NooB needing advise

[aramisrocz]

Hi everyone,
I'm new and don't have any exprience in planted tanks but got very inspire when I happen to come across Amano's concept.
I just ordered a 2ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft x 10mm tank haven't got nothing else yet.
Just some questions.
1. how much lighting does my tank needs and at what watt if I were to plant moss in the foreground, ricia and hairgrass in the mid and probably something taller in the background?
2. what sort of water parameters should i need (pH, gH, kH)?
3. how powerful a canister filter should the tank require?
thanks
cheers

[Weirong]

Hi everyone,
I'm new and don't have any exprience in planted tanks but got very inspire when I happen to come across Amano's concept.
I just ordered a 2ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft x 10mm tank haven't got nothing else yet.
Just some questions.
1. how much lighting does my tank needs and at what watt if I were to plant moss in the foreground, ricia and hairgrass in the mid and probably something taller in the background?
2. what sort of water parameters should i need (pH, gH, kH)?
3. how powerful a canister filter should the tank require?
thanks
cheers

You definately have to try hitting 3wpg if you want to go for Riccia. But your choice of plants don't really go well because Riccia will get entangled EVERYWHERE!
A slightly acidic water should be ok but your plants are not too particular.
If you are bent on hairgrass, try to go for an Ehiem 2217 or above as Hairgrass do well in a good current.

Keep us posted on your setup! Cheers!

[|squee|]

Welcome to AQ!

1) A 2x36W light set will do good for your tank.
2) Water parameters are not essential for the planted tank. pH range of 5-8 will be fine, gH and kH keep them anywhere from 0-4. You really need not bother about these 3 parameters, don't even need to measure.
3) Weirong has answered your question.

[aramisrocz]

You definately have to try hitting 3wpg if you want to go for Riccia. But your choice of plants don't really go well because Riccia will get entangled EVERYWHERE!
A slightly acidic water should be ok but your plants are not too particular.
If you are bent on hairgrass, try to go for an Ehiem 2217 or above as Hairgrass do well in a good current.

Keep us posted on your setup! Cheers!

thanks for the advise ,
i have look up 2217 btw what's the difference between pump output and filter circulation? are there formulas for calculating whats required for a certain tank size in general excluding the different plants issue?
sorry very new to this hobby and there's so much to learn.
cheers

[aramisrocz]

Welcome to AQ!

1) A 2x36W light set will do good for your tank.
2) Water parameters are not essential for the planted tank. pH range of 5-8 will be fine, gH and kH keep them anywhere from 0-4. You really need not bother about these 3 parameters, don't even need to measure.
3) Weirong has answered your question.

thanks for the prompt reply really appreciate the help from all the experience gurus here. hope in the near future i'll be good enough to share too.

[taz_boy]

1. how much lighting does my tank needs and at what watt if I were to plant moss in the foreground, ricia and hairgrass in the mid and probably something taller in the background?

as suggested, try hit 3WPG if u wan to grow riccia, i tried in my 2wpg tank. grow very slowly, but once again, u might wan to reconsider growing Riccia

2. what sort of water parameters should i need (pH, gH, kH)?

recommended kh is 3-5 for good buffering capacity

3. how powerful a canister filter should the tank require?
thanks

flowrate should be at least 3 x volume of water in your tank...
cheers[/QUOTE]

just my 2cents worth

[Weirong]

thanks for the advise ,
i have look up 2217 btw what's the difference between pump output and filter circulation? are there formulas for calculating whats required for a certain tank size in general excluding the different plants issue?
sorry very new to this hobby and there's so much to learn.
cheers

Yes, formulas are all around this forum. Try searching using the search function (Duh...) and you should learn better.