first planted tank setup

[greenmerc]

Well, its as good as the title reads. Im wanting to setup a long planted tank,low tech since i dont have time for much maintenance. Tank would be 80"x24"x16" (140 gallons), long shallow one and viewable on both sides of the length. So i got to read about a lot of things but id like help about getting the pieces of the puzzle together and clear some gray areas.
1. Was planning to mineralize soil then top off with inert sand substrate
2. Use a classic eheim filter (probably 2215 would do)
3. No clue on lighting, i just know i dont have enough money to buy those flashy leds nor the funds to order and get it shipped, i dont have a credit card.and i dont even know if i can find special lighting for sale where i live
4. Temps dont fluctuate much since im in the tropics so i dont think i need a heater.
5. I will probably work out fert doses as i move along based on a number of articles ive read so far.
6. I plan to keep low-medium plants only
7. Have the driftwood and plants occupy only the center part of the tank, more like creating an island across the length.

Please say what you have to say. All types of feedback are welcome.

[stressed]

You probably set the stage fine. There were also no questions on what guidance you wanted.

You may want to be more explicit...

[greenmerc]

You probably set the stage fine. There were also no questions on what guidance you wanted.

You may want to be more explicit...

Now that i read my own post id have to agree with you. Well i guess we can start about the lighting and substrate for now. Those are the least available here when it comes to specifications in this hobby, and since i dont think id spent a fortune on it id probably do some diy co2 at least until the plants get to an established state. Any suggestions? btw for the soil i was thinking of mineralizing potting soil from a local terrestrial plant vendor, but do you think its better for me to just buy some commercial substrate for shrimp/plants, i mean would that be more time and cost effective? Thanks a bunch!

[limz_777]

1 2215 might not have sufficient flow for your tank , maybe can add a wave maker

[greenmerc]

1 2215 might not have sufficient flow for your tank , maybe can add a wave maker

Would a larger 2217 model be better?

[thebaldingaquarist]

Would a larger 2217 model be better?

if you do not have alot of fauna in the tank (ie not much bio load), a 2215 with a wavemaker or powerhead will do fine.
If you do have quite some fauna or intend to have in future, 2217 is more appropriate.

Since you want to only plant the centre part of the tank, you can choose to use aquatic plant soil in the centre portion, then the rest of the tank, use inert sand (without fertilizing). this means that you can vacuum the inert sand every now and then.

For lighting, you can choose to have a pendant light or a projector lamp, since you are planting only the center portion. looks more elegant that way as well.

[greenmerc]

if you do not have alot of fauna in the tank (ie not much bio load), a 2215 with a wavemaker or powerhead will do fine.
If you do have quite some fauna or intend to have in future, 2217 is more appropriate.

Since you want to only plant the centre part of the tank, you can choose to use aquatic plant soil in the centre portion, then the rest of the tank, use inert sand (without fertilizing). this means that you can vacuum the inert sand every now and then.

For lighting, you can choose to have a pendant light or a projector lamp, since you are planting only the center portion. looks more elegant that way as well.

I will go for a 2217 then since the difference in cost isnt much anyway.

About the substrate i dont think id be able to mineralize effectively, i couldnt find a place to buy dolomite powder and potash from locally. So i need some suggestions or can i mineralize w/o adding those 2 and possibly replacing with dry ferts, mix it in if thats even appropriate?

For lighting yeah id probably do a diy fixture housing 5 bulbs along the length and center of the tank. Planning to get LEDs from a loca maufacturer can u suggest the bulb im best going to use for this? Heres the link to the website and theres a catalog for the LEDs =)

http://www.yatai.com.ph/omni/download.html

Thanks!

[greenmerc]

I found these available in my country and was wondering if anyone had tried them before.


http://fevmarine.com/product_info.ph...roducts_id=470
http://fevmarine.com/product_info.ph...roducts_id=328

Any suggestions? I tried finding detailed info as to what they contain but failed. The values are $18 and $10 respectively.

[greenmerc]

as cheap as osmocote is its absurd why i cant find it here. Theres a bonsai fan who can sell it to me, the 14-14-14 formula i believe, osmocote smart release, for $27 for every 1.1lb, plus id need to get empty veggie capsules to make the root tabs and i havent found a store wich sells those. How many root tabs would i be able to make with that 500grams of osmocote?


And another update i just went to the biggest collection of LFS in this country and all i was able to find are cheap inert substrates and the following commercial ones:


Seachem onyx sand 7kg/15.4lbs bag for $27
Seachem fluorite sand 7kg/15.4lbs bag for $31
Ruby High Activity Substrate 9 Liter bag for $31
Ista plant substrate 9 litre bag for $29


I was advised if i were to use each purely I would need about 10 bags to cover my tank. Doing the math means its absurdly expensive. Any bright ideas? Im searching for jobe plant sticks atm i posted this.

