wanted to start planted tank but need some advice

[tweakmax2]

My tank us 1.5ft x 1 x 1 so how many gallon is that?

I already have some aquarium item so not sure if I make still use it for my planted tank. Bascially, I am on low budget to start on a low tech planted tank for my kid to learn.

I have the following
- black quartz sand
- HOF about 500l per minute
- clip on light 11w
- some lava rock

Any advice if I need to get a CO2 tank, about how much?

And lastly do any bro here have a planted tank w lobster? Is the lobster damaging to the plants? Any pic of yr landscape to share?

Maby thanks

[wongce]

1)How many gallons? Click below link

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=aquarium+calculator

2) you may not need to get a co2 tank... you can go into low tech setup to suit your budget. This hobby may not suit kids especially planted tank. Be prepared as You will be doing most of the stuff...especially pouring ferts and chemicals, but it will be a great learning process for kids....

3) when you say lobster I take it is crayfish...well they are destroyers of planted tanks... I think the most you can only have java ferns....but java ferns may be trimmed too...haha

[Urban Aquaria]

If you are on a budget, it'll be best to do a low-tech planted tank without Co2 injection first. Use hardy plants like anubias, java ferns and mosses, keep the light intensity low with a short photoperiod, then you'll encounter less issues during start up and a much easier time showing your kid how a planted tank ecosystem works... after a while once they are good at maintaining it properly, then can progress on to high-tech setups.

My experience with teaching my kids to maintain a high tech tank from the start was tricky (mine are primary school age), when left on their own they love to overfeed or massively overdose ferts and additives (its too tempting)... or forget to double-check the timer switches after doing tank maintenance and next day Co2 injection come on but lights still off, end up killing some fishes and shrimps. High tech tanks definitely have much narrower margins for user errors.

[khementi]

For a good idea on low tech planted tank you can check this out http://www.sudeepmandal.com/hobbies/...ed-tank-guide/

Also there's a book by Diana Walstad where she describes using normal soil in a planted tank. It works quite well, I tried it myself