120 gallons + plants..questions

[Statman]

Hey, I just purchased a 120g tank and would like to run community fish with plants. I had planned on running some DIY bottles of co2 but was basically told it would be worthless to attempt that on such a large tank. Im not hip on running the pressurized co2 unit really either, so my first question is...
1) Are there some simple plants that do not require much co2?
2) What WPG should I be doing on this tank, assuming I go with plants not needing much co2, if possible?
3) Ive heard Eco-Complete is a good sub, do i mix this with gravel, or just strictly use it?

For now thats all, thank you in advance =D

 

[Captain Hook]

1. Definitely. Java moss, java fern, and almost all anubias species are pretty indestructable. Usually the preferred way to grow these is attached to wood or rocks. Many cryptocoryne species, Hygrophila polysperma, some of the Hygrophila corymbosa variants, Limnophila sessiliflora, Rotala rotundifolia, Sagittaria subulata, and most Vallisneria are all pretty easy to grow.

2. If you are determined to stay away from CO2, I'd probably try to stay around or below 1.5 watts per gallon of normal fluorescents. If your tank is a 4 footer, 4 fluorescents over this area is actually fairly high (under 1.5 wpg).

3. The more the better. Flourite is another good plant substrate. This doesn't mean plants won't do well in normal gravel. There are gravel tanks that have great looking plants.

 

[John N.]

Capt Hook covered 1 and 2 pretty well. I'll add to three. Eco complete is definately a great substrate as well as Flourite. Your money can be well spent on a cheaper alternative Soilmaster Pro Red or Charcoal versions at lesco.com. Get a few 50# bags and I think you'll have a good substrate to start. You'll have to add root tabs to it, but you'll have to do that with flourite, and eventually Eco complete.

-John N.

 

[Statman]

Thanks for the plant suggestions

When im running something such as eco-complete, do i use only that as a substrate, or do i put maybe an inch or so covering of it then top with gravel?

 

[John N.]

If you are using solely Eco complete there isn't a need to add anything to it besides the ocassional Seachem Root tabs. Same thing with flourite, although some people do a 50/50 mix of gravel and flourite because it's a little cheaper than 100% flourite.

If you are doing sand or soilmaster you can stick some Jobe plant grow sticks in the substrate. Make sure not to uproot them too much or you'll have algae issues.

I prefer to have a pure substrate and not a mix for the clean appearance. The depth of any of your substrates should be 2.5-3 inches. The thicker the better.

-John N.

 

[hurricanejedi]

Topping with gravel is sort of personal choice. I like the black color of eco-complete (thats what I'm currently using). Some people migth not want the black and perhaps top with pebbles/natural colored gravel. I personally don't feel its necessary.

 

[Statman]

Cool, sounds good.

I went out to PetSmart today to pick up a filter, I saw on their website they had a nice canister filter for $106. Surprise surprise, its apparantly $180 in the store! Yikes! So I didnt get a filter today, I also found out they dont carry Eco Complete, which im pretty much set on getting. They only have Flourite, and only the red variety, not the black.

Im gonna be ordering it online apparantly. The first website I tried, had it for like $18 bucks a bag, but I was gonna get 6 and they wanted $95 dollars shipping, yikes! DrF&S only charge $11 bucks to ship, but the bags cost a few bucks more. Do you think 6 20lb bags will be adequate?

 

[John N.]

www.Aquariumplants.com has the cheapest price for Eco Complete (9.99). I got mine from there. Got it about 1 week later. I would go with 8 bags for a solid 3" depth. Substrate is one of those things you don't want to skimp out on.

Oh, if you don't know it already, find the cheapest price online and print it, and price match stuff at your petsmart

-John N.

 

[Statman]

wow and their shipping charges are ungodly! $77 is the cheapest method, its about the same as doing DrF&S all in all.

edit: cool site tho, lots of good plant options for me.