Journey To The Planted Side

[lljdma06]

Cough, cough..........have you started a journel?

Big sis x

In planted, we'll often have pre-journal journals... LOLOLOL

OK, 36W and 4 bulbs for a 300l and you want this low-tech. My advice for you, Trod, can you run just two bulbs? It will be so much easier for you. If you must run all four, low-tech is still possible, I've done systems like this before, but I wouldn't recommend it for a first planted system. A lot of very heavy planting initially (Take a look at my journal for an idea of how dense we're talking) and you really have to be ontop of the maintenance. Not to remove algae, because I didn't really get much of any, but to keep the tank clean enough to prevent algae. My current system is like this and now I can relax waterchanges, but when I first set it up, I was doing 50% every other day and I didn't add livestock until most the growth had settled about a month into the new scape. If you are ok with this sort of work, I can walk you through a setup like that, because you can epic fail if you do it wrong, but if you don't want that sort of risk, just run two bulbs.

By the way, shall I move this for you? Might as well, it's the start of a journal. I agree with big sis, there.

Liz

 

[Trod]

Lol yes please feel free to move it

OK so a bit to think about, I can run 2 bulbs with no problem, but I'm not adverse to a bit of hard work to achieve what I want. I really want a heavily planted tank.

The tank now has flourite black substrate in with my little slate wall, I filled tank with water got everything going, I had added some filter media from my small fluval chi to the external filter, then disaster the blooming thing is leaking It is rather old and has been in the loft for couple of years, so I'm going to treat myself to a new one.





Couple of photos to start with

 

[Trod]

I've now set up my new filter, working well with no leaks, I bought a Fluval 405, easy to set up, (almost) and very quiet.

I added some media from my Chi to the filter and a couple of dead white bait (had them left over from my marines) to the tank to start the ammonia off. Is this all OK??

Now, do I just sit back and wait or is there something that I could/should be doing?

 

[lljdma06]

If you are going to densly plant the tank, there is no point in doing a fishless cycle. At least IMO.

 

[Trod]

Ok, so am I right in thinking that I should now plant the tank and wait for them to establish themselves, let the water sort itself out, before even thinking about fish???

Any suggestions for plants, I have been looking at Java website and they seem to have good selections, batched in background, middle and foreground, Should I buy collections or go for individual plants??
Anyone with anymore recommendations of where to get plants from.

 

[StandbySetting]

If you plant now and then stock lightly, things should be fine, the plants should utilise most of the ammonia, you can test with the saliferts you have left over for any ammonia/nitrite and if levels are elevated you can deal with them via a water change, frequent water changes are a good thing in a new set up as they can help to ward off algae whilst the parameters are a little erratic.

I'd recommend going to your nearest MA and buying Aquafleur plants, they're my preferred brand, the plants you receive are of a similar standard to the tropica ones and you usually get a good quantity of healthy plants in a pot, I think you're better off going for individual plants as then you can choose the species you wish to keep.

 

[Trod]

Thats sounds good, thank you StandbySetting, I shall plan a trip hopefully for the weekend

Dartford is my nearest store. Any advice on good/bad choices?

 

[StandbySetting]

Good species to start with that I'd recommend:

Cryptocorynes: Pretty much all varieties.
Anubias: Again all varieties.
Microsorum pteropus
Echinodorus: Most varieties
Valliseneria: All varieties should do well, but I have found nana to be more demanding.
Most Mosses and some Stem plants would be good too.
If you take a look at an online retailer such as Aqua Essentials, they have images of what all of the species look like and then you could choose which species appeal to you and see if they'd be suitable.

 

[Trod]

Thats brilliant thank you, will go and have a look now

 

[Verminator89]

Be carefull with Echinodorus species. I wouldnt say "most" should be fine, because half of the ones for sale can be a real pain. Most commonly available ones in shops are usually ok, admittedly, but just do your research what to look out for, and note ones you see in shops that are of the harder variety to cater for.

 

[StandbySetting]

because half of the ones for sale can be a real pain.

In what respect?

 

[lljdma06]

Two bulbs will result in healthy growth as much as four. At least this is my opinion. I still think since this is your first planted, go for only two bulbs. There is no room for error with four and you have to have more experience under your belt to go the high-light, no CO2 route and not get algae. Also, I don't know your water, you may get different results from me.

Probably the complaint regarding echinodorus is due to the concept that most of the species are grown emmersed, so there is an adjustment period initially while the plant converts from emmersed to submerged growth. This can be a pretty messy process as the leaves do die. But many of the plants you get in stores, unless they've been on display for some time, will undergo this conversion process. This is a big reason why myself and SBA recommend the more frequent waterchanges initially. Let me add a couple of plants to that list...

Bolbitis heudelotii
Pelia (forget the scientific name)
Saggiteria subulata (dwarf sag)
I would venture to even try Aponogetons... Many like A. crispus will do very well in these setups. In my last low-light scape, I was able to germinate and grow aponogeton crispus and that was with only 2x 14W NO T5 over 36g. My current setup has a Madagascar lace plant that was thriving when I left for NYC. I love that plant, a fabulous one for the aquarium. Very unusual.
I've not had the same problems with Valis. nana, but my water has a very high mineral count, which I thinks helps me with sags, vallis, and crypts.

A bit of advice, don't be afraid to plant densly, especially with crypts. You'll get some stunning growth. They'll even create a sort of a lawncover. There are so many varieties of crypts that you could just do them and still have an amazing planted tank.

Liz

 

[Verminator89]

because half of the ones for sale can be a real pain.

In what respect?

Maybe i was a little vague, certainly LFS near me stock Echinodorus species readily. This is all well and good as they are 'generally' great for beginners and the experienced plant aquarist. However, i know some shops in my area (P@H mainly) and others stock a broader range of Echinodrus species which are a little harder to maintain, certainly for the beinner who may not have the right balance in their aquaria. In hind-sight saying "half" is an over-exageration on my part. To name a couple that i have seen in my local P@H which i believe aught to be avoided if your first trying Echi's; grandiflorus sp, paleofolius, shlueteri and x barthii. Those are ones i've seen offered to the general public, and to people who havn't the faintest clue about plants in aquaria.

I wasn't trying to contradict what you put, sorry if you thought this. Your advice has always been spot on SBS. I should have been clearer from the start, at the time of night it was when i posted i was rather tired and the prospect of being up at 3:30am for work made me restless (can't sleep lately).

Cheers,
James

 

[StandbySetting]

Don't worry about it, I was just curious that's why

 

[bae1994]

I bet you had great fun cleaning from marine I know I did

When you get your plants if your like me you'll probably want to keep moving them (I did as kept wanting to relating them to corals to much) but you really have to refrain yourself from doing that or they won't root lol IME

And remember to keep abit of money spare for the nano

Atb bae