Converting Fish Only To Planted

[CdoGG]

Hello everyone.

I am new to all of this so I need a lot of advice. I have two tanks. 1 90 gal and 1 29 gal. The 90 gal is setup for fish only and I have 5 medium sized fish and 4 small fish in it. The 29 gal is not in use yet.

I would like to make my 90 gal a planted tank.

Should I move my fish to the 29 gal, tear down my 90 and start over on it If so should I use the water from my 90 to fill 50% of the 29 ???

I will need to get rid of the blue gravel and buy substrate for it. I also need more lighting. I plan to go the diy co2 route.

I would also like to keep some of my current fish in the 29 gal because I want a certain look in the new planted tank...


Any advise would greatly help.

I am totally lost and have been a little overwhelmed by all of the info here. If someone could give me a check list of equipment and products I should get to accomplish this ??? (please)

Thanks
Chris

 

[Puffdaddy]

Try posting this in the planted tank area of the forum you'll have better response there I think.

 

[CdoGG]

Will Do Thank You. Still getting use to the site.

Chris

 

[Tessla]

First off, if you've got any herbivores or rowdy aquascaping fish then your plant choices will be limited so I wouldn't go with a high tech planted tank. I'd go with anubias and java fern as those don't get munched on much, anacharis/elodea is a good choice since it's a fast grower. None of these plants will need CO2, high lighting or special substrate. Knowing what fish you have would help a great deal.

What is your filtration setup? If you're running an UGF, then your gravel is currently also your filter media and you'll want to set up a canister or HOB on your tank for at least a month to get a bacteria colony going and prevent a cycle if you do tear out your substrate. You'll want to move any HOBs or canisters to the 29 gallon along with tank water from the 90 gallon while you change your substrate, if you're going to leave any fish in the 29 gallon make sure that you keep some of the filter media from the 90 gallon in there so that it doesn't go through a cycle.

For substrates, you have lots of options. I've started using this method recently when I started getting into planted tanks, which is a more low-tech approach and almost everything (including sand or gravel) can be purchased at a hardware store very cheaply. I use sand on top of a soil/peat/sand mixture and omit the clay layer. You can also purchase substrates specifically for planted tanks, there are all sorts of options over in the planted forums. It really depends on which way you want to go.

Once you sort out your substrate, I'd start with some easy plants (these can actually be grown with just plain aquarium gravel or sand, no CO2 injection and lower lighting):
Anubias and Java Fern - attach to driftwood
Anacharias/Elodea - leave free floating or root in substrate, grows quickly and easy to propogate
Cryptocorynes - while these will often "melt" with a change in conditions, they grow back quickly so long as the roots are intact
Swords - heavy root feeders, many grow very large
Java moss - can be made into carpets, attached to wood or rocks

 

[CdoGG]

First off, if you've got any herbivores or rowdy aquascaping fish then your plant choices will be limited so I wouldn't go with a high tech planted tank. I'd go with anubias and java fern as those don't get munched on much, anacharis/elodea is a good choice since it's a fast grower. None of these plants will need CO2, high lighting or special substrate. Knowing what fish you have would help a great deal.

What is your filtration setup? If you're running an UGF, then your gravel is currently also your filter media and you'll want to set up a canister or HOB on your tank for at least a month to get a bacteria colony going and prevent a cycle if you do tear out your substrate. You'll want to move any HOBs or canisters to the 29 gallon along with tank water from the 90 gallon while you change your substrate, if you're going to leave any fish in the 29 gallon make sure that you keep some of the filter media from the 90 gallon in there so that it doesn't go through a cycle.

For substrates, you have lots of options. I've started using this method recently when I started getting into planted tanks, which is a more low-tech approach and almost everything (including sand or gravel) can be purchased at a hardware store very cheaply. I use sand on top of a soil/peat/sand mixture and omit the clay layer. You can also purchase substrates specifically for planted tanks, there are all sorts of options over in the planted forums. It really depends on which way you want to go.

Once you sort out your substrate, I'd start with some easy plants (these can actually be grown with just plain aquarium gravel or sand, no CO2 injection and lower lighting):
Anubias and Java Fern - attach to driftwood
Anacharias/Elodea - leave free floating or root in substrate, grows quickly and easy to propogate
Cryptocorynes - while these will often "melt" with a change in conditions, they grow back quickly so long as the roots are intact
Swords - heavy root feeders, many grow very large
Java moss - can be made into carpets, attached to wood or rocks

Thank you very much for all of the info..

I have a magnum 350 canister filter with the bio-wheels. I also have a broken fluva 403 that I am going to drive with a 400gph powerhead but I have to work out some type of strap around it to hold it together because of the massive pressure the power head creates.

I plan to upgrade the lights and from what I understand I will need co2 for that. I do think I will start off exactly how you suggest and see if I can handel it. If all goes well after a month or two I might upgrade the light and co2.

I have a simple design in mind with some carpet type plant as you suggested and some moss on rocks... Nothing real extravigant I want to make sure I don't crash and burn by jumping in too fast...



Again,, Thanks a lot..
Chris