Some Advice Please

[haich]

hi all i have decided to do a planted tank my first btw i have a 40 gal and currently have just a sand substrate i think at its deepest its about just over an inch i know its not deep enough at the moment

i want to change my substrate anyway went out the other day and bought some pure laterite and am now currently looking at some other substrates could anyone recomend any as i want to get away from sand seems im cleaning it every other day

and does anybody have any advice on actually doing the change over


cheers howard

p.s i do have the nutrafin co2 system running in there also am looking at getting the plant gro light tube
any advice on this would be welcomed also

thanks again

 

[Luke_e]

i want to change my substrate anyway went out the other day and bought some pure laterite and am now currently looking at some other substrates could anyone recomend any as i want to get away from sand seems im cleaning it every other day

A small pebble gravel (as small as you can get really, i think its 2 - 3mm, i maybe wrong).

and does anybody have any advice on actually doing the change over

There is actually a topic which helps talk you through it, i cant find it though but hopefully someone else can.

p.s i do have the nutrafin co2 system running in there also am looking at getting the plant gro light tube
any advice on this would be welcomed also

Not sure on this, had no experience with them. I use arcadia freshwater and original tubes and get great growth.

Gd luck.

 

[craynerd]

Hi Mate,

If your planning on doing a good job and a big replant, wouldn`t a fresh start be in order? I.e bucket up your fish for a few hours, empty the tank and start over! That way you have less problems changing the substrate and also gives you an opportunity to have a plan of your hardscape!!

Just my opinion.

Btw, i think its a good move to come away from a sand substrate, i have sand and shall not be using it in my next tank. I also bought laterite to use in it, but i sold that and am moving to the ADA aqua soil substrates but thats another story and something to think about. Laterite has proved to be a popular choice of substrate for a planted tank and i`m sure you will be happy with it. I think luke-e has made a good suggestion.

Before you rush into it, read the posts on here and check everything is right from the start. What is the total wattage of your light unit that u will be using? (read the light sticky) Do you think 1 nutrafin system will be enough for a 40g tank, i could only just hold 25-30ppm CO2 with 1 nutrafin in a 20g tank! (read the CO2 sticky) Also you may setup this tank with perfect light and CO2 but how are you going to feed the plants, what fert will you use (Read the EI sticky).

Just some things to think about! If you plan for all these things in the onset, you will have a much more successful setup!

Regards

Chris

 

[haich]

thanks for the reply guys

luke i was thinking along those lines of a small gravel for my corys and plec i know there is a topic spotted it myself but am having trouble locating it myself thanks again for your input

craynerd am planning on doing a total relandscape i know the co2 system is for only half that size working on getting another,currently just running a 38w tube with reflecter but as stated am looking at getting another tube have a spare starter unit,i got my laterite from maidenhead aquatics in bold heath dont know if you know it but if you walk in the door its straight ahead down the back wall good luck i think i paid about £19 for it 1.5 kg

anyway thanks again guys will let you know how things go

cheers howard

 

[craynerd]

Cool, just remember everything needs to be balanced from the start as it makes life so much easier!

Take your time and plan it out. Easier said than done!

Chris

btw, don`t buy another nutrafin because when you get obsessed with it, which you will, you`ll be buying a pressurised unit within a month. lol. Seriously tho, they are just as easy to make, do a search!

 

[haich]

yes i know have been looking at the pressurised systems and if i came home with id be sleeping with my fishes