Revamping My Tank

[hellohefalump]

Hello
I've had my 100gal tropical community tank for nearly 4 years now, and I've had a lot of success with it.

I'm moving house some time in August, and as I'm going to have to strip down my 100gal anyway, I'm thinking of turning it into a PROPER planted tank. I say 'proper' because it's already planted, just not with C02, proper substrate, root heating etc.

It's a Jewel rio 400 and currently the substrate is sand. I also have lots of wood and rocks and slate. I currently have valis, java fern, another type of java fern, a big anubias, and a couple of moss balls.

I use RO water. I have a parrot cichlid, red line rasboras, juli cories, 3 rapheal cats, kuli loaches, 2 silver sharks, angel fish, glowlight tetras, gold tetras, whiptail catfish, bristlenose plecs, clown loaches

I'd like to keep some carpeting plants and just a bigger variety and quantity of other plants. I'm going to get them from Greenline because they're cheap and I've used them before and liked them.

At the moment I have two arcadia 48inch, 36watt light tubes with reflectors.

My questions are:

1. do I have to change the substrate? I like the sand. It looks nice, doesn't get too messy, and my catfish all like it. But I've heard it's inert and not that good for plants apart from weighting them down.

2. will CO2 change the water chemistry and upset my fish?

3. do I need heating under the substrate?

4. is my lighting good enough? If not, how do I fix that? I'm using the hood that comes with the Jewel tank and it only has room for two light tubes.

5. anything else I need to know?

 

[catfish101]

Hello
I've had my 100gal tropical community tank for nearly 4 years now, and I've had a lot of success with it.

I'm moving house some time in August, and as I'm going to have to strip down my 100gal anyway, I'm thinking of turning it into a PROPER planted tank. I say 'proper' because it's already planted, just not with C02, proper substrate, root heating etc.

It's a Jewel rio 400 and currently the substrate is sand. I also have lots of wood and rocks and slate. I currently have valis, java fern, another type of java fern, a big anubias, and a couple of moss balls.

I use RO water. I have a parrot cichlid, red line rasboras, juli cories, 3 rapheal cats, kuli loaches, 2 silver sharks, angel fish, glowlight tetras, gold tetras, whiptail catfish, bristlenose plecs, clown loaches

I'd like to keep some carpeting plants and just a bigger variety and quantity of other plants. I'm going to get them from Greenline because they're cheap and I've used them before and liked them.

At the moment I have two arcadia 48inch, 36watt light tubes with reflectors.

My questions are:

1. do I have to change the substrate? I like the sand. It looks nice, doesn't get too messy, and my catfish all like it. But I've heard it's inert and not that good for plants apart from weighting them down.

2. will CO2 change the water chemistry and upset my fish?

3. do I need heating under the substrate?

4. is my lighting good enough? If not, how do I fix that? I'm using the hood that comes with the Jewel tank and it only has room for two light tubes.

5. anything else I need to know?

1:no u dont have to change all of it you can put some plant subtraite like florite undernieth the sand just deep enough under for the plant roots to reach but not to closs up that the catfish can dig to it becuase that will make a mess of you dont want to deal with.

2: If you get a good high line system it should be fine but if you get a cheap one that isnt exact dosing it could reliese to much Co2 into the tank and kill your fish im not an expert on the manufactures of it but you could try reading some of the fourms about making your own out of a fire extinguisher bottle.

3: i dont know much about this im pretty sure that if the tempeture is high enugh around 80 it should be fine without.

4 how deep is your tank? if it is pretty deep (id say 20 inches or more) go for T5 high out put lights. look at liveaquaria.com and find nova extreme light fixture. you will need to buy a new fixture for your tank is u want the T5s. if not then at least try to get floresnt lights that will fit your fixture. Make sure to check to mak sure it will work with your fixture though. But if you do go for the T5s look at the purplish plant grow light at the bottom of the page and get 2 of those to switch out with the lights it comes with. Sorry if this is confusing if you dont get anything just ask

5: firstly im not sure that greenline is still selling right now a few weeks ago i saw a thred that said they were down do to some damages or something but still look to make sure. also you will want to get rid of some of you fish, the parret cichlid, and also the silver sharks i asume u meen balas. as they spaz alot and get to big to be good with plants. Good luck with the tank

 

[hellohefalump]

Thankyou for your help. I'm currently researching different CO2 brands and types of setup. I'll do some research on the lights too.

So far, I've been alright with my silver sharks (yes I mean balas) and my parrot cichlid. The sharks seem ok, they're not too skittish. They used to be but they've calmed down a lot. And the parrot cichlid isn't your average parrot cichlid. I know because they're a hybrid they can vary a lot in temparament. My one (his name's pumpkin) was a rescue fish and I took him on the condition he didn't try to eat/bully my other fish. He's always been great (I have tiny fish in there!) he's never been a bully either. I've had him a few years now.

I'll keep you all updated as to what happens

 

[hellohefalump]

Another question....

