Looking for helping hand for planted tank

[hwchoy]

Game, first thing is to get rid of the overhead filter. No wonder your plants die, CO2 starvation [:0]

[loupgarou]

make a plan/todo list first.that way you know how to proceed, you can post here and we can spot check.

eg:

Substrate:5 bags of JBL + 20kg of lonestar gravel
driftwood = x pieces.

---
Things to do.
1) Draw layout of how you want to position plants etc.

a) position tank, make sure enough space behind to walk if needed.
b) install pendant MH??
c) check wiring and cabling extensions long enough
d) check got space to place external filter..
e) clean tank.
f) pour base fert and smoothen it (oh..need a hand dustpan to flatten maybe..)
g) wash gravel and place gravel
h) if got any stones to terrace the layout,place them
i) fill with water to around 75%
j) hook up filters, run filter on fine filter floss to remove any floating debris, run around 2 hours? (optional step, but if you're using flourite for substrate. its practically mandatory), clean filter after, and do a water change.

k) use tweezers (you did remember to buy right..buy the JBL ones from keong seong).., start planting

[charleslyk]

just to add on, since yah gonna be starting the new tank.... remember to get lotsa fast growing plants and plant em in first (eg.h. difformis, hornwort..etc) otherwise you be giving up pretty soon even if your plants are proliferating.... of coz, due to algae growth

cheers
charles

[geoffrey]

Hey Game,

I failed too but these people help with their generous advise and now I have the satisfaction of having done it myself. I agree with Juggler, you need to do it yourself in order to fully understand the Science and Art behind the whole thing.

If you have kids, it will be great to have those understanding and be able to sit down with them and explain "Photosynthesis" and "N2 cycle" etc, etc...

Look at it this way, there are so many difficulties and challenges in life that we have faced and successfully overcome them, what is a mere planted aquarium? Go for it!