Is It Posible To...

[antere07]

I really like the look of planted tanks and was wondering..

Would it be possible to do a decent planted tank in my tank without me having to buy anything other than plant fertilizer
I've got a 60l tank, external filter, tropix heater and a air pump
I was thinking could i just buy plants put them in and it be done.
Im not really bothered about the types of plants if im honest, im just looking to get a planted type of tank for the cheapest possible cost without having to buy anything

cheers
ant

 

[plecostomus-mad]

im watching this thread, id also like to know. maybe also what kind of plants for a low tech planted tank

 

[antere07]

ive been looking all though here seeing all these things thinking it looks to technical for me at the moment considering im quite new to fish keeping
and i didnt want to just wack aload of plants in my tank if it isnt going to work =/

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yes, you can do this with great success! A high-tech planted tank will have a light level above 2 WPG, in most cases, CO2 injection and Macro and Micro Ferts, but in your case this is not needed.

What we will need to know is how many Watts of light you have. A decent amount of light would be 1.5 WPG (watts per gallon). This would be a good low-tech planted tank. At 1.5 WPG, you will not need CO2 injection or the use of Macro ferts, however these would not hurt, it is just not needed.

Then, I would get a good liquid fertilizer that your LFS should sell, maybe something like Seachem Flourish, this is a good trace fertilizer. Have lights on for 8 hours a day, to start, and see where that takes you!

-FHM

 

[lljdma06]

ive been looking all though here seeing all these things thinking it looks to technical for me at the moment considering im quite new to fish keeping
and i didnt want to just wack aload of plants in my tank if it isnt going to work =/

Hi, yes, it is possible.

What is your light level? In the meantime, take a look at this journal. It is about as low-tech as one gets around here.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/295754-tales-of-the-crypts-lljs-36g-low-light/

The plants could easily be grown with the stock lighting that came with the tank, barring some minor adjustments in plant choice.

llj

 

[antere07]

ive got 2 15w lights
an arcadia 15w original tropical which is soon to be replaced
and a 15w power glo i think thats all i know from reading whats on the bulb

 

[fatheadminnow]

You have more than enough light to have a nice tank. You are right on the boarder of injecting CO2.

I would go ahead and get some plants and some Trace Fertilizer and see where that goes. Light on for 8 hours a day.

-FHM

 

[lljdma06]

You can grow what I'm growing with the one bulb. Granted, growth isn't going to be stellar, but I'm very satisfied. I definitely notice a difference when I update the thread.

As others have also said, totally possible, you can even go lower than 1.5WPG. At 1.5WPG with CO2 injection and ferts, you'll probably be able to grow most of what's available.

 

[antere07]

is that the maximum i can have it on for at the moment i have it on a timer so its on for 10 hours

and ive got nutrafin aquatic plant food at the moment until i get some money and get somewhere i can get better fertilizer any suggestion on brands and places to get it?

and how do the co2 things work in the most basic of terms? and what do they do

 

[fatheadminnow]

10 hours will be fine. It is just good to start out with a lower hour of light, and if that is going well, then go ahead and increase the number.

The best way to inject CO2 is a pressurized unit. You need a CO2 tank, which you can get at a welding store, a regulator, solenoid, flow control valve, check valve, bubble counter and a CO2 diffuser. Also a Drop checker, this measures how much CO2 is in the water. You then start to inject the CO2 into your tank. Since the main source of food for plants, which also limits how fast the plants grow based on how much is available, is carbon, the plants will take in the CO2, use the carbon and emit the oxygen. This will allow the plant to grow at a higher than normal rate. CO2 should be at around 30 ppm in thank.

-FHM

 

[antere07]

ok sounds abit complicated lol i mean i just got a new external filter and my mate had to help me with it lol
i think ill just stick to the plant food for abit untill i know what im doing properly

can you suggest any brands of fertiliser or chemicals needed to optimise the growth stop them from dying?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Seachem Flourish worked good for me.

-FHM

 

[antere07]

right i just looked on the Seachem Flourish site and it says 5ml for 250l twice a week
looking on the net i can get a 500ml bottle for just over £11
now im really bad at maths so does that mean ide get 100 doses out of it meaning it lasted me 50 weeks?

i just dont want to keep shelling out loads, im on the rock and roll you see lost my job after christmas =/

 

[fatheadminnow]

Sorry to hear about your job.

So you will only need around 1 ml twice a week for a 60l tank. So you would get near 500 uses out of a 500 ml bottle.

-FHM

 

[antere07]

ahhh nice one even more of a bargin than i thought ive got to wait untill i get some money then im getting me some proper reflectors which will help with the growth and a new light and some Seachem Flourish and some new plants it sounds like a plan

will i have to do more water changes ive got a external filter that goes up to 400l?