filtration for a planted tank.

[terror]

which would ba better filter for a 20 - 30 gallon planted tank?
a powerhead or a undergravel filter?

[ianjoe]

IMO, neither. A powerhead won't give you any filtration unless you have a big sponge on it (ugly). You could go with an undergravel filter but if you have rooted plants it could get clogged, and you couldn't dose substrate ferts if you wanted. Id go with a HOB (hang on back) or better yet a canister if your thinking of doing co2.

[terror]

i was planning on putting a powerhead with sponge or a powerhead with overhead filter box:)

also i don't know anything about planted tanks. .
what else do i neeed besides a light?
and gravel? is fertilizer necessary?

[Richer]

Before we can give you a good answer, we're going to need more info on your part.

What kind of tank do you want to run? High light? or low light?

Let me give you the break down:

High Light:
Obviously, you use quite a bit of light in this setup (generally 2 watts/gallon and more if you're going to be using flourescent lighting). This means, you can grow basically any aquarium plant you can get your hands on, and growth can be quite fast. Fast growth can potentially mean more clippings, which can mean more aquarium store credits (if you trade your clippings in), or it can mean more plants for your other tanks. However, high lighted tanks require much more maintanence than a low tighted tank. It requires constant monitoring of CO2 levels, and nutrient levels. Most, if not all high light tanks need a CO2 system of some sort. This would include a CO2 source (be it a yeast system, or a CO2 bottle), and at the least some sort of CO2 reactor. Regular dosing of nutrients is also required (nitrates, pottassium, phosphate, trace, iron, etc.). Without proper maintanence of these things, a high light tank can quickly grow into an algae tank. For instance, I was unable to take care of my tank for a week... somehow, the powerhead for my CO2 reactor stopped working, and my nutrience levels dropped... before I knew it, I had algae growing in my tank. Good CO2, nutrient and light levels will greatly boost plant growth, which can mean weekly trimmings to keep your plants under control.

Low Light:
Generally under 2 watts/gallon (I'd suggest under 1.5watt/gallon depending on depth of tank). Doesn't require CO2, nor regular nutrient dosing. However, it does involve careful fish stocking, you usually want to have a very light stock of fish in a low light tank to keep nutrient levels low. Plant growth can be slower, and thus less maintanence is involved. Unfortunatly, you cannot grow any plant that you want, so you have to be careful of what plants that you do want to grow. On another note, even low lighted tanks benefit greatly from CO2 injection.

I personally like high light tanks, I like how my plants constantly pearl, and how I can change my tank within a couple of weeks by allowing one plant to grow more than I'd usually let it go. I personally think the maintanence involved is worth it, although admittedly, its not for everyone. Low lighted tanks can be quite beautiful as well, there's nothing wrong with those tanks neither.

As for the filter, if you plant heavily (plants covering a 75% of your substrate) and stock lightly, a good mechanical filter should be all you need... since your plants will be doing a large portion of your biological filtering (since they have a good amount of surface area for bacterial colonization, and they themselves can filter out ammonia and nitrates). A small canister filter will do just fine. If you're in a financial bind, then a large powerhead with a filter attachement will do fine as well.

HTH
-Richer

[terror]

Originally posted by Richer
Before we can give you a good answer, we're going to need more info on your part.

What kind of tank do you want to run? High light? or low light?

Let me give you the break down:

High Light:
Obviously, you use quite a bit of light in this setup (generally 2 watts/gallon and more if you're going to be using flourescent lighting). This means, you can grow basically any aquarium plant you can get your hands on, and growth can be quite fast. Fast growth can potentially mean more clippings, which can mean more aquarium store credits (if you trade your clippings in), or it can mean more plants for your other tanks. However, high lighted tanks require much more maintanence than a low tighted tank. It requires constant monitoring of CO2 levels, and nutrient levels. Most, if not all high light tanks need a CO2 system of some sort. This would include a CO2 source (be it a yeast system, or a CO2 bottle), and at the least some sort of CO2 reactor. Regular dosing of nutrients is also required (nitrates, pottassium, phosphate, trace, iron, etc.). Without proper maintanence of these things, a high light tank can quickly grow into an algae tank. For instance, I was unable to take care of my tank for a week... somehow, the powerhead for my CO2 reactor stopped working, and my nutrience levels dropped... before I knew it, I had algae growing in my tank. Good CO2, nutrient and light levels will greatly boost plant growth, which can mean weekly trimmings to keep your plants under control.

Low Light:
Generally under 2 watts/gallon (I'd suggest under 1.5watt/gallon depending on depth of tank). Doesn't require CO2, nor regular nutrient dosing. However, it does involve careful fish stocking, you usually want to have a very light stock of fish in a low light tank to keep nutrient levels low. Plant growth can be slower, and thus less maintanence is involved. Unfortunatly, you cannot grow any plant that you want, so you have to be careful of what plants that you do want to grow. On another note, even low lighted tanks benefit greatly from CO2 injection.

I personally like high light tanks, I like how my plants constantly pearl, and how I can change my tank within a couple of weeks by allowing one plant to grow more than I'd usually let it go. I personally think the maintanence involved is worth it, although admittedly, its not for everyone. Low lighted tanks can be quite beautiful as well, there's nothing wrong with those tanks neither.

As for the filter, if you plant heavily (plants covering a 75% of your substrate) and stock lightly, a good mechanical filter should be all you need... since your plants will be doing a large portion of your biological filtering (since they have a good amount of surface area for bacterial colonization, and they themselves can filter out ammonia and nitrates). A small canister filter will do just fine. If you're in a financial bind, then a large powerhead with a filter attachement will do fine as well.

HTH
-Richer


wow! thanks for the info richer.
i'm thinking of using a florescent for lighting.
i'll be putting maybe about 12 pcs of cories.
don't have plans for other fish yet.,
mmmmm i'll have to read up on co2 levels. since i don't
know anything about co2 and planted tanks.

btw: heard that a planted tank shouldn't have high surface water agitation?

[DIYMatt]

You're right, you should avoid surface agitation. It "gases off" the CO2 your plants need. Thats another reason why canisters are superior, you can put the spraybar or whatever output below the surface to avoid surface agitation. If a small canister is too expensive, many people seem to do well with the Aquaclear HOB filters. IMO - Best bang for the buck. Keeping the water level up is key to keeping those from gasing off your CO2. I hope this helps.

[125gJoe]

I'll agree that canister filters are good with planted tanks.
For the money, and how good it filters, the Filstar xP's is what I'd recommend..

[superjohnny]

You don't have to worry about "gassing off" your CO2 unless you are injecting it.