This is my first time on Aquaria Central, so be patient with me please, if I don't know the ropes.....
I would like to change my 55 gallon tank over to a planted tank and could use some expertise. I'm a pretty busy working mom, so the easiest planted tank possible would be good for starters
. The setup I have now has been up for 6-7 years. It is 55 gal with tek-minerals substrate an undergravel filter and two powerheads with an 18" ebo-jager (pls forgive spelling errors)heater. There are 6 black neon tetras, 7 cardinal tetras, 4 young harlequin rasboras, 3 sunset? barbs, 1 skunk botia, 1 old cory cat, an upside-down cat, 1 inherited algae sucker and a 5 inch pleco. I keep the tank at 80 degrees. I currently have no live plants.
My main questions are:
1. Are any of the above fish going to be a problem in a planted tank?
2. Any fish that would need to be added? (other than filling out the rasbora school?)
3. I know I need to loose the undergravel filter, what do I replace it with?
4. Do I need to amend, replace, clean or do anything else to my substrate, or can I use it as is?
5. My hood takes 2 18" florescents, what wattage or type or color should I use?
6. If I use low light plants, do I need to add CO2? I keep reading a lot about CO2.
I'm sure there will be more questions down the road, but I like to be planful, and your answers will certainly be a boon with my planning. Thanks!
I would like to change my 55 gallon tank over to a planted tank and could use some expertise. I'm a pretty busy working mom, so the easiest planted tank possible would be good for starters
. The setup I have now has been up for 6-7 years. It is 55 gal with tek-minerals substrate an undergravel filter and two powerheads with an 18" ebo-jager (pls forgive spelling errors)heater. There are 6 black neon tetras, 7 cardinal tetras, 4 young harlequin rasboras, 3 sunset? barbs, 1 skunk botia, 1 old cory cat, an upside-down cat, 1 inherited algae sucker and a 5 inch pleco. I keep the tank at 80 degrees. I currently have no live plants.My main questions are:
1. Are any of the above fish going to be a problem in a planted tank?
2. Any fish that would need to be added? (other than filling out the rasbora school?)
3. I know I need to loose the undergravel filter, what do I replace it with?
4. Do I need to amend, replace, clean or do anything else to my substrate, or can I use it as is?
5. My hood takes 2 18" florescents, what wattage or type or color should I use?
6. If I use low light plants, do I need to add CO2? I keep reading a lot about CO2.
I'm sure there will be more questions down the road, but I like to be planful, and your answers will certainly be a boon with my planning. Thanks!