[greenmerc]

as cheap as osmocote is its absurd why i cant find it here. Theres a bonsai fan who can sell it to me, the 14-14-14 formula i believe, osmocote smart release, for $27 for every 1.1lb, plus id need to get empty veggie capsules to make the root tabs and i havent found a store wich sells those. How many root tabs would i be able to make with that 500grams of osmocote?


And another update i just went to the biggest collection of LFS in this country and all i was able to find are cheap inert substrates and the following commercial ones:


Seachem onyx sand 7kg/15.4lbs bag for $27
Seachem fluorite sand 7kg/15.4lbs bag for $31
Ruby High Activity Substrate 9 Liter bag for $31
Ista plant substrate 9 litre bag for $29


I was advised if i were to use each purely I would need about 10 bags to cover my tank. Doing the math means its absurdly expensive. Any bright ideas? Im searching for jobe plant sticks atm i posted this.

Update! Was able to buy osmocote plus here, and now looking to buy empty 0 size gel capsules. How many capsules would i need in the center part of my tank given the dimensions above? I dont want to over fertilize since i wont use a high cec substrate.

[thebaldingaquarist]

Update! Was able to buy osmocote plus here, and now looking to buy empty 0 size gel capsules. How many capsules would i need in the center part of my tank given the dimensions above? I dont want to over fertilize since i wont use a high cec substrate.

that largely depends on what plants you intend.

Lilies, echinodorus and other plants like bylxia appreciate a well fert-ed substrate because they are essentially root feeders.

I would recommend a 12 month slow release dose of osmo if you can find them. place them deep into the substrate. since your substrate is not high CEC, you will want to bury them as deep as possible, choosing a slowest release form.

for echinodorus, place 2 capsules near the large plants. medium ones place 1. smaller plants with smaller root systems.. maybe can share 1 capsule every 10 cm.

thats my recommendation. please do your own research to see how feasible it really is. i did this with another slow release fert i found in singapore, using lapis sand as substrate and i grew echindorus plants.. but the copper in the fert killed my shrimps...

[greenmerc]

that largely depends on what plants you intend.

Lilies, echinodorus and other plants like bylxia appreciate a well fert-ed substrate because they are essentially root feeders.

I would recommend a 12 month slow release dose of osmo if you can find them. place them deep into the substrate. since your substrate is not high CEC, you will want to bury them as deep as possible, choosing a slowest release form.

for echinodorus, place 2 capsules near the large plants. medium ones place 1. smaller plants with smaller root systems.. maybe can share 1 capsule every 10 cm.

thats my recommendation. please do your own research to see how feasible it really is. i did this with another slow release fert i found in singapore, using lapis sand as substrate and i grew echindorus plants.. but the copper in the fert killed my shrimps...

I am sorry to read about your shrimps honestly i dont think i would keep any since shrimps seem very fragile vs fish, so id rather get otos for algae control instead. D you think i should just fertilize on the middle part of the aquarium since thats where the plants would be? Or should i fertilize the entire substrate area? I think, and please do correct me if im wrong, that once the osmocote starts dissolving no matter where the capsules are then with the flow being considered the plants at the center would be able to use it altogether? And when you say deep do u mean i should make contact with the glass bottom? Im not even sure how thick of a substrate i would need.i am at the moment trying to find a low budget but high cec inert substrate, one i can possibly mix if not cap with the commercial inert sand im planning to use.

[thebaldingaquarist]

I am sorry to read about your shrimps honestly i dont think i would keep any since shrimps seem very fragile vs fish, so id rather get otos for algae control instead. D you think i should just fertilize on the middle part of the aquarium since thats where the plants would be? Or should i fertilize the entire substrate area? I think, and please do correct me if im wrong, that once the osmocote starts dissolving no matter where the capsules are then with the flow being considered the plants at the center would be able to use it altogether? And when you say deep do u mean i should make contact with the glass bottom? Im not even sure how thick of a substrate i would need.i am at the moment trying to find a low budget but high cec inert substrate, one i can possibly mix if not cap with the commercial inert sand im planning to use.

You can fert the centre part of the substrate, where your plants are. Insert it deep enough to hit the root system for the plants. In other words, plants first than insert the capsules. Normally high cec substrates are more costly over here in Singapore.

[greenmerc]

You can fert the centre part of the substrate, where your plants are. Insert it deep enough to hit the root system for the plants. In other words, plants first than insert the capsules. Normally high cec substrates are more costly over here in Singapore.

Ive read a few posts about kitty litter sand as being fired clay with a decent cec.im checking if i can find cheapo ones. I got a question though, im planning to attach java ferns and moss onto my driftwood and obviously those wont benefit much from the root tabs not until the nutrients leach out of the substrate. So is it better to fertilize the entire area instead of just the middle of the tank? Id love to hear your opinion about it, and from others who might have any as well.

[Y3H]

Java moss doesn't need much fertilization. They have very low requirements.

If you plan to plant the entire tank then insert your root tabs evenly throughout the tank. If your scape is predominantly planted in the middle, I don't see the point of putting tabs in the areas of no plants. The extra tabs can also be kept for future use down the road.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk