Planting My Tank...

[tomtomtom1230]

I have been fish keeping for about a year now and I've got a new tank on the way (other members reckon it's Muti Tank Syndrome ). This new tank is the biggest one yet at 120 liters. It'll have 2 15w bulbs - not sure what rating they are, I'm getting the Interpet Fish Pod 120, it has two of these bulbs...
http/www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=1314&pf_id=53529&co=fr&gclid=CMaP9d_mvq8CFc#129###AoduGAQvg

I have no clue on what substrate to use, whether I'll need fertilizers etc. I'm a complete beginner where planted tanks are concerned!

Help!

If there's already a comprehensive guide to setting up a planted tank, apologies - I clearly haven't found it yet!

Thanks for any help in advance!

Tom


EDIT: If it helps, I'll probably be looking at a black substrate with mopani wood and various aquarium-safe rocks. I'll need to get an external filter, too but I've no idea what to look for!

 

[Noahs ark6]

What are you planning on keeping? different plants need different light levels. 30watts for a 120 litre isn't that much, so i would advise Java fern, an easy to keep low light plant, alot of mosses (Xmas moss, java moss), most Crypts. Again, you may need fertilliser, you may not, it depends on what plants you want to keep. The substrate can be cheap argos playsand, but it doesn't offer any nutrients via the roots (unlees you add root tablets) or the more expensive ones specially made for plants, like the ADA soils and caribsea eco comlete; But which one you'll need again depends on which plants you want to have.


Filter = Tetratec ex600

 

[tomtomtom1230]

What are you planning on keeping? different plants need different light levels. 30watts for a 120 litre isn't that much, so i would advise Java fern, an easy to keep low light plant. Again, you may need fertilliser, you may not, it depends on what plants you want to keep. The substrate can be cheap argos playsand, but it doesn't offer any nutrients via the roots (unlees you add root tablets) or the more expensive ones specially made for plants, like the ADA soils and caribsea eco comlete. But which one you'll need again depends on which plants you want to have.

I wouldn't mind splashing out on some proper plant substrate. I also wouldn't be looking for very demanding plants since this is my first set up. I'll see how it goes for now Overall, I'd be going for a natural riverbed look, perhaps. Might scrap the black substrate altogether.

Not sure on what plants exactly but I'll be keeping 5 peppered cories, 7 neon tetras, a trio of guppies, a bristle nose pleco and 6 danios (4 gold, 3 zebra). Right at the stocking limit I believe. Thanks for the filter suggestion - I think I might aim a little higher and get the EX700 instead, purely because I'll be fairly heavily stocked if everything goes to plan.

I realise the lighting isn't fantastic. Not sure how to improve it. I might be able to buy a clip on, waterproof submersible lamp though to tuck under the lid, just above the water level. It wouldn't improve the lighting much I wouldn't have thought unless it was a fairly hefty lamp - but they come at heftier price tags


Is 30 watts workable for a 120 litre tank?

 

[Noahs ark6]

Its defineatly workable, just a higher wattage would be better for plant growth and you could keep a higher range of plants, but you can still keep quite a few plants with the wattage you've got
This substrate is black and is especially for plants, but obviously it comes at a hefty price.

Low light plants


Java Fern - Microsorum pteropus
Windelov Java Fern, Windelov Fern - Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov'
Narrow Leaf Java Fern - Microsorum pteropus v. 'narrow leaf'
Java Moss - Vesicularia dubyana
Green Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma
*Sunset Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig'
Ceylon Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma 'Ceylon'
Rotala Rotundifolia - Rotala rotundifolia
Rotala Rotundifolia sp. Green - Rotala rotundifolia sp. 'Green'
Rotala Indica - Rotala indica
Hornwort - Ceratophylum demersum
Parrots Feather - Myriophyllum aquaticum
Moneywort, Water Hyssop - Bocapa monnieri
Brazilian Pennywort, Pennywort - Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Crypt Wendtii - Cryptocoryne wendtii
Crypt Balansae - Cryptocoryne Balansae
Pygmy Crypt - Cryptocoryne pygmaea
Guppy Grass - Najas guadalupensis
Anubias barteri - Anubias barteri v. barteri
Anubias barteri 'marble' - Anubias barteri 'marble'
Anubias barteri v. 'glabra' - Anubias barteri v. 'glabra'
Anubias nana - Anubias barteri v. 'nana'
Coffee leaf anubias - Anubias barteri v. 'coffeefolia'
Crypt retrospiralis - Cryptocoryne retrospiralis
Crypt spiralis - Cryptocoryne spiralis
Golden nana - Anubias barteri v. 'nana golden'
Narrow leaf nana - Anubias barteri v. 'nana narrow leaf'
Petite nana - Anubias barteri v. nana 'petite'
Philippine Java Fern - Microsorum pteropus 'Philippine'
Red Java fern - Microsorum pteropus "red"
Crypt Becketii - Cryptcoryne becketii
Pelia - Monosolenium tenerum
Waterwheel Plant - Aldrovanda vesiculosa
Bacopa - Bacopa caroliniana
African Water Fern - Bolbitis heudelotii
Hornwort - Ceratophyllum submersum
Crypt Aponogetifolia - Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia
Micro Crypt - Cryptocoryne petchii
Tropica Sword - Echinodorus parviflorus 'Tropica'
Downoi - Pogostemon helferi

