Converting from plastic plants to the real thing

[Blinky]

Hi everyone,
I need some advice! I've always had plastic plants and now I think I'm finally ready to try the real thing.

The tank is a 45g tall - 24" high, 36" long and 12" wide. It's home to an angelfish, a bunch of platys/swords, a few cherry barbs, and some otos.

Today I visited my LFS and purchased a 36", 110W compact flourescent light fixture. This will give me ~2.5W of light per gallon, which I hope is sufficient for most plants.

After reading about substrates, I'm thinking of converting from gravel to flourite - it seems a much better choice for plants and I'd rather convert now than plant the tank and decide to do it afterwards!

I've read the sticky on fertilizer (holy information overload - it's like chemistry class all over again!) and I'm planning to follow the advice therein and also make a DIY CO2 injector (2L bottle w/ yeast & sugar etc.)

What I'd like to know is:
1. Does all of this sound like I'm on the right track? If not, can someone please steer me in the proper direction? The last thing I want is a disaster caused by my own ignorance.
2. Is there anything (preparation wise) that I'm missing and need to do?
3. Does anyone have any particular recommendations of plants to use (or not use) in my tank, given the conditions I'll be creating?

This the biggest project I've done so far and I'd like to do it right from the start, so thank you all for any advice you can give.

 

[djlen]

Sounds like you are on the right track.
You will need pH,gH,kH,N, and P test kits. Do not inject CO2 without knowing that the kH of your tank is at least 3.0 - 3.5ppm(better). Knowing the elements in your tap water as well as you tank water will assist you as you progress.
I use and really like Flourite. Good material for planted tanks, and IMO, looks nice and natural.
Ordinarily, 2.5watts/gal. is a great starting point for a beginner, but keep in mind that 24" is a lot of water for it to penetrate, so I would look for plants in the low - moderate range for light neediness. Also, you will want plants that will not shade the smaller ones from the available light. I would stay away from 'red' plants as they will typically need more light to redden up and many just don't grow well at 2.5 watts.

Before you make the switch in substrate, let us know and someone will guide you through the process so that you do the least amount of damage to your Eco-system which, when changing gravel, usually occurs.

Here's a link that is very helpful: www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm
Check out the one on starting a planted tank first. Then you'll have a bunch more questions to ask.

Good luck with your new endeavor.

Len

 

[125gJoe]

Hi everyone,
I need some advice! I've always had plastic plants and now I think I'm finally ready to try the real thing.....

... and I'm planning to follow the advice therein and also make a DIY CO2 injector (2L bottle w/ yeast & sugar etc.)

What I'd like to know is:

1. Does all of this sound like I'm on the right track? ......
..
.....
.

Please take time to understand the "live plant ecosystem".. Maybe you have already done this, but from your posting, I'm not sure -- and most important is to have you succeed at a gorgeous "live planted" aquarium!
First, Flourite is a great (best in my opinion) substrate to use -- and hopefully you will use 100% Flourite.
Next, consider if your plants are a priority, or are the fish the priority? Actually, some fish will never coexist with live plants...

As for DIY CO2, there are many here that can help with 'getting it right'.

Best of luck! Always ask questions .....
I'm sure more here will elaborate!

Fish permitting --- a "live planted aquarium is awesome" ....

 

[Blinky]

Thank you so much for your replies!

djlen: I will be sure to ask questions when the time comes to switch the substrate - I really want to do things right the first time. The tank has a UGF right now, so the switch will be quite a project - removing the substrate, the UGF (and accumulated guck) and washing and installing the flourite. I'm dreading it a little, but I know the result will be worth it.

I am already pretty retentive about testing the water for nitrate, phosphate, pH etc., so testing as you suggested is definitely something I'll do. Thanks for the advice

125joe: I do want to use 100% flourite (never was one for mixing substrates, and I saw gravel/flourite mixed in a LFS tank - IMHO, very unattractive). Yesterday I was at my LFS and asked someone about the depth, maybe you or someone else can clarify this for me. The bag said that 1 7kg bag was sufficient to cover 217 square inches to a depth of 2" (my tank's footprint is 12"x36", so I'd need 2 bags to cover to 2"). I take this to mean that 2" is an appropriate depth. The LFS employee was emphatic about the depth, said it needed to be twice that - 4" of substrate over the entire bottom would mean (after I sloped it) that the front would be at about 3" and the back at about 5" - this seems excessive to me. Is he right? I don't know how deep the plants' roots will go, but it seems to me that 5" is awfully deep and might just stagnate.

Good question about the fish. I know that a traditional planted tank is really an underwater garden, priority is given to plants and fish can be few and far between. I'm pretty attached to my angelfish, but I could give up my platys, swords and cherry barbs if it was a choice between them and the plants (though I'd rather not). I imagine that having a few otos around is a good thing, to keep any algae off the plants, but will they nibble on my garden? Let me know what you think, I'd appreciate it.

About DIY CO2: I saw a unit for sale at another LFS that looked basically like a DIY only they provided the container, airline and yeast mixture - is there any benefit to using something storebought over a 2L bottle (is it easier to regulate or use etc.)? I can't afford to get a big fancy pressurized system, but this contraption was within my budget - but only if there's a definite benefit to it.

One more question...
I'm not sure how many plants to start off with. When I buy the plants, do I fully or nearly fully plant the tank all at once, or plant it with many spaces to account for future growth? I know how fast the plants grow totally depends on nutrients/light but if I do things correctly they will grow. If I should leave space, how much?

I've been reading like mad - I'm gradually learning all the things I need to know, and don't plan to dive in until I know enough. It's been a long time since I delved in to an aspect of the hobby where I was totally clueless, and this time I DON'T want to learn anything by trial and error!

 

[djlen]

I slope from about 1.5" or so, up to 4.5 - 5.0" in all my large tanks and scale down a bit from there, depending on tank size. Even my little 5.5 gal. has 2.5" in the back.
If you use a good substrate, there is no need to worry about it 'stagnating' in a healthy tank. I'm sure I am on the high end of the scale for substrate, and 2 - 4" or even a bit less would work for you. I just like to give them all the room I can to root into.
When listening to LFS advice, keep in mind that in some cases they are selling a product. When we give advice, we have nothing to gain from it and typically it's from experience, and with your best interest at heart.
The difference between DIY and store-bought CO2 generators, is looks and cost, IMO. If you don't mind a 2ltr. bottle sitting on top of or next to your tank, it's just as effective as the store brand(maybe more so), and obviously less expensive. Regulating flow is iffy in either case. You can adjust minimally, by mixture.
I suggest planting as heavily as you can, initially, with cheapy stems and a few rosette types that you like. Get a large variety and see what you like and what will grow for you in your particular tank. If you re-do the substrate, this becomes more important, as no matter how much you try to keep it's bio-filter, you will lose much of it with the loss of the old substrate. The plants you introduce will help while the new system matures.
Generally, few new tanks are set up without some type of algae issue creeping into the equation. The more plants, IMO, the better the chances for a smooth transition from old to new.
If you do put in the new substrate, pick up a small bag of plain peat moss at the nursery and sprinkle a dusting over the bottom of the tank before laying in the Flourite or similar.

Len