Hey all,
I'm setting up a new planted tank and I want this to work well so i'm taking it slow and trying to get everything right. So i'm planning to start a log right here.
Here goes:
Tank Dimensions: 48x24x20 (LxHxW)
Approx 120 gallons or 400 liters.
Substrate: I'm going for a homemade substrate... The bottom layer is laterite soil, and then i have another layer of river soil, and topping it off with sand. The lateriate soil is very fine and when mixed with water forms a homogenous paste. So after I laid it i let it dry a bit before adding river soil. iver soil that i found was granular.. but not too big... I've recently come across the problem of it compressing. I'm still trying to figure out now to overcome it. All i can think of right now is to poke the 2 layers with a toothpick like thing all across the bed before topping it off with sand. I havent put in the sand yet.
Lighting: I'm using 2 of my old T3 56W osram fluoro lights, and 5x8W Osram 65000k LED bulbs... I'm just too curious to know how they will fare in this type of tank.. I havent used LEDS yet.. heres a link http://www.shopclues.com/osram-8w-led-bulb.html?gclid=CMmsgZDTmLsCFe4F4godBGUA7w
based on the results I may switch a few of these lights back to 6500K cfl. These Leds however have a tinge of blue to them, i think they should do well... Tank is also situated right in front of a west facing window and receives strong sunlight between 3pm and 6-7pm. Although i have blinds to limit the exposure... but not completely... Its India and its tropical... so you get the idea...
Filter: I already have an internal filter, but i dont want this tank to have a strong current.. so i'm thinking of getting an external overhang filter. I've never used it and I dont have space for external canister filter... so I need ur advice on that.
So this is where i've reached so far... I'm planning on making a moss background, and the tank would be medium/heavy planted... based on the plants i finalize later on i'll be deciding if i need CO2 and ferts.
Mohit
I'm setting up a new planted tank and I want this to work well so i'm taking it slow and trying to get everything right. So i'm planning to start a log right here.
Here goes:
Tank Dimensions: 48x24x20 (LxHxW)
Approx 120 gallons or 400 liters.
Substrate: I'm going for a homemade substrate... The bottom layer is laterite soil, and then i have another layer of river soil, and topping it off with sand. The lateriate soil is very fine and when mixed with water forms a homogenous paste. So after I laid it i let it dry a bit before adding river soil. iver soil that i found was granular.. but not too big... I've recently come across the problem of it compressing. I'm still trying to figure out now to overcome it. All i can think of right now is to poke the 2 layers with a toothpick like thing all across the bed before topping it off with sand. I havent put in the sand yet.
Lighting: I'm using 2 of my old T3 56W osram fluoro lights, and 5x8W Osram 65000k LED bulbs... I'm just too curious to know how they will fare in this type of tank.. I havent used LEDS yet.. heres a link http://www.shopclues.com/osram-8w-led-bulb.html?gclid=CMmsgZDTmLsCFe4F4godBGUA7w
based on the results I may switch a few of these lights back to 6500K cfl. These Leds however have a tinge of blue to them, i think they should do well... Tank is also situated right in front of a west facing window and receives strong sunlight between 3pm and 6-7pm. Although i have blinds to limit the exposure... but not completely... Its India and its tropical... so you get the idea...
Filter: I already have an internal filter, but i dont want this tank to have a strong current.. so i'm thinking of getting an external overhang filter. I've never used it and I dont have space for external canister filter... so I need ur advice on that.
So this is where i've reached so far... I'm planning on making a moss background, and the tank would be medium/heavy planted... based on the plants i finalize later on i'll be deciding if i need CO2 and ferts.
Mohit