recommended ph for planted tank

doox00

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Nov 27, 2006
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Hey there, I am going to be using ro/di water in a newly setup 90g megaflow aquarium with 30g sump. I am going to have real plants and lots of inverts in this tank. I was told to purchase kent ro right to add back all the goodies in the water.

I am using ro/di just because I have city tap water and I already keep brute containers full of ro/di water that I use with my reef tank.

What ph is recommended for a planted tank with inverts. The fish I am going to keep will depend on what ph I should keep for plants and inverts.. I find inverts more interesting and fun to watch over fish. I do enjoy fish as well and will have some but they are not the determining factor of the ph and so on in the tank.

I plan to use 40 pounds of eco-complete as a bottom layer and then add 60 pounds or so of gravel on top of that, any particular recommendations on gravel types? will this give me enough substrate? I am looking to get 2-3" total depth.

thanks for all the help.
 
You will definately need to add mineral back to the water. Distilled is just too pure. Plants don't read pH, but having a decent kh and gh are helpful, especially if you decide to add CO2 later on.KH will be your buffer and should be somewhere around 3 degree or so, gh is mostly your calcium and magnesium, both of which are important for plant growth. The calcium levels will also be important for inverts.

Gravel on top doesn't really matter, whatever you think is best looking really. Aim more for the 3" to give plants a good rooting area, but slop it from front up to back.
 
most plants preferr ph of 6.0-7.0
 
will ro right put everything I need back into the water.. what all should I add, I am not going to have a tank complete full of plants.. but a decent amount. is eco complete safe for inverts too btw?
 
Eco-complete is fine for all. The RO right should be fine as well. You may need to add fertilizers depending on lighting levels and plant growth. But the eco-complete will defiantly help.
 
Phonemonkey said:
Ummmm.... and you are basing this on?

Guess that silly Amano guy has no idea what hes talking about.
:laugh:


Okay so what is the magic pH then my friend?
 
Phonemonkey said:
Ummmm.... and you are basing this on?

Guess that silly Amano guy has no idea what hes talking about.
:laugh:
I dunno..I guess they can't Read' pH cause they don't have 'Eyeballs'. :joke:

as far as minerals etc that help determine the ph..yes, plants need them..RO, distilled etc atre nearly devoid of those minerals
 
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also is there a master list of plants with pics somewhere? I would like colorful plants.. not all green :)
 
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