPlant Complete Substrate : Long-Term substrate fertiliser concentrate for all freshwater aquaria


For luscious, healthy growth of plants and reduced water contamination
Consists of a high-quality mixture of sand with a naturally high iron and micro-nutrient content as well as natural black peat with useful humic substances
The grain size of the sand enables the quick ingraining of plant roots and an optimum use of the nutrients
Guaranteed free of nitrates and phosphates, in order to prevent the unattractive growth of algae
Aquatic plants grow quickly, preventing the growth of algae during the critical setting-up phase
For all freshwater aquaria

i ahev used his stuff its great and gd value for money but u have to cover it with a layer of gravel a good 2 inches

 

[MadMan-JaMeS]

is this substrate any good ?

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...d-substrate.asp the on at the top of the page !

TetraPlant Complete Substrate
TetraPlant Complete Substrate : Long-Term substrate fertiliser concentrate for all freshwater aquaria


For luscious, healthy growth of plants and reduced water contamination
Consists of a high-quality mixture of sand with a naturally high iron and micro-nutrient content as well as natural black peat with useful humic substances
The grain size of the sand enables the quick ingraining of plant roots and an optimum use of the nutrients
Guaranteed free of nitrates and phosphates, in order to prevent the unattractive growth of algae
Aquatic plants grow quickly, preventing the growth of algae during the critical setting-up phase
For all freshwater aquaria

i ahev used his stuff its great and gd value for money but u have to cover it with a layer of gravel a good 2 inches

i am planning on using sand do u think that would suffice ?

 

[arif_93]

is this substrate any good ?

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...d-substrate.asp the on at the top of the page !

TetraPlant Complete Substrate
TetraPlant Complete Substrate : Long-Term substrate fertiliser concentrate for all freshwater aquaria


For luscious, healthy growth of plants and reduced water contamination
Consists of a high-quality mixture of sand with a naturally high iron and micro-nutrient content as well as natural black peat with useful humic substances
The grain size of the sand enables the quick ingraining of plant roots and an optimum use of the nutrients
Guaranteed free of nitrates and phosphates, in order to prevent the unattractive growth of algae
Aquatic plants grow quickly, preventing the growth of algae during the critical setting-up phase
For all freshwater aquaria

i reccomend if ur gonna have a planted tank then get the tetraplant substrate and then put a 2incch layer of sand ontop that will be fine
i ahev used his stuff its great and gd value for money but u have to cover it with a layer of gravel a good 2 inches

i am planning on using sand do u think that would suffice ?

 

[nry]

Sand would be fine, basically it needs a layer of an inert substrate, i.e. gravel or sand.

There are a few similar products:

JBL AquaBasis Plus
TetraPlant Complete
Tropica (not sure of product name) do one which is a bit more expensive but I would think is probably the better choice: only thing is it may stir up into the gravel/sand more easily as I think it is almost like a mud when wet? Someone correct me if I am wrong!