New 60P

[Suelovesfish]

Fishbox Friends I need your help. BF gave me a new 60P as a gift because I have been wanting to get into planted tanks. I think they are just so beautiful and peaceful. We have many, many freshwater tanks with Trophs and Petros. I have NO experience with planted tanks. I have the tank and the soil. I need advise on everything else. I want to start simple. What kind of plants would you recommend? I like the look of moss but I think there are multiple kinds? What filtration would you recommend? What lighting? Just HELP! Thanks.

[myjohnson]

First: lights

The stronger the light, the faster the plants grow, the more ferts it needs, and more co2 is needed. It's normal for people new to planted tanks to start with lower light levels. You can use pc, t5, mh, hqi, or even LEDs. I would personally get an led fixtures. Lights are fully dimable so you can start with low lights and move up as needed.

Second: filter

It's common got people to use canisters only in PT. Wetdry with sump is a big no no. HOB can be used but should be modded for less surface turbulence. I would use a eheim 2217. Going all glass intake and output looks nice too!

Ferts: plants need nutrients to grow. The faster they grow the more ferts is needed. There are dry and wet versions. Daily dosing is recommended for high light tanks.

Carbon: plants take in carbon and release oxygen. A number of ways to get co2 in a system. For low light systems seachem excel can be used. There are also dyi co2 systems. I would go with a co2 bottle and a nice regulator like ADA's.

Soil: you got it already.

Final notes: read a bunch and learn as much as you can before starting. Plants tanks are about finding a good balance with light, plants, ferts, and co2. I used Tom Barr EI and it worked well for me. :)

[davemonkey]

In the first post of THIS thread, there is a link to an article from the DFW group. It is an EXCELLENT intro to planted tanks and will answer many of your questions.

-Dave

[Suelovesfish]

Thanks so much Dave. This article is awesome and so much help. I have some shopping to do!
I will post pics of the progress of the tank.

In the first post of THIS thread, there is a link to an article from the DFW group. It is an EXCELLENT intro to planted tanks and will answer many of your questions.

-Dave

[Suelovesfish]

Thank you for all the awesome advice. I have the substrate in place, driftwood, a few rocks, a CO2 system (thanks Mike at ADG!), a filter (Eheim 2217). I am waiting on the biological filtraton, lily pipes, diffuser and light. Then I can start to think about the plants and fish! I am so excited about this tank. It is so different from the other tanks that we have and it is fun learning something new.

[Suelovesfish]

Okay, tank is nearly almost ready for plants. Where does one get nice plants in H-town? Internet?

Thanks in advance?

[myjohnson]

If you are looking for plants I would advise just posting for it in the buy/sell section.

A lot of boxers just give away trimmings! :)

[specialone0812]

If you are looking for plants I would advise just posting for it in the buy/sell section.

A lot of boxers just give away trimmings! :)

+1
i trim my tank every week. i am just not sure my plants are "nice" or those are the ones you want.
but hit me up when you need plants. free for you.

[Suelovesfish]

Plants in place, good cycled filtration and CO2. Only thing that I am growing really well is hair algae. It is suffocating many plants? HELP!!! CO2 about 30 ppm and ph is about 6.6-7

[nhung]

What kind of plants are in the tank? What is your substrate? Are you dosing? How much light do you have?

[Suelovesfish]

What kind of plants are in the tank? What is your substrate? Are you dosing? How much light do you have?

I have some basic "easy plants" Java Fern, Java moss Wysteria annubia,etc. Substrate is the ADA stuff. No dosing, but I did use those tablets you put in the substrate? Lighting- 4 lamp 24 W HO t5. All lamps around 6500-7,000K. I have reduced the amount of time light is on to help with algae. Have a few neon's and a cory catfish in an attempt have him eat up excess food?

[nhung]

You have too much light for the plants in your tanks. I would use only two bulbs. You can get away with one bulb if the CO2 was removed. The plants you selected does not need CO2 to thrive. The CO2 helps them grow faster but not really needed. Do a 40% to 50% water change every week. Before the water change, remove as much hair algae as possible. Eventually, the water parameters will stabilize and the algae wont grow anymore.

[Suelovesfish]

You have too much light for the plants in your tanks. I would use only two bulbs. You can get away with one bulb if the CO2 was removed. The plants you selected does not need CO2 to thrive. The CO2 helps them grow faster but not really needed. Do a 40% to 50% water change every week. Before the water change, remove as much hair algae as possible. Eventually, the water parameters will stabilize and the algae wont grow anymore.

Okay thanks, I will give this a try. I do a W/C of 40% every other day

[cjvo2]

You have too much light for the plants in your tanks. I would use only two bulbs. You can get away with one bulb if the CO2 was removed. The plants you selected does not need CO2 to thrive. The CO2 helps them grow faster but not really needed. Do a 40% to 50% water change every week. Before the water change, remove as much hair algae as possible. Eventually, the water parameters will stabilize and the algae wont grow anymore.

. +1

Had the same problem when I first setup my 20gal w/ Ada soil ... Try adding o-cat

[IvanSanchez]

Hair Algae sucks....
What helped in my 10g was increasing the co2 and cutting back on the lighting hours. But seeing as your already dosing 30ppm of c02 i don't know how your fish/invert, if any, would react.

If I was in your shoes i'd take the co2 out and excel dose only. Just because of your species of plants.

But if your wanting to keep the c02, spot dosing excel with a syringe works wonders!!!!
+
Toothbrush is your best friend against hair algae :)

Hope this helps!