Solomon
New Member
Hello,
Been reading the threads on this site for a few weeks now and having been soaking up loads of info.
I've been keeping an aquarium for a couple of years now, with moderate success with easy plant species like vallis (using low lighting, no CO2 or ferts), but have only recently caught the planted tank bug!
A few months back I got a new Juwel Rio 240 (about 63 US gallons) and its been waiting to get set up. But I've been holding off whilst I try and get hold of the right 'ingredients' for a successful planted tank. Budget won't strech to far but so far I intend to use the following, some of which I've already bought and would be really grateful for any thoughts or advice:
Substrate:Laterite first layer and either playsand or fine gravel on top (undecided on top layer but playsand is cheaper!)
Lighting: Using the light unit supplied plus additional ballast/s -
2x 38w Dennerle Trocal Special Plant
1x (and hopefully '2x' if budget will stretch to another ballast!) Arcadia Freshwater 38w
CO2: 3 x Hagen Nutrafin CO2 Fermentors (with DIY mix) - one cannister changed every 5 days (Please tell me these will be enough!!)
Filtration: Standard Juwel Filter supplied but with a 'downgraded' powerhead to reduce water movement (the one supplied is 1000 litres p/h -I intend to use the powerhead from an old Juwel Rekord 70 which is about 400 litres p/h. Also removing the active carbon and nitrate removal sponges supplied with tank, replacing with standard Juwel filter media sponges for additional 'bio-capacity') I may possibly add RowaPhos to the filter as my LFS tells me we have high levels of Phosphate in the tapwater, which leads me to......
Water: Undecided at present as to whether to go for treated tap with RowaPhos in filter for balance or get total control by buying an RO and having an RO/Tap mix. I appreciate I need to do some further research/testing on the tapwater before making a decision here.
Plants: Taking the general consensus of people on this site I'm going to plant heavy, mostly with Vallis, Hygrophillia Polysperma, etc. to begin with and then balance out with some more attractive species later on. (I'd really like a 'carpet' in the foreground -Riccia would be fantastic but not sure about my light levels??)
Fertilizing: (And this is where I'd really like some advice). I've been trying to get my head round EI and although I can't quite understand it I can clearly see the logic in it and appreciate that it has produced great results for most in this forum. However, the idea of trying to master EI as well as getting to grips with a 'proper planted tank' has been putting me off. However, I've recently read up on the Dennerle fertilizer system and was thinking it might be an ideal middle route to see me through the first year or so until I'm ready to move on to EI.
I can't find much reviews of these ferts by normal 'non-industry' people on the net. It all seems to make sense in principal, and seems to include some of the principals of EI, but before I make the plunge and place an order (probably with 'newleaf' in North Yorks, UK) I'd really appreciate some views on these ferts, particularly with anyone who's used them.
I've read that gf225 appeared to have some success in early days with them but them seemed to move on to EI.
Any comments on this or the above proposals for a setup would be really appreciated,
Ta (and sorry about the 'epic' above)
Been reading the threads on this site for a few weeks now and having been soaking up loads of info.
I've been keeping an aquarium for a couple of years now, with moderate success with easy plant species like vallis (using low lighting, no CO2 or ferts), but have only recently caught the planted tank bug!
A few months back I got a new Juwel Rio 240 (about 63 US gallons) and its been waiting to get set up. But I've been holding off whilst I try and get hold of the right 'ingredients' for a successful planted tank. Budget won't strech to far but so far I intend to use the following, some of which I've already bought and would be really grateful for any thoughts or advice:
Substrate:Laterite first layer and either playsand or fine gravel on top (undecided on top layer but playsand is cheaper!)
Lighting: Using the light unit supplied plus additional ballast/s -
2x 38w Dennerle Trocal Special Plant
1x (and hopefully '2x' if budget will stretch to another ballast!) Arcadia Freshwater 38w
CO2: 3 x Hagen Nutrafin CO2 Fermentors (with DIY mix) - one cannister changed every 5 days (Please tell me these will be enough!!)
Filtration: Standard Juwel Filter supplied but with a 'downgraded' powerhead to reduce water movement (the one supplied is 1000 litres p/h -I intend to use the powerhead from an old Juwel Rekord 70 which is about 400 litres p/h. Also removing the active carbon and nitrate removal sponges supplied with tank, replacing with standard Juwel filter media sponges for additional 'bio-capacity') I may possibly add RowaPhos to the filter as my LFS tells me we have high levels of Phosphate in the tapwater, which leads me to......
Water: Undecided at present as to whether to go for treated tap with RowaPhos in filter for balance or get total control by buying an RO and having an RO/Tap mix. I appreciate I need to do some further research/testing on the tapwater before making a decision here.
Plants: Taking the general consensus of people on this site I'm going to plant heavy, mostly with Vallis, Hygrophillia Polysperma, etc. to begin with and then balance out with some more attractive species later on. (I'd really like a 'carpet' in the foreground -Riccia would be fantastic but not sure about my light levels??)
Fertilizing: (And this is where I'd really like some advice). I've been trying to get my head round EI and although I can't quite understand it I can clearly see the logic in it and appreciate that it has produced great results for most in this forum. However, the idea of trying to master EI as well as getting to grips with a 'proper planted tank' has been putting me off. However, I've recently read up on the Dennerle fertilizer system and was thinking it might be an ideal middle route to see me through the first year or so until I'm ready to move on to EI.
I can't find much reviews of these ferts by normal 'non-industry' people on the net. It all seems to make sense in principal, and seems to include some of the principals of EI, but before I make the plunge and place an order (probably with 'newleaf' in North Yorks, UK) I'd really appreciate some views on these ferts, particularly with anyone who's used them.
I've read that gf225 appeared to have some success in early days with them but them seemed to move on to EI.
Any comments on this or the above proposals for a setup would be really appreciated,
Ta (and sorry about the 'epic' above)