could use advice...

[mydawg8mystash]

Ok... Now as I venture on I wanna try a planted tank I'm gonna try with my 90 I have 2 36" t5 H.O. coralife glo fixtures with timer I was told get each fixture a 10,000k and a 6,700k this is correct right? What should my substrate be and how deep? I'm not planning on going too crazy but would like to have pretty easy plants to start out that's not gonna cost me out tha azz my birthday is next Tuesday and since I don't go many places a few fish stores are on my agenda so I'm making a list of must have n gotta have insted of going crazy

[R_sustaita]

i have seen great prices of plants on aquabid, also a member here is/was selling a great bundle of plants for $20.

your 1st questions is to your self what you want to accomplish with the tank? are you waning to do a low tech or high tech tank?

is really a 90g tank the way you want to go?

[mydawg8mystash]

Low tech or high tech explain u mean like co2 defusers n all that b.s. no I just want a simple to take care of as for the 90 g part I do wanna do it in that one but as same time no I dont Mabey start in a 55 get growing good and transfer huh

[mistahoo]

You can either go 2x 6,700k, 2x 10,000k, or 10,000k and 6,700k. I like 2x 10,000k... looks nicer and still works. 10,000k seems to grow greens better and tends to wash out reds. If you're getting red plants or anything other than green, get the 6,700k/10,000k combo.

How strong are those T5HO? If it's too strong, you might need to keep a short photoperiod (how long the light is on). Probably around 6-8 hrs if it's high light. If it's not that strong, you could do 10-12hrs.

Substrate needs to be at least 1.5-2" for most plants to develop a root system. I would try to get a 2" layer in the front and slope up to a 3-4" layer towards the back to give more depth perception. Substrate can be whatever you please.

Honestly, I'd recommend to move over to The Planted Tank's Swap n shop for plant bundles. Imho, the $20 plant package that was mentioned isn't worth the money. If you look for the right bundles, you'll find that $20 can get enough beginner plants to completely fill in a 10G. Just make sure to look up each plant species to get an idea of their ideal water parameters, photoperiod, if they need additional nutrient supplements (rot tabs, more fert dosing, etc.)

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[mistahoo]

Low tech or high tech explain u mean like co2 defusers n all that b.s. no I just want a simple to take care of as for the 90 g part I do wanna do it in that one but as same time no I dont Mabey start in a 55 get growing good and transfer huh

Generally the line between low and high tech is a CO2 unit.

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[R_sustaita]

it goes back to what is your goal. if you only want to have some plants the 90 is good but if you really want to get a nice planted tank then start small like a 20L see if you like it and then expand. thats just IMO...

[R_sustaita]

Honestly, I'd recommend to move over to The Planted Tank's Swap n shop for plant bundles. Imho, the $20 plant package that was mentioned isn't worth the money. If you look for the right bundles, you'll find that $20 can get enough beginner plants to completely fill in a 10G. Just make sure to look up each plant species to get an idea of their ideal water parameters, photoperiod, if they need additional nutrient supplements (rot tabs, more fert dosing, etc.)

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i used that as an example that he can find plants with in here rather than a LFS

[mistahoo]

it goes back to what is your goal. if you only want to have some plants the 90 is good but if you really want to get a nice planted tank then start small like a 20L see if you like it and then expand. thats just IMO...

You can make a 90 look just as good as a 20L. It's just more space to work with. IMO, bigger is better.

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[mistahoo]

i used that as an example that he can find plants with in here rather than a LFS

Definitely. Buy from other hobbyists before going to the LFS. There's plenty of hobbyists that'll give you plants or trimmings for free. I always offer up trimmings from my tank for free since I was given free plants to start off when I started plants. I'm located on the opposite side of town from you though.

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[R_sustaita]

You can make a 90 look just as good as a 20L. It's just more space to work with. IMO, bigger is better.

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yes bigger is better always but when your limited in funds and you dont know if a planted tank will be the ideal for you then smaller is better. thats why i asked him what was his goal for the tank.

i want a freaking carpet and i will keep trying.

[mistahoo]

yes bigger is better always but when your limited in funds and you dont know if a planted tank will be the ideal for you then smaller is better. thats why i asked him what was his goal for the tank.

i want a freaking carpet and i will keep trying.

$50 planted my 210G. Even if funds are limited, plants are cheap and also can be obtained at no cost at all.

Carpets are more pricey. Also the fact that almost all of them grow better with CO2.

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[R_sustaita]

Definitely. Buy from other hobbyists before going to the LFS. There's plenty of hobbyists that'll give you plants or trimmings for free. I always offer up trimmings from my tank for free since I was given free plants to start off when I started plants. I'm located on the opposite side of town from you though.

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same here, MRoy got me started and are the only plants that actually have survive my planted trial.

[mistahoo]

same here, MRoy got me started and are the only plants that actually have survive my planted trial.

He started my tank too lol. He completely filled my 5G. That's another reason I like plants from hobbyists. They're already tested and work in our water. You can also get extra info on them if you need from the person. LFS usually get it through shipment and some survive long enough to die in your tank when you bring it home.

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[mnemenoi]

90 should be a great size tank, though it might take awhile to properly fill in. Many folks on here have plants and many local stores sell decent plants. I would suggest Anubias, Swords, Lotus, Crypts, Mosses, Java Ferns and Vals. All are fairly easy and workable in a tank that size. None are weird about water requirements and do not need Co2 injection. All of our tanks were low tech when you came over to the GHAC meeting last year in Spring. Just keep adding along the way and see what grows and what does not. There is a lot of trial and error involved in first planted tanks and just have fun. Ask questions as they come up and read as much about Low tech planted tanks as you can online as it does answer many issues you might not foresee at start up. Good Luck!

[mydawg8mystash]

Well my goal is to make all of my tanks look more lively insted of a few rocks couple pieces of drift wood and FAKE plants which are ok of u don't have good lights I currently am juggling 6 tanks with another in a couple weeks I know its gonna take a few to get looking right and would appricate any help I am a hobbyists and enjoy sharing and any stemulation of the hobby my mind is always racing with ideas of if I had to or what could be improved but cannot make the great and awsomness ideas I have and want to do because of my muscular dystrophy if I was not psychaly stopped at my ideas were actully done I would b dangerous lol enough poor me b.s. anyways I just wanna improve what I got lol