Ok so i'm going with a 29gal tank, Aquaclear 200/50 with inserts(Carbon,Foam, Biomax),Visi-Therm® Deluxe Aquarium Heater(what wattage?), I just need recomendation on hoods, and decor. Should i get live plants or just go with the fake ones. How much gravel do i need and is there and kind that better than another?
i'm new....
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i started a 55 gal recently and went with fake plants. they're pretty ok but i recently added a hornwort to the mix. just make sure you have adequate lighting (something around 2 wpg, or even less).
I currently have lighting issues in my tank so i might have to upgrade the lights.
I currently have lighting issues in my tank so i might have to upgrade the lights.
Live plants are nicest but maybe you won't like them. They are more work and not everyones cup of tea. I might suggest buying some fake ones and when you are ready start adding in a few easy to grow live plants and seeing how you like that. If you want to start with live plants some java ferns would be a good option. The other thing plants need is light and most standard hoods don't provide a lot of good light. If you are going with fake plants the light is only for the fish and therefore anything will do. If you want live plants you will want more light thana standard hood offers, especially witha 29 gallon which is deeper than a standard tank. I build my own hoods, but some people buy kits from AHSupply online. They are supposed to be very good to deal with.
I went with ahsupply.com for my custom lighting. Their pricing was the best I could find and they provide wonderful instructions to hook the lighting up.
However I will say live plants is a lot more work. If you're not prepared as other have said you might want to just start out with fake plants. This way you don't have to pay for custom lighting, CO2 or whatever else you would need for healthy live plants. But if you are up to the task and the extra cost live plants are wonderful.
Curtis
However I will say live plants is a lot more work. If you're not prepared as other have said you might want to just start out with fake plants. This way you don't have to pay for custom lighting, CO2 or whatever else you would need for healthy live plants. But if you are up to the task and the extra cost live plants are wonderful.
Curtis
i have always gone with live plants. java fern java moss anacharis have always done fine for me without ANy special lilghts or co2.
research plants b4 u buy them and stick with Low Light plants. i find it easy.
I like the idea of having a somewhat more natural environment in the tank.
If you go with fake, I suggest that you go with high quality ones. beware of ones that are toosharp, also, as they can tear fins.
have fun :dance2:
research plants b4 u buy them and stick with Low Light plants. i find it easy.
I like the idea of having a somewhat more natural environment in the tank.
If you go with fake, I suggest that you go with high quality ones. beware of ones that are toosharp, also, as they can tear fins.
have fun :dance2:
If you do go with fake plants, check out www.bigalsonline.com or www.drsfostersmith.com. I'm sure there are tons of other sites, but I've ordered fake silk plants from both and been really happy with them, I have both aquaclear filters and biowheels, and both are really good. I especially like that the biowheels are never replaced and contain alot of the bacteria once established
Sponges never need be replaced either, just cleaned. Aquaclears have a separate sponge and not a "filter media" all in one that many of the HOB's seem to have. Most styles work fine though.
Go with two 50w heaters. Neither is strong enough to boil your tank should it fail "on" and you have a backup should one fail "off".
AHsupply is an excellent source for lighting. I got their 2x13w retrofit for my 15w hood. It took me a couple of hours to change my 15w normal fluo. hood to a 2x13w PC (power compact) hood, and for cheaper than any other source of PC lighting that I've seen.
A successful planted tank is more beautiful than an equally successful unplanted one, IMO. However, there are some added considerations for live plants that can complicate your life a little. But that needn't be a deterrent, like all other facets of aquaria, if you plan ahead and do your research in advance, the you stack the odds in your favour.
If you go unplanted then you need very little gravel. Just enough to cover the bottom. If you go planted then you need a little more; 2-3" thick will make anchoring the plants easier than a thin layer.
edit: Oh yeah, skip the carbon. Save the insert for a "rainy day", like when you go on vacation or for just after medication to remove trace amounts of meds. For day to day tank operation carbon just isn't necessary, a good maintenance rootine will do better for you.
AHsupply is an excellent source for lighting. I got their 2x13w retrofit for my 15w hood. It took me a couple of hours to change my 15w normal fluo. hood to a 2x13w PC (power compact) hood, and for cheaper than any other source of PC lighting that I've seen.
A successful planted tank is more beautiful than an equally successful unplanted one, IMO. However, there are some added considerations for live plants that can complicate your life a little. But that needn't be a deterrent, like all other facets of aquaria, if you plan ahead and do your research in advance, the you stack the odds in your favour.
If you go unplanted then you need very little gravel. Just enough to cover the bottom. If you go planted then you need a little more; 2-3" thick will make anchoring the plants easier than a thin layer.
edit: Oh yeah, skip the carbon. Save the insert for a "rainy day", like when you go on vacation or for just after medication to remove trace amounts of meds. For day to day tank operation carbon just isn't necessary, a good maintenance rootine will do better for you.
I just got done setting up the tank. I ended up getting 29gallon tank, Aquaclear 200/50 filter, rena cal top light excel submersible heater, and 2 fake plants and a castle type thing.
