Converting my Tank to Planted

[DiscusKid]

thanks for the support complexity. ill be sure to keep have a journal. i do have a couple questions though:
1. whats the difference between powersand S, and normal powersand(im concidering using normal powersand because of cost.)
2.where can i get some nice looking drftwood tht wont cost me a fortune?(i bought a medium piece from fishgallery for my 29 gallon but it cost me a arm and a leg)

[Complexity]

I can't help with the power sand question. As far as driftwood, get it online. You can usually get some good deals from others here and on http://www.plantedtank.net and http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com. Also, don't forget to check out eBay.

Here's the driftwood section on eBay: http://pet-supplies.shop.ebay.com/it...QQ_sacatZ66790

If you want a more branchy look, check out this guy's stuff (you'll need to be a member to see it on plantedtank.net). Same seller on both boards:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/swap-n-shop/57483-manzanita-driftwood-59.html

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/sale-trade/47477-manzanita-driftwood-46.html#post482810

There are other sellers and some individuals sell what they have, as well. Just check these sources until you find what you want. Much better pricing than in the LFS.

[DiscusKid]

thanks complexity, ill check out those sites, im going to start setting up the tank in 1 to 2 weeks ill keep posted on anything that happens before then.also i picked up the bulb recommended by somefishguy, it puts me at 2.6wpg, also i saw these plants and i thought i could use them as a foreground plants what do u think?

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/details.php?id=216&category=genus&spec=Echinodorus

Thanks Again

[Mzungu]

That tenellus will grow VERY slowly in your low light tank. Just warning you. :)

[Complexity]

it puts me at 2.6wpg

That's a good amount of light, and depending on the fixture, you'll want to be very careful about your photo period, especially if you don't have injected CO2 and aren't dosing ferts.

For example, I run a TEK 4 x 54w T5HO fixture with 2 Midday and 2 Aquaflora bulbs on my 75g. That comes to 2.88 wpg. My photo period is thus:

11:00 AM — bulbs 1 and 4 on
12:00 Noon — all 4 bulbs on
5:00 PM — bulbs 2 and 3 on
9:00 PM — all off

That gives me 1 hour of 1.44wpg, 5 hours of 2.88wpg, and then 4 hours of 1.44wpg. I get an overall 9 hour photo period which is a little on the high side (8 is more average from what I've seen).

With this setup, I could not even begin to imagine not having injected CO2. I have gone for a couple of months without dosing ferts, but have regretted it as some plants simply die, others decline while others just don't grow to their full potential.

However, on my 29g, I have this setup: Two Coralife T5NO fixtures (making it 4 bulbs, 4 x 18w). This gives me 2.48wpg. My photo period is thus:

9:00 AM — Fixture 1 on
12:00 Noon — Both fixtures on
7:00 PM — Fixture 1 on
9:00 PM — all off

Because the bulbs are NO instead of HO, I can get a much longer photo period. I'm hitting a full 12 hours! I could probably get away without injected CO2 and ferts, but I might have to be very careful with the photo period in order to avoid algae.

All that is to say keep your photo period very short to start, running just 2 of the 4 bulbs. Increase it slowly with a week or so in between each increase. Watch closely for algae, and if a nasty one starts to appear, drop your photo period immediately. In the meantime, begin budgeting for injected CO2. Watch for people selling their old setups. This way, you can migrate upwards as you're ready.

also i saw these plants and i thought i could use them as a foreground plants what do u think?
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...ec=Echinodorus

This plant has become popular lately. I received some really nice starts from a fellow hobbiest, but for some reason, mine just would not do well. I had two other groundcovers planted at the same time, and they both did well. I don't know why I could not grow that particular plant as I have all that should be required (although, I was amiss with my fert schedule).

In order to get the red/pink color, you'll need to run your brighter lighting; however, you don't have CO2 to go with it yet. So, personally, I'd hold off before getting a plant like that. This is something you can look forward to once you have injected CO2 and dose ferts.

A plant I will highly recommend as a groundcover that will work with your setup through all its stages (no tech to high tech) is Marsilea. Here's a closeup of what Marsilea minuta looks like in its emersed form: http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/ela...c_Aquarium.jpg

Not in English, but this page has some nice pictures of Marsilea hirsuta: http://aquabird.com.vn/forums/showthread.php?t=13879

[DiscusKid]

wow it looks really nice kinda looks like glosso i might look into that thanks, i read that it wont grow compact unless it has high light and injected CO2

[Complexity]

Yes, it reminds me of glosso, but without required pruning.

I can't say how it will grow without high light and injected CO2 since I have both, but it is the most recommended groundcover for low light/low tech tanks.

Keep in mind that just about all plants will grow better with bright light and injected CO2 (including the beloved java ferns, for example). What is different is which plants will actually live/grow in a low light/low tech situation vs. which ones will die. I have found few plants that prefer low light. All plants benefit from CO2 and ferts as the CO2 is the actual carbon building blocks the plants needs, and I'm sure you already know the benefits of ferts for all plants, including your lawn in your front yard.

So it's not so much an issue of this plant likes a low tech tank better than a high tech tank, but that this plant will survive and/or grow in a low tech tank whereas other plants will die. Glosso will not do well at all in a low light/no tech tank whereas Marsilea will do much better. However, Marsilea will do even better in a tank with CO2 and ferts. Make sense?

[DiscusKid]

plenty thanks for clearing that up for me.also i decided to decrease Amazonia amount to 3 liters that makes my substrate amount to 7 liters.
the pictures somewhat the look im looking for

[Complexity]

For the design in the picture, I'd suggest sticking with a low light tank. Most/all of those plants do well with low light/low tech. It looks like a combination of java ferns, crypts, anubias, and mosses. All slow growing. Algae is an issue for slow growing plants (anubias especially), but that's where Flourish Excel can come in handy.

That's very different from the pink tenellus you mentioned earlier. It won't work with the design you pictured due to it's much different needs from the other plants.

Marsilea would work with the plants in that design.

[DiscusKid]

well what i meant for "somewhat look" is the white sand river in the middle of the scape and some of the plants, i dont really like the look of anubias i guess they never really attracted my attention. i think im just going to stick with the plants i had chosen before and try to make it look somewhat similar to that:
cryptocoryne Wendtii(red and green)
Christmas Moss
Bolbtis heudelotii
Philippine Java Fern
Rotala Indica
i might add more plants later on though..
also i have a question about attaching moss to driftwood:
should i tie big chunks of moss or should i just tie it on thinly around the areas i want? just makig sure so i dont order too much/too little moss

[DiscusKid]

******project delayed until further notice******

[jennisof]

Many thanks for a very informative thread!

[Doug A]

Did you set up a plant tank?

Discuskid,

Did you set up a plant tank, and how is it doing.

I have found that Anubis nana to be one of the eazist palnts to grow. Also Texas Star Grass.

I forgot the the latin for Texas star grass, but it could over grow your tank. I took it out of my tanks, but still have it in my ponds. When it over grows my pond, I rake it out and put it in the compost pile. So even too much is useful.

[DiscusKid]

I recently set one up but instead of converting the acrylic tank i got a ADA 45p heres the thread

http://houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=30942