Started A Planted Tank

[peter1979]

I am a newbie to tanks. To cut a long story short, i had a fluval edge cycled and ready to go for fish, now i dont. I have a wave cubo 30l with a 18W CFL (comes as standard). It has a 300lph filter and i have black quarttz sand and 3mm gravel about 4-5cm deep, i have a heater and it is 26 degrees at the moment. My water pH is 7.5 and i have a hardness of around 26ppm, which i beleive is very hard.
It has the media from my fluval edge and i gave up on cycling as i wanted to plant it.
Now i have it planted with crypt wendtii, anubias nana, java fern, java moss and flame moss and dwarf hair grass. So all easy grow low light plants that were originally for my edge, but that things gone now!

So my questions are, is a 6 hour initial photoperiod sufficent?

I have bought seachems flourish excel, and im dosing 1.25ml per day, is this ok?

Is it worth dosing something like tropica plant nutrition + as well?

Im thinking of getting a basic co2 set up, and am considering either one of the nutrafin co2 things, or a colombo flora co2 unit

nutrafin http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110505991978&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

colombo http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140388872392&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Which would be a better idea?

I realise i have easy grow, almost fail proof plants, so am i overdoing it with the above things? some advice would be much appreciated as i only have really been looking into the aquarium hobby for a month, but i am very keen to progress. Space is a limiting factor for me, hence the nano tank. I am hoping to get some endler's livebearers this weekend, about 6. Is it ok to be chucking them in now i have the tank planed?


Peter

 

[lljdma06]

So my questions are, is a 6 hour initial photoperiod sufficent?

Between 4-6, but it depends on the lighting and your plant mass

I have bought seachems flourish excel, and im dosing 1.25ml per day, is this ok?

This is perfectly fine to do.

Is it worth dosing something like tropica plant nutrition + as well?

Yes, tropica nutrition is fine to add

Another CO2 system, however, not needed at this time. You are already supplementing with liquid CO2. Now when your bottle runs out, it is more cost effective IMO to setup a CO2 system incase you want to go that route. I use nutrafin, but I have my own mix. Gets the dropchecker apple green every time. Have you a dropchecker.

I realise i have easy grow, almost fail proof plants, so am i overdoing it with the above things? some advice would be much appreciated as i only have really been looking into the aquarium hobby for a month, but i am very keen to progress. Space is a limiting factor for me, hence the nano tank. I am hoping to get some endler's livebearers this weekend, about 6. Is it ok to be chucking them in now i have the tank planed?

6 endlers? You'll be fine.

What happened to your Edge, if you don't mind me asking? I was eyeing them at Petsmart the other day. They look so cool, but I've heard about cracking issues, lighting, and other things, but how's the filtration? Other than glass cracking, which would stink, the filtration is more important to me than the lighting.

 

[peter1979]

I havent got a drop-checker, is it a good idea to have one if you are only using a liquid co2 supply? I have been reading about the nutrafin kits and they look pretty cost effective especially if used with the home-mix set up covered in another thread on here.

My fluval edge had a number of issues with it within its short life. I believe that waterdrop may have mentioned this in another thread on here, where the filter stopped etc, that was my tank. I bought it 4 weks ago and had been fishless cycling, this was before i even considered a planted tank. Then i noticed my filter unit was cracked and leaking, probably damage sustained in the shop where i bought it as it was the last one and had been opened. Then my lights packed in. Next my filter stopped altogether, and finally the base unit the tank sits in/on cracked and b this time i had had enough. To be honest i think it was the wrong tank for me, a beginner, as it is quite hard to reach into and maintain, also very limited in size. Although my wave cubo is only 7 litres larger, i have already noticed how much easier it is to access, and for the set up i want, it suits me fine.
I would not say 'dont go for a fluval edge', it was just my personal experience was not enjoyable!

 

[lljdma06]

I havent got a drop-checker, is it a good idea to have one if you are only using a liquid co2 supply? I have been reading about the nutrafin kits and they look pretty cost effective especially if used with the home-mix set up covered in another thread on here.

My fluval edge had a number of issues with it within its short life. I believe that waterdrop may have mentioned this in another thread on here, where the filter stopped etc, that was my tank. I bought it 4 weks ago and had been fishless cycling, this was before i even considered a planted tank. Then i noticed my filter unit was cracked and leaking, probably damage sustained in the shop where i bought it as it was the last one and had been opened. Then my lights packed in. Next my filter stopped altogether, and finally the base unit the tank sits in/on cracked and b this time i had had enough. To be honest i think it was the wrong tank for me, a beginner, as it is quite hard to reach into and maintain, also very limited in size. Although my wave cubo is only 7 litres larger, i have already noticed how much easier it is to access, and for the set up i want, it suits me fine.
I would not say 'dont go for a fluval edge', it was just my personal experience was not enjoyable!

No, you don't need a dropchecker yet, you can't measure the levels with the liquid CO2. You just have to dose and pray.

I meant that you should consider getting a dropchecker when you get the standard gas CO2. I like the Nutrafin kits for smaller tanks, if you decide tha pressurized is too pricey. Yeah, you could go DIY completely, but the canisters look nice to me, attach easily to the edge of the aquarium, and you can certainly customize the mix. Two canisters changed on alternating days connected with a t-connector produces for me a nice apple green drop checker (30ppm). You don't even need to use the ladder that it comes with. I opt for a small glass diffusor (Rhinox 1000). Diffuses much better than the nutrafin ladder, very tiny bubbles. A Rhinox is like $5-10 on eBay.

