Help! I'm new @ this!

[mtdewlover]

So I have a 20 gallon cichlid tank, doing good I want to spice things up and get some plants. I have been researching some. I am however still confused on this light thing. Do I just need to buy a new bulb? Or do I need a whole new light unit?

Second, what about this filter? I have a filter with two sponges in it that hangs over the back of the tank ya know? Just a regular nothing fancy filter. Do I need a special filter for a planted aquarium?

Third, the CO2 thing. Do I need to add CO2 myself? I don't want to get one of those big tanks. Can I just add EXCEL? Or what?

Last, I have blue gravel from Walmart. It's not fine gravel, actually I think it is kinda big. Do I need specail gravel? Like sand? Or will my blue gravel work just fine?

Oh I'm so confused Any other suggestions for a newbie would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your help.

 

[Skippy]

Ok...

First, what kind of Cichlids? Many you will have problems have any plants with as they will tend to uproot things.

C02 you only start to need once you get up there in lighting, as in more than 2 watts per gallon of water or so.

 

[mtdewlover]

I have five african cichlids. Two violet yellow tailed, a red zebra, a bumble bee, and a white one that changes colors. And a huge pleco.

 

[wetmanNY]

The water in your African Rift Lake setup is probably alkaline, with a pH up around 8.0 and strong carbonate buffering. A few very experienced folks have been able to combine Java Fern and Malawi cichlids, using intense lighting and some CO2 diffusion.

What is the natural KH of your tapwater? Would you be willing to set up a separate, planted aquarium?