Plant Tank Set-up -- Any Suggestions?

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DTs

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I've been keeping a reef tank for over a decade and thought I'd try my hand at creating a spectacular planted tank.

I'd greatly appreciate any advice from those who have succeeded in keeping a truly beautiful plant tank long-term.

Here's my set-up so far.

1) 36 x 24 x 24" 90 gallon glass tank (Starphire glass on 3 sides, with dark glass on the back), braceless with polished edges.

2) Complete Dupla heating cable system with controller

3) CO2 system with controller

4) Lighting -- I'll probably order a 4x36w T5 set-up (*way* brighter than VHO) and suspend it over the tank

5) I assume using a canister filter is best? The tank has two bulkheads for the intake and outflow, on opposite sides, with the inflow being at the bottom 1/3 of the tank, and the outflow being a few inches below the water level

6) Substrate. I'll probably put an inch of laterite on the bottom, and a few inches of gravel on top of that, with a slope going up toward the back.

7) Plants. I have no firm selections yet, but will probably just find a picture of a tank I feel is aquascaped just right, and then try to replicate it.

8) Fish. Whatever I choose will have to like 78-80 degree water because I'm not going to crank the heat over 80. I'd love to put a few Altum angels in the tank, but I'm not sure if 80 is high enough temperature for them.

I posted this in another section, but someone suggested I post here as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
I don't know about a 'truely beautiful tank'.....mine always seem to be in a state of flux.
Looks like you've got most of the bases covered with what you want to do.
I think the angels will be fine at the temps you mentioned.
I like cannisters for planted tanks, as they are the most CO2 friendly of all the filters, IMO.
I am not a big fan of laterite. I think there are better options out there.

Len
 
Many people recommend Flourite or Onyx Sand, which are both made be Seachem. Check out the seachem.com website for some info on them. They are fairly expensive but I couldn't give u a price in US dollars.

Another option you have is Profile Aquatic Plant Soil (that's what it's called here anyway). It's really cheap, cost me $7 for a 15 pound bag but I haven't tried it yet so I can't offer any experience. I am hearing pretty good things about it so you may want to look for it. Sometimes it is called Schultz's or other names of profile too. You won't find it in pet stores, I found mine at Canadian Tire (obviously no help to you).
 
I have been using Flourite for about a year now (not very long term), but many seasoned veterans swear by this substrate. I will say that it looks pleasing, is in a good grain size, and it lasts forever. It is expensive, but since it lasts forever, it can be considered a good investment. Other soil amendments will have to be adjusted every year or two to keep it working properly. There is very little more troublesome than changing substrates in an established tank!:( Flourite generally runs around $20 locally, or you can buy it online and ship it for slightly less than $20, depending on who you shop with.
 
Originally posted by DTs
What substrate would you suggest? Thanks.
Click to expand...
There's the 'old fashioned' way - using "laterite", and the less messy way of Onyx Sand or Flourite (100 %)..

When using laterite, you want to have it underneath the gravel so it doesn't get into the water column. Which makes for a pain when it comes to re-planting, or even vacuum maintenance. I would never use laterite due to this... I like to keep aquarium chores to a minimum, and the SeaChem substrates are proven products.. :)
 
Wow, what a beautiful tank. I will take your advice on the substrate.

I love planted discus tanks. I used to keep discus in a big way several years ago (bare tank) , bred them on a very small scale, etc., but stopped because my place looked more like a fish store, and the water changes were killing me.:D

What do you feed your discus? You don't seem to have any algae issues. I would imagine it would be a bit difficult to feed them in a planted tank.

I'm not sure what fish I'm going to keep. 85 degrees will be too expensive for me because the tank's glass and I pay $.19 per kWH in Southern California. My tank's open top too, which makes it worse (although it's a great look). I'm guessing 80 degrees will be the hottest I can keep my tank in the winter. Actually I'd even prefer 78. I'll see how it works out on my electricity bill. Supposedly heating cables are more efficient. My Dupla set should arrive today.

Darin
 
DTs,
Thanks for the compliment! The Discus have not been much trouble at all, thanks to good advice I got here on Aquaria Central! The pain was buying the R/O water system - as I hoped I wouldn't need it, but the water here is extremely hard.
The Discus love Tetra Color Bits! Frozen Bloodworms and other foods come in second...
About keeping Discus in a bare tank.... No way I could do that to such a beautiful fish. I've seen some at LFS and they look terrified. Some have said that's due to their reflections off the bottom of the tank, and no place to hide is what stresses them.

...Wish some of those "know-it-alls" at 'Simply Discus' would put a little effort and go with a live planted Discus tank -- they'd understand the fish do like it much better!
 
I absolutely agree and would think a discus would feel more comfortable in a planted tank. I would if I were a fish....

When I raised discus, my goal was to grow big, honking perfectly healthy breeding specimens. Been there, done that, on to the next project! A discus looks much better in a planted tank, although I think a particularly exceptional specimen looks awesome no matter where they are. :D

I think many people in the Discus forums have different goals than you do. They want to grow the biggest, most colorful fish possible, and this usually involves feeding them a ton of food, lots of poop and water changes. I would imagine a planted tank would not be a good place for all that food.

Well, I just bought the lighting today, and went with a Giesemann Nova II (150w 6000k halide with electronic ballast). My God those things are expensive. They even charge $100 for the bracket to mount it to the wall. Yikes!
 
unless you are keeping discus or some other fish that needs the higher temps most plants prefered temps are between 74 and 78
with some tolerating higher. but there are some plants available that are more cold water than the tropicals most of us keep
 
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