Thanks for the information on the Edge. Now that you have told me that the error was specifically with the filter and the construction, I am much more against it. Can't they make a similar tank but without a hood, so you can put your own stuff in. I can't stand the tank kits. I will remain with my finnex 8g. Now, that is a tank. Shame it was discontinued and they now only sell the 4g.

 

[umpsfar]

@ lljdma06
i'm confused, hoping you could clear something up on the listed ebay item.
Its' list as £12.50 and then below that as RRP : £23.99
im presuming this was just a price drop, and its not missing stuff.
what else is needed for this? diffuser? (drop checker of course)
and last but not least, what ur special formula? he he..
i could always ask the seller , but where's the fun in that.

 

[lljdma06]

@ lljdma06
i'm confused, hoping you could clear something up on the listed ebay item.
Its' list as £12.50 and then below that as RRP : £23.99
im presuming this was just a price drop, and its not missing stuff.
what else is needed for this? diffuser? (drop checker of course)
and last but not least, what ur special formula? he he..
i could always ask the seller , but where's the fun in that.

Show me the listing.

 

[umpsfar]

as above . peter1979 .first post #1

nutrafin My link
its cheap enough 12 sterling, did u say u have one of these?

I like the Nutrafin kits for smaller tanks,

im presuming it wouldn't be suitable for my 2 tanks ,(in my sig)

 

[lljdma06]

as above . peter1979 .first post #1

nutrafin My link
its cheap enough 12 sterling, did u say u have one of these?

I like the Nutrafin kits for smaller tanks,

im presuming it wouldn't be suitable for my 2 tanks ,(in my sig)

No, the larger tanks do much, much better with pressurized CO2 otherwise you are changing a like million canisters. Or, if you want to go planted without CO2, stay with less than 1WPG (between .5 and 1WPG) and grow hardy plants.

For the 20l that you are scoping out, however, the Nutrafin is great. That's like 4-6 gallons, great for fermentation CO2. Two canisters connected via t-connector will get very stable CO2, in my experience.

I have a bunch of Nutrafin canisters lying about. I liked the look of it better than 2lt soda bottles to make my fermentation CO2.

12.50 is a good deal on this. That is the listed price on the item. The other price is the suggested retail, if I'm not mistaken.

llj

 

[peter1979]

so when you connect 2 via a T-connector does that run the 2 cannisters at once? do you rotate the cannister changes?

 

[lljdma06]

so when you connect 2 via a T-connector does that run the 2 cannisters at once? do you rotate the cannister changes?

Yes, it run both at once, and yes, I rotate the canister changes. I change a different one every couple of days. The CO2 will be quite stable in a small tank.

llj

 

[umpsfar]

pricey pricey pricey, when u add all this up for a 20 L.. well nothing is free..
so, for my little 20 liter, i need two canisters, T connector, diffuser, drop checker, + what ever liquid is used for that.
I was really hoping to pick up a set of CO2 stuff for the 180 liter as ive plants in the post.

what else is needed for this? diffuser? (drop checker of course)

 

[peter1979]

Its nt too pricey considering the alternatives. The nutrafin setup works out-
2 x nutrafin kits = £25 (best price found from link in post 1)
1 x drop checker = £7 (best price from same source above)
1 x nano diffuser = £7 (same)
total £39
optional bubbler counter & check valve

where as a pressurized kit is in excess of £100 then there is the co2 refills.

 

[lljdma06]

Its nt too pricey considering the alternatives. The nutrafin setup works out-
2 x nutrafin kits = £25 (best price found from link in post 1)
1 x drop checker = £7 (best price from same source above)
1 x nano diffuser = £7 (same)
total £39
optional bubbler counter & check valve

where as a pressurized kit is in excess of £100 then there is the co2 refills.

Don't worry about the bubble counter if you've got the dropchecker. Having both doesn't make sense to me. Do consider adding another dropchecker to the list. I have broken one. Though only once. They can be fragile and water makes things slippery.

Check valve. It depends, I do not use one and have never had problems with the fermentation solution getting into the tank, but that may be just me. Others have had big problems with this.

You forgot yeast and baking soda to the list, but that is grocery store shopping. A jar of yeast, and you can use bread machine yeast, is not especially expensive and lasts a long time. Baking soda is cheap, cheap, cheap.

llj

 

[peter1979]

I scrapped the nutrafin plan today and sold some stuff on auction to fund a FE co2 set up. Ordering my stuff right now. Total cost is £102.90 including the 2kg FE. If i dont get on with it, i can always sell it i guess. I just thought, whats the point in spending 40-50 quid on the ntrafin kit and constantly maintain it, when for 100 i get get a reliable pressurised one?

 

[umpsfar]

I scrapped the nutrafin plan today and sold some stuff on auction to fund a FE co2 set up. Ordering my stuff right now. Total cost is £102.90 including the 2kg FE. If i dont get on with it, i can always sell it i guess. I just thought, whats the point in spending 40-50 quid on the ntrafin kit and constantly maintain it, when for 100 i get get a reliable pressurised one?

yup
i decided to do the same, 35 euro so far on ebay,
although after a good bit of searching ive found someone locally who has a FE Regulator connection never used.
cost 65 new don't know what to offer,