New to planted tanks

[Ofilter]

Dear all~

I am relatively new to planted tanks and I am seriously in need of plenty of advice from all the seniors in this great site

I am planning for a 3ft x 2ft x 2ft planted community tank (hope to get some discus in eventually). Hopefully I am aiming for a low lighte and non CO2 tank. Is it possible? Will the tank become unstable for the fishes inside ???

I got some C. zero coral chips sand. Could it be used in a planted tank~? Even if is used sand. (I understand that they will caues the pH of the water to go up) and aquatic plants sort of 'prefer' acidic soft water. Can I use them if they don't affect the pH of the water?

What kind of of substrate, fertilisers, sand can I use? And the amount I should use? (ie. 1 part fert : 1 part sand)

I am planning to use cooling fans to bring down the temp. As well as FL light. Please advice on the wattage.

What about filters? Should they have a high flow rate~? The current inside the aquarium should it be strong~?

Plants will be choice of the following:

1. Aponogeton natans
2. Anubia hastifolia
3. Anubias barteri var. barteri
4. Microsorium pteropus
5. Microsorium pteropus "narrow leaf"
6. Echinodorus cordifolius
7. Echinodorus marcophyllus
8. Echinodorus "Red flame"
9. Ceratophyllum demersun
10. Vallisneria species (of any kinda suited for the tank)

I understand that some of the above mentioned plant need plenty of lighting, if otherwise any other suggestions?

Fauna would be: (I am not too sure if it is alright to ask this here)

1. discus (after everything is finalised and stable)
2. corydoras
3. tetras
4. shrimps (some form of algae control)

Everything is in the planning stage as I cannot go ahead (i have very little idea on how to get things started, esp the flora part.) I seriously don't want to jump into it and get all the fishes killed in the end.

Thanks for reading this very long post. And thanks in advance for the help!

[hirowen]

Hi, Welcome to AQ!

Yes it is possible to go for Non CO2 and low light setup. You can take a look here.

As far as i concern, coral chip is not suitable for planted tank, doesn't matter if it affect the ph or not, its better to be safe than sorry.

If you are intending to use ADA soil, you do not need to use base fertiliser. There is alot of base fertiliser on the market, you can go to LFS to check it out. 1 cm of base fert : 3 cm of substrate will do. Root monster can also be used as a base fertiliser. As for liquid fert, LushGro Aqua is a good and economical choice. Or u can use seachem, abit costly but its reliable. Lapis sand is a good choice for substrate. Or you can use any substrate that will not alter water chemistry and its fine enough to let plants root to anchor.

Yes, most plants do well in low temp. If u going for low light tank, 1.5 ~ 2 watt per gallon is enough. If not go for at least 3watt per gallon.

As for plant, go for cryptocoryne species. Anubias nana is good choice for low light setup too. Java ferns and moss and etc.


Read this useful tips before you actually go buy all the stuffs.

Good luck.

[eddyq]

Hi Ofilter,

Non CO2 set-up means low light/low maintaince/little fert dosing/very little water-change,top-up only and plant grow slowly include algae.(sound good)

Base fert is important (for stem plant) top up with Lapis sand is ideal. (cost less) Sand without base fert can try ADA soil or Seachem Onyx sand (cost more) I think they have nutrient in it.

Look up at (Joe's 2006 back to plant) under Aqscaping section you can see all the type of plants used.

Hope this help and read and see more (non CO2 posting)

[Ofilter]

hi hiro ,eddy
Thanks for ur replies, been reading up alot more since my last post, thanks again for the info and links. went to NA to get some JBJ base ferts and lapis sand. got some plants as recommend, ie nanas n java ferns. The boss of NA recommended me to get some hygrophila difformis as starters too. nid some drift woods as well. My tank is like LFS's planted tanks , just plants only and no scaping will be on look out for more plants, drift woods and rocks.

As for the coral chips, i disposed of it already. Simply agreed wif hiro's "better be safe then sorry. "

[Wackytpt]

good that yu dispose the coral chip

[Goondoo]

Start slow, dun worry about scaping until you get a hang of the hobby.

[Ofilter]

Start slow, dun worry about scaping until you get a hang of the hobby.

Agreed~! For now my plants are just there for absorbing all nutrients ( to minimise algae infestion).

currently my setup is :
3ft x 2ft x 2ft tank = 89 gal
3 x 39W T5 light = 1.3 WPG
1 x 1000L/hr internal filter(dolphin) mature filter
Nil Co2 (except for 10 neon tetras n 3 yamatos to provide CO2)
1 x big cooling fan on during day time avg temp ard 25.8-26.4
2 x 20kg of lapis sand
1/2 JBL fert
2 x JBJ fert (from NA)
2 x DW 5inch ea c/w java ferns
1 x DW 5inch c/w nana
1 x nana (very small version)
12 x vallisneria americana var. biwaenis
8 x vallisneria spiralis
8 x hygrolia difformis
10 x neon tetra

most plants i got it from teo's (very nice and chatty uncle), the ones with DW i got from NA.

running alright now, hopefully no algae bloom, but i am expecting it soon

[evolim83]

Fauna would be: (I am not too sure if it is alright to ask this here)

1. discus (after everything is finalised and stable)
2. corydoras
3. tetras
4. shrimps (some form of algae control)

Look like everything is doing fine!
Jus like to bring it to your awareness that discus will wipe out your entire shrimp popluation in no time!
I suggestion you get some otos for the algae as I read that SAEs are also not suitable for discus!
Good luck with your tank!

[Ofilter]

Thank u Evo, for bringing this point , really appreciate it alot. Will be on a look out for otos and in the mean time, will try to remove my shrimps to another tank~

Cheers~