Creative question for the planted tank people...

mduros

mduros

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Sep 20, 2005
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Chicago, Illinois
www.maryduros.com
Well, I want my 55 gallon tank to be planted, really planted, much more than it is now. I am also a big fan of my ugf and I don't want to part with it. Now, I have read that rooted plants don't do well with ugfs, etc., but putting that aside...

Do you think I could put a lining of cheesecloth, probably #90 or so over the ugf and then put eco-complete over part or all of my tank bottom and still get water flow, but protect the plates from getting clogged from the eco-complete?

Recently I revamped my tank and put eco-complete along the sides and back avoiding the plates, and I also did a small diy lighting upgrade. The plants are growing like crazy, and I would love to have a really lush, green tank. I will probably try this anyhow and report back, but I would love to know if anyone else has tried something like this and how it worked out. Or your thoughts as to why it should or should not work.
Thanks and take care,
Mary.
 
I've considered doing something similar with a RFUG filter. But I'm waiting to hear from someone with experience doing so.
 
I would part with your UGF and move up to a canister filter.
 
I have several heavily planted RFUGs now, dating back some 3-4 years. The old 'common knowledge' that rooted plants and UG are incompatable turns out to be for me anyway, common mythology and like much of that, absolutely baseless. I do use only prefiltered RFUG, and I grow only rooted rosette or tuberous or rhizomatous plants, no stems (not because of the UG, I don't do stems in my conventional substrate planted tanks either).

In fact, it was Tom Barr who talked me into trying it. He considers it not the best plant growing technique, but far from the worst. The only hassle for me was learning to do water column ferts, where I had previously been a rich substate grower. Now I confess that all of my planted tanks are water column ferts only - it is easier for me. As with most well set and kept UG tanks, the water is clearer than in my conventionally filtered tanks as well.

My RFUGs are all driven by Penguin powerheads (mostly 1140s) and prefiltered by the Penguin reverse flow kits. Really easy set-up and upkeep. I do use additional mechanical-only fitration for more current, as I think that the plants like it and I know that the fish I keep do.

I would suggest just switching to prefiltered reverse flow and planting. Lots of folk will say that it won't work, but they are mistaken. Don't be afraid to try it for yourself.
 
RTR said:
I would suggest just switching to prefiltered reverse flow and planting. Lots of folk will say that it won't work, but they are mistaken. Don't be afraid to try it for yourself.
Click to expand...
You don't think substrate should be a concern then? My gravel is not the largest, but not the smallest either. That is why I lined the sides with eco-complete.

Thanks for your response. I have seen on other websites, too, that people commonly use rfug when they want a planted tank. I do have the penguin powerheads, so all I need are the reverse flow kits... I'll let you know how it goes.
Take care,
Mary.
 
Agree with RTR.
I have always had straight gravel and the UG and always had live plants.
Current setup:
(lousy pic)
plants1.jpg


(my first community tank and also my first colored gravel tank)

That's about two months old. Plants are going nuts.
Some plants do not do well, some do not root well, but MANY root exceptionlly well. I just moved one the other day and broke it trying to free it from the gravel. :( Hopefully it recovers.
I don't use RF though. I have one plant next to my (penquin powered) intake tube and it has a few roots being sucked up the tube that travel a half inch under gravel first. Yet it continues to grow.

I've had no luck with
  • Anachris
  • Cabomba
  • Madagascar Plant

Good luck with
  • Ambulia
  • Most Swordplants
  • Aponogeton undulatum
  • Cryptocornye
 
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