I've been looking for T5 lights on ebay (I find you tend to get the best bargains there). And I've found that Juwel do a special 'high lite unit'. Any opinions on it? Does it look reasonable? Price wise does it look reasonable? Here's the spec as on ebay:

High-Lite refers to the new light technology by JUWEL Aquarium. It combines the existing tube lengths of the T8 with the new bright T5 technology.

High-Lite Light units run with unique tubes which fit the full length of the aquarium for maximum illumination.
The High-Lite light unit is 150 cm long and can be equipped with 2 Tubes@ 54 Watt EACH.
Optional special JUWEL Reflectors will double the light output of the system. Your retailer will gladly assist you in the selection of the right accessories from JUWEL. Please observe our recommendations in the instruction manuals to maintain the light unit, keep it water tight and to obtain the best lighting results.
All High-Lite lighting units are supplied without tubes allowing you the freedom to choose from our full range of spectrums to suit your own fishkeeping needs.


Please note the light unit does not come with tubes!
There are 5 types of tubes to choose from

3 Fresh water tubes Day, Colour, Nature

2 Salt water tubes Marine white, Blue

If you keep a fresh or salt water aquarium you can choose the correct tubes accordingly.

We stock all tubes. If you want the high-lite unit complete with light tubes, please send me a message via ebay, and i will send you an invoice. There is no extra postage cost.

The 5 different tubes all cost the same £25.99EACH

 

[catfish101]

yes if this is a good sorce than yes it is very resinable both pricewise and in general iv never had jewul lights but if ur current ones are good i would guess that these are too. I would say go for the colour or the nature but remember u have to change them about once a year

 

[hellohefalump]

thankyou ^
I'll probably go for these because it'll fit my tank and look nice and tidy.


I've found this CO2 system on ebay which I think looks promising. I've emailed the seller and he seems very helpful and says he's willing to answer any questions if I buy it to help while I'm setting it up. What do you guys think? It still has a few days left for bidding so I'm not going to bid till right at the end (so I get the best price). They're asking a minimum of £75 but being an auction I don't know how much it'll end up as. No one's bid yet. Here it is:

Aqua Medic Co2 Injection System

This set up is a bargain, All items are as new and only 4 months old. Just look on any site to check out the prices, this is a quality set up, you cannot buy this system as a set, it cost me well over £200, all items were purchased seperatly to get the system I required following much research. Extra Aqua Medic products can be added (PH kits etc).Please look on the Aqua Medic site for full specification. All items come with their orignal boxes and instructions. I'm only selling due to moving over to Cichlids, this system made such a difference to my plant growth and is so easy to set up & use.

The second picture is of my tank not a copy off of the net.

The systems comprises of the following:

1 X 0-500KG Co2 Bottle

1 X Co2 Regulator, with fine control adjuster

1 X M- Ventil Standard Solenoid

2 X Bubble Counters

2 X Glass C0s Diffusers

1 x Co2 Testing Set

Tubing

Only the glass diffusers are not Aqua Medic, some people just insert the C02outlet tube into the return water flow, but I found using the diffusers a better method.

All items will be packed very well, the Co2 Bottle has been discharged due to the fact that no one will deliver a gas bottle full, so I was told when I checked the delivery cost. My local shop fills them for £6.50 so should yours.

Any questions just drop me an email I will be more than happy to provide advice on setting this system up if required, but it is so easy.

 

[hellohefalump]

the only thing that bothers me about these lights is that I've read you should have 2wpg, and these would only give me just over 1wpg. But they are T5s and fit the Juwel tank nicely.

 

[jacko_oafc]

There is a good co2 system here, its from Germany ( ebay ).
Looks good value at £115 + £17 postage to UK.

Co2 system from Germany .. click here

 

[hellohefalump]

^shame, listing ended by the time I saw this. Thanks anyway though

 

[catfish101]

u should be ok for for the lights for most plants since they are t5s. also what kinds of plants were u planning on keeping?

 

[jacko_oafc]

^shame, listing ended by the time I saw this. Thanks anyway though

Relisted here,

Co2 kit .. Germany

 

[hellohefalump]

thankyou^ do you not like the look of the aqua medic one then? I'm slightly biased towards it because 1.it's cheaper, and 2. the seller says he'll let me contact him if I have trouble setting it up (on phone if nessecary he said).

Does the fact that they're T5s, outride the fact that they don't have 2watts per gallon then?

 

[catfish101]

YEah The t5s have higher out put and are specially made for plant life .with bigger tanks as long as there t5s u should be ok but what plants were u planing on keeping

 

[jacko_oafc]

I have only shown you the German co2 kit because it comes with a 2kg bottle,that's quite good.
And the German kit is new as well.

 

[hellohefalump]

I'm wanting to grow (probably) hair grass as a carpet, some sort of lily (the one I like is a bit red), and lots of greenery (don't mind what sort). I'm also going to keep my existing plants, because they're quite nice, big specimens. Maybe some java moss, and maybe I might have a go at making a riccia carpet.

Sorry for my ignorance, I don't know most of the names. I'm sure I'll find them out and I'll definately research before I buy.