Help :P

CellarDoor

CellarDoor

I
Feb 9, 2008
15
0
0
35
Illinois
Alright there is a 40 gallon aquarium that I've been eyeing at the PetsMart and I've decided I was going to get it. I'm not completely n00b to fish keeping, I've had a 20 gallon aquarium for the last 6 months but I haven't done anything advance with it (i.e. put in plants/harder level fish/etc.).

So I decided with this aquarium I was going to have a fully planted tank, so basically what I need to know is people say you should put a level of substrate(spelling)? under the gravel and I need to know the best one to put under.

I actually have a CO2 Diffuser that I got from Petco called the "Natural Plant System" from Nutrafin or something like that and when I tried making CO2 I failed :wall:, so does anyone have an expierence of how they got theres to work?

Do I need any special lighting for the plants?

Should I use a undergravel filter or a mechanical filter or both? Which is the better choice?

If anyone could help me that would be great!
 
Use sand as your substrate, no gravel or anything else is required.

For a 40g look at pressurized CO2,

You will ned some better lights, cheap option is using screw in CFLs, better choices would be T5 HO or VHO, or PC.

Cant use a UGF for sand, besides, there are better ones out there. Try getting an XP2 or XP3. HOB filters will just gas off CO2.

Some good starter plants are Banana Plants (cant kill this stuff) Java Ferns (survives nuclear holocosts lol) Java moss, Anubias, Anarchis, Hornwort, and various others out there that I can't think of right now.
 
Sword plants do well in my planted 30. I have a sand + gravel substrate and the standard lighting that came with the set up. The plants have been thriving and multipling for the last 3 years. I had trouble with some plants like java fern, but I blame that on not securing the plants to driftwood, and the lack f better lighting. I plan on upgrading my lighting:idea: soon here, when I am not SWAMPED with school work and can actually re-scape the planted tank a bit. :headbang2:
 
everyone basically said everything you need for the start here are some more tips..

- If you use a fert substrate like eco complete, flora base, etc. shop around there are some good substrates that are far cheaper then eco complete or flora base. You can also mix eco with flora I'm not sure about other mixes but I have a eco/flora mix in my 20 hex and its wonderful

- LIGHTS!!! spend the money on getting good lights with a planted tank you need to have good lights or you'll be wasting your money

- FEEDING!!! regardless if you do co2 or not you need to feed your plants. Grab your favorite fert or dry ferts if you want to go down that road

- and finally KNOWLEDGE! TRUST ME look at plantgeek.com, etc. etc. etc. etc. READ READ READ another helpful place is ratemytank.com check out everyone elses setups and what plants they use. When you go to your lfs "MOST" of them will sell you anything under the great yellow sun regardless of what it actually is. Same goes with petco/petsmart/walmart/ etc. etc. for example...amazon swords grow nice and look amazing but in a 40 gal they wouldn't last long before their leaves grow too big for your tank.

- so I lied theres one more TRIMMING! Cutting back and keeping your tank green will benefit you and your tank greatly..plus you can turn around and give away/sell/trade clippings with just about anyone online.
 
unless the tank at petsmart is on sale, you may want to look around at local classified ads, craigslist, or even check ebay for tanks within 50 or so miles of you. you might find a really great deal.
 
wataugachicken said:
unless the tank at petsmart is on sale, you may want to look around at local classified ads, craigslist, or even check ebay for tanks within 50 or so miles of you. you might find a really great deal.
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I was considering doing that because I wanted to get a stand too but I don't know because I'm only 13 and my parents probably won't drive me around but you never know, I'll ask.

Also I was looking into CO2 systems and those look complicated and I know this sounds like the dumbest question ever but if you do it wrong does it explode?
 
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