*Do not ned high light to attain pink colour

 

[tomtomtom1230]

That's a fairly comprehensive list and I thank you for it! I think I'll definitely use a few of those! I think the lighting in Interpet's FishPod range is an issue that a lot of aquarists (like myself) aren't aware of until they win the ebay bid - but no worries.

Again, thanks ever so much for your help! What fertilisers will I need, or does it depend on what plant(s) I get?

 

[Noahs ark6]

I did use Tropica Plant Nutrition + but i found a much cheaper fertiliser for the same price and ingredients but you get 4 times as much liquid Here. I use about 3-4 ml per day in my 120 tank.
Another type of fertilliser are root tablets, if you go for a substrate like plain sand, they would be usefull, but if you go for a substrate especially for plants, they are'nt needed

 

[tomtomtom1230]

You're like a big fish-like knowledge god honestly, I can't thank you enough - one last question. With the Tetratec EX700, will everything I need come with it or is it just the main filter compartment that comes shipped?|

EDIT: Nevermind! I'll take a look on the website

 

[Noahs ark6]

You're like a big fish-like knowledge god honestly, I can't thank you enough - one last question. With the Tetratec EX700, will everything I need come with it or is it just the main filter compartment that comes shipped?|

EDIT: Nevermind! I'll take a look on the website

It comes with all you'll need (media, tubing, main filter etc)

 

[tomtomtom1230]

You're like a big fish-like knowledge god honestly, I can't thank you enough - one last question. With the Tetratec EX700, will everything I need come with it or is it just the main filter compartment that comes shipped?|

EDIT: Nevermind! I'll take a look on the website

It comes with all you'll need (media, tubing, main filter etc)

With a planted aquarium I've gotta take the carbon filter section out because it'll suck up all the nutrients in the water, right? What do I replace the carbon with?

 

[Noahs ark6]

You're like a big fish-like knowledge god honestly, I can't thank you enough - one last question. With the Tetratec EX700, will everything I need come with it or is it just the main filter compartment that comes shipped?|

EDIT: Nevermind! I'll take a look on the website

It comes with all you'll need (media, tubing, main filter etc)

With a planted aquarium I've gotta take the carbon filter section out because it'll suck up all the nutrients in the water, right? What do I replace the carbon with?

You could add enything really, but if it was me, i would add some more bio balls/rings, as the more surface area for bacteria to grow on, the better

 

[tomtomtom1230]

I emailed Interpet to see if there's anything I can do (to their knowledge) to upgrade the lighting. I think I know what the answer will be but I'll keep my fingers crossed regardless

Sounds good, everybody loves bio balls. I'm fairly certain they're readily available - do I need tetratec's own bio balls or will any fit in, do you reckon?

EDIT: Will I need to give the plants an extra CO2 dose? What's the run down where air pumps are concerned. I have one in my current tank that I was thinking about moving up to the larger tank, but now I'm not so sure.

 

[Noahs ark6]

I think any small bio balls will fit in. CO2 wont realy be needed with easy to care for plants. I use an airpump in my heavily planted tank at night, as plants take in O2 and give out CO2 at night (the opposite of what they do during the day). Just to make sure Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide are at safe levels

 

[tomtomtom1230]

Thanks! I'll have to get myself into a habit of turning it on at night and leaving it off throughout the day. Turns out, I might be able to get a white LED strip light (rated at 16w) to attach to the lid on my tank!

 

[Noahs ark6]

Thanks! I'll have to get myself into a habit of turning it on at night and leaving it off throughout the day. Turns out, I might be able to get a white LED strip light (rated at 16w) to attach to the lid on my tank!

The LED sounds good. 46 watts is alot better than 30
How about attatching a timer so that the airpump comes on and goes off automatically.

 

[stu40]

Must admit i've never used an air pump in my planted tank, not sure why you'd need to.(not flaming)