Setting Up Planted Tank

[mistrp01]

Hi All,

No doubt this question has been asked many times but due to the amount of information avaliable I wanted to get some further advice!

Having already had some great advice on starting up a freshwater tank after a 3 year break, I have decided to purchase an Aqua One 620 (90 litres = L62xW35xH52cm).

Previously, I have not really experimented with live plants as they seemed to last only for a couple of weeks. However, this was probably due to lack of knowledge and not using the correct substrates and care.
Therefore having seen a number of tank set-ups with live plants they look amazing and therefore have the following questions following some research on the net!

Substrates

Believe the most important factor is that the substrate should be a material that does not affect the water conditions by raising or lowering pH and water hardness.
Suggestions are that either one goes for an overall mix of plant substrate and sand or separate layers of plant substrate and sand. Hence would something like the following would be sensible:

A) Bottom (1-2 inches) Layer (EcoComplete Black) and Top (1-2 inches) Layer (Light Sand)
B) EcoComplete Black only
C) Other suggestions welcomed including layer size and substrate/sand size?

With option A, would there be a chance that the plant substrate will start to mix with the sand over time due to planting or any other forms of disturbances or it’s a case of being careful with these activities.
With option B, is this recommended as it brings out the colour of plants and fish or it’s just a personal preference?
Other considerations are the use of fluorite, laterite (believe not required as EcoComplete is rich in iron) and fertilizers and nutrients and hence any advice on what else should be considered and purchased would be greatly appreciated.

Plants

Being a beginner, I plan to go with the most low maintenance and hardy plants and without the need for Co2, so recommendations have been:

A) Java Moss, Java Fern, Amazon Sword, Hygrophila, Ricca Flutians, etc
B) Any other suggestions and advice on number of plants recommended to start things off?

Should the plants be added following the addition of the substrate or following addition of substrate and cycling period?

Lighting

Is the supplied lighting (2 x 18w PL lamps) for the Aqua One sufficient? I believe there are other options for this unit which various mixes of lighting and therefore are any of these preferable [/font]

Thanks in advance for you help and advice.

Prafull

 

[mike455555]

lighting. it will be a low light set up. iv got the aqua mode 300 them them lights you wont need co2

anubias and crypts are also a nice low light plant.

anubias,cyrpts, java fern are slow growing plants so buy a large portion of them

 

[hensonc4098]

With regards to the substrate, it's more personal preference whether you top it or not. Over time, the sand will mix with the eco-complete however. The black will make colourful fishes stand out more but if you prefer the light coloured sand then use that.
Ricca may or may not grow well in a low tech tank - generally it likes a little more light and added CO[sub]2[/sub] to grow well, however you can always give it a go and see how it does
Other plants like wisteria, vallis and , along with crypts like mike said, will normally do well in a low tech tank. Watch the amazon swords as the general echinodorus bleheri will grow very big. You can either rehome them when they do, or look out for smaller growing echinodorus species like tenellus, 'reni' or for something more unusual, vesuvius.
The main key to success in low tech is not to water change once the tank is up and running and stable. This goes against a high tech tank in which you would be water changing every week. You don't water change in low tech tanks as you are not adding any additional ferts, so you are relying on those produced by the fish for the plants to grow. If you remove these through water changes, there will be no ferts for the plants to use and they won't grow.
It's also an added bonus to you as it's less work Still clean half of the filter media monthly though in a little tank water (take just a small amount out and replace with fresh - close to a water change as you'll get) to stop it clogging up. Alternate which half you clean each month.

 

[mistrp01]

Hi Guys,

Thank you so much for the advice and have noted the plants that you have mentioned, this is very helpful and will aim to purchase the plants to get things started.

Just to be clear on a few points that were raised :

1) Any advice on the make of substrate, is EcoComplete OK? Also any nutrients and ferts I need to buy so as to add once plants are being established?
2) When should the plants be added into the tank?
3) Regarding the water change, so its recommended not to change the 20% every 2 weeks. Just to be clear, when should a 20% water change be completed in a planted tank.

Cheers

Prafull