Planted Tank...what Could I Hope To Grow?

[TCB]

The tank i am thinking of setting up would be an "in the wall tank" and not haveing the easiest of access.

Nothing in stone yet...,

The tank will be approx 36" long x 15" wide x 16 or 18" deep. (35 Gal / 42 US Gal)

Substrate will be black gravel and Laterite.

Pressurised CO2.

As for the lighting i have no idea what the best WPG would be given that i do not want to follow the EI dosing and the 50% weekly water changes that it requires (will this have any bearing on the WPG)? I was thinking more like 10% per week if possible.

That said, what could i hope to grow (without the risk of algae), would the following be feasible for instance.

The substrate carpeted in Hemianthus Callitrichoides and then some Java Fern attached to some Mopani wood and then maybe some Anubias (not sure wich type),

any help or advice would be appreciated,

TCB.

 

[Neal]

I don't know about anything else, but java fern would be good. It grows well in my temporary tank and the only light it gets is sunlight in the kitchen (it's next to a wall, so no direct sunlight) and the spotlights in the kitchen. Mine is doing fine, it isn't the healthiest javs fern, but it does good. I'd recommend it to any begginer.

Neal

 

[craynerd]

TCB there was a similar post to this not so long since.

If you are prepared to pay all that money on pressurised CO2 then your gonna have to have decent light. With decent light your gonna need fert to reduce algea. If your putting in fert your gonna have to water change. Besides mate, you have to water change a decent amount each week to keep everything lookin tip top! I love water changing, crystal clear water and the plants jump to life again!

Water change is your friend!

Also if your going to the trouble of a in wall tank, then surely your pretty handy with the old DIY. Rig up a pump setup so that both empty and refils are a doddle!

Chris

 

[TCB]

I don't know about anything else, but java fern would be good. It grows well in my temporary tank and the only light it gets is sunlight in the kitchen (it's next to a wall, so no direct sunlight) and the spotlights in the kitchen. Mine is doing fine, it isn't the healthiest javs fern, but it does good. I'd recommend it to any begginer.

Neal

Thanks for the advice Neal, i will bare that in mind,

TCB.

 

[TCB]

TCB there was a similar post to this not so long since.

If you are prepared to pay all that money on pressurised CO2 then your gonna have to have decent light. With decent light your gonna need fert to reduce algea. If your putting in fert your gonna have to water change. Besides mate, you have to water change a decent amount each week to keep everything lookin tip top! I love water changing, crystal clear water and the plants jump to life again!

Water change is your friend!

Also if your going to the trouble of a in wall tank, then surely your pretty handy with the old DIY. Rig up a pump setup so that both empty and refils are a doddle!

Chris

Hello again Chris,
thanks for taking the time to reply, it is appreciated.
The problem i have is not so much the water changes (which will not be so easy given the type and location of the planned tank), but also the strict dosing which EI requires.
Working shifts and for personal reasons including the kids etc. means that i cannot spend large periods of time devoted to the maintainance of the tank.
I would not want to set up a tank that two or three months down the line i could not easily maintain and not do justice to.
I guess that i was hoping to find some happy medium, a nice design keeping just two or three species of plant and relatively easy to maintain.
If i can't find a way around this then i will have to rethink the whole idea,

regards,

Peter.

 

[craynerd]

If you have restricted access is a planted tank really for you? I mean i dipp into mine every few days for a quick prune and clean up.

Just wanted to bring it to your attention. I true planted tank takes a lot of work and care.

Good luck in whatever you choose!

Chris

 

[jimbooo]

Hi Peter,

if i were you, looking for an eye catching planted tank but not the whole hog (requiring hours of fiddling) i'd go with a slow grower setup. ie around 1-1.5WPG, co2 and laterite/gravel substrate as you have planned.

for example the tank below is my rekord60, only 12G but bear with me. because of the choice of plants it is very easy to maintain. the java fern grow about 1 leaf a month, anubias about 2 and the swords at the back need about 5 or 6 leaves tugging out every week.

plain sand forground as i have no carpeting plants and laterite/gravel at the back (behund the anubias/javafern). put some corys or simmillar in and the open forground will be a place of lots of activity, bringing movement to the tank. carpeting plants like HC and glosso etc will require high light which in turn means fertalisation.

the tank layout below would be ideal. i have to do EI as i have 2.5WPG on it but in a deeper tank with medium lighting it would still look simmillar as the sand reflects light making the tank seem brighter than it actually is.

what do you think? add big shoal of tetra sized fish and you'd be set.

maintenance wise you should really do 25% a week (not the end of the world if you miss a few) and a 2 min prune. very occasional ferts as and when needed (go by the look of the plants).

hope that helps

James

ps. the following layout would also work in the above situation

 

[TCB]

Thanks for the reply James, these ideas are exactly what i was looking for, i have seen your tanks before and both look excellent.
I will now make plans for a possible tank on this basis, thanks once again, your advice is really appreciated,

regards,

Peter.

 

[jimbooo]

no problem at all peter, glad to be of assistance.
good luck with it and let me know if you have any more questions, i'll happily help if i can.

James

 

[TCB]

If you have restricted access is a planted tank really for you? I mean i dipp into mine every few days for a quick prune and clean up.

Just wanted to bring it to your attention. I true planted tank takes a lot of work and care.

Good luck in whatever you choose!

Chris

Thanks Chris, much appreciated,

regards,

Peter.