Advice for 3 feet planted CO2 aquarium - filter size and lights

[Fisherman7]

Hi,

I am planning a 3 feet x 1.5 feet x 1.5 feet planted tank using soil pellets and CO2 tank with fan.

I have 3 canister filters. Should I use a Fluval FX5, Eheim professional II or Fuval 504. I am afraid the Fluval FX5 will be too strong for plants. Should I use Fluval 504 instead? Heard the current must be gentle, but wanted bigger filter so I don't need to make so many water changes

I have 3 fluorescence lightings. Shall I upgrade to LED or T5 instead? Thinking of planting easy plants like hair grass, tellenus, glosso, crypts, spiky moss, water wisteria and tiger lily.

Maybe add some wood or rocks. Any suggestions to easy plants for my setup to get pearling? Do I need base fertilizer or liquid fertilizer will do?

Doing research now before I start...

Thanks.

[felix_fx2]

How many watts lighting if your going t5?

If your using compressed aquasoil pellets such as Ada. Should have some nutrient value but dosing liquid ferts will be good. (your going hi tech right?)

[Fisherman7]

Hi Felix

Yes, trying to go hi-tech I want pearling.... I have not bought the lights yet T5 or LED. Any to recommend? Brand and watts? So, far for fish shops that I see pearling plants, they are using T5 and not LED. I like the shimmering effect, so if anyone has used LED successfully with pearling, then I will go for LED. If nobody has tried it, I will go for tried and tested T5...

[Fisherman7]

Hi

I think the soil was called magic soil..... Supposed to have nutrients but dunno if any nutrients left, because i had used it before about 1 year old. But will top up with half a packet which I have not used before.
Do I need to put substrate nutrients to power up? Any brand to recommend? Thks

[diazman]

you try insert some Ocean free root monster, works well for me. Shoved some into my old substrate and the e tenellus took off.

Or you could go old school, have some base fertilizer and lapis sand on top.

[Fisherman7]

Hi diazman,

Thanks..l will go for the root monster, thanks!