New To This Planted Tank Business, Desperate Need Of Advice!

[28erl]

ok so here goes, for over a year ive been running a 180l tank, with black gravel susbstrate and artificial silk plants, ive now decided i would like to try real plants, ive called my local fish shop to get advice, he said i have plenty of lighting, runnin a blue lamp and a white one, but does this mean that i have too much lighting and that i would need one of them pressurised co2 cannister things? would i need to change the substrate? i havent even thought about what plants i would want or need or would be suitable, i just want to get the technical side sorted first because it stresses me out, always panic that i havent got the right equipment or that its set up wrong! any help would be greatly apprieciated

 

[chibi]

I think you are fine and don't need a CO2 system. I don't use one in my tank and I'm fine. Having strong lighting may bring faster growing plants but faster growing algae as well. Your substrate is fine, too. You can get special fertilizer substrate but it's not necessary. To make sure my plants are in good condition, I just add a little liquid plant fertilizer every time I change the water (it's like $5 for a long-lasting bottle). You'll be good!

 

[aaronnorth]

What wattage is your lighting and what type e.g. T8/ T5...? If it works out that you have 2WPG+ then you will need co2 but not necasserily a pressurized system. You could get a fermentation kit (yeast based) like nutrafin natural plant system or you could use a DIY set up. I f you do use either then get/ use 2 as you have a large tank.

For your substrate you could dose fert tabs ever 2-4 months or you can get these fertiliser sticks by hage which last a year although i have never tried them.

Also Blue lighting is more for corals therefore it may promote algae growth rather than helping plants

 

[28erl]

its funny you should say that abou the blue light, as i have been thinking for a while i seem to be cleanin the glass every single day, and because i have artificial plants, ive been changing them about once every two months! im going to the local fish store today, to buy one of them natural co2 things, and if they arent too expensive i will buy another white bulb to replace that blue one! im not sure whether they are t5 or t8, they are the thinner one, and im not sure about the wattage, where would i find this out? thanks for all your replies, does anyone have an idea of how much money am i expected to pay, im in the uk, its a fairly expensive store but the guys are fantastic so its worth it. i spoke to one yesterday who said i dont really need pressurized but he didnt mention two of the natural kits!

 

[aaronnorth]

Sorry i didn't get back, i've been away but it might be a bit late to answer your question but the wattage should be on the tube, T5's i think are 5/8 th's of an inch. My co2 was £20 and the tubes usually range from £10 - £20.