I am new...considering a planted aquaria

[Ledbetter]

Title says it

I have been reefkeeping for the last five years or so and have had so much "success" ( for lack of a better word ) That i am now considering to add a freshwater tank to the mix.

I bought a very informative book by Peter Hiscock and tried packing my brain with info ...but I thought I might come here and ask what you guys think.

I am considering a tank betwen 37-54 gallons and am interested in what you experts would do to set up a planted tank.

what I would like to know:
-lighting? ( powercompacts? )
-Substrate
-filter ( canister? )
-overall tank maintainance ( daily/weekly/monthly )
-good fish suggestions ( for color/ personality/ compatibility/ hardiness )
-good plant suggestions ( for looks/ hardiness/ or other reasons )

And a big thank you in advance is offered to anyone who is willing offer helpful advice! Thanks guys!

 

[Mgamer20o0]

i am by no means a expert put i think i can help you. a lot of people use powercompacts lights. ahsupply sells great ones. i use t8 as a cheap fix. i like to go here to look at plants. the first thing you need to figure out is do you want a low watt med watt or high watt plant tank.

i use reg gravel. i have a big tank and would have coast a lot to fill it with something like Seachem Flourite or Eco-Complete. i think there is a nother one or two.

i use a fluval 404. most people use canister filters. as long as it doesnt aggravate the surface its fine.

i just started the doing 50%EI. every day i add ferts and do a 50% water change on sunday. a lot of people use Flourish to start off with. i have moved on to dry ferts from greg watson.

it really depends on how much you want to get into plants. if you keep a low light tank you wont have to worry much about co2 or ferts but you wont be able to keep as many plants. read these two pages they should help.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12585
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31965

 

[tanker]

Title says it

I am considering a tank betwen 37-54 gallons and am interested in what you experts would do to set up a planted tank.

what I would like to know:
-lighting? ( powercompacts? )
-Substrate
-filter ( canister? )
-overall tank maintainance ( daily/weekly/monthly )
-good fish suggestions ( for color/ personality/ compatibility/ hardiness )
-good plant suggestions ( for looks/ hardiness/ or other reasons )

And a big thank you in advance is offered to anyone who is willing offer helpful advice! Thanks guys!

1) I use PC lights on my reef and my FW jungle tank (100gal). I have over 400watts over it though.

2) with HIGH LIGHTS you MUST have CO2.

3) My subtrate is plain sand and laterit (added in the begining years ago).

4)I use 2 Magnum filters with the out-put jets very low so very little surface tension.

5) Plant suggestion is up to you. Personally I like swords (Echinodorus). I have 9 different kinds in my tank (plus other plants too).

 

[Ledbetter]

Thanks for the input

I understand the use of CO2 and I looked up an "easy" way to regulate it with a 2L bottle/sugar/yeast. (..anyone with expeience with this? how easy is it? )

I like PC bulbs...I think they would look nice on a planted tank. Do the actinic bulbs do anything for pants? Do any harm? Or am I better of sticking to 67-10k daylight?

I certainly like the look of actinics used w/ daylight...but I suppose I could do without if need be. Tell me what you think.

Thanks again.

 

[Hurley]

I used DIY CO2 for awhile but this summer I switched to pressurized. It made such a wonderful difference and I don't have the headache of trying to keep the DIY one steady. People have been very successful with DIY but I really didn't see results until I switched. It's a little pricey but I believe it was worth it!

 

[podheadx]

DIY co2 is easy but takes a little maintaints. And would take at least 2 for a tank that size.
When picking out your tank take the height into consideration, you want some height for plant growth but too much and you will need brighter lighting, I wouldnt go with anything taller than 18, 16 would be better.

"Do the actinic bulbs do anything for pants? " They give my jeans a good color :

But no Actinic bulbs are to get the blue side of the spectrum, this is the light that can penetrate into deep water, so you beeing a reefer would use it for corals, but the plants would perfer something between the 6k and 10k.