Sam's Now To Be High Light And Tech 20g

[Themuleous]

Hi All,

Im hopefully going to be changing my main 20G tank over to a planted tank in the next few weeks so though I would start a new journal to document my plans. Here what I'm going to have:

Tank - 30x12x18" (high) - clearseal tank I'm afraid, would love ADA but just too much, perhaps next time
Lighting - 1x 18w Arcadia freshwater and poss also 8w freshwater. What I have in there already seems to be growing OK, but think the extra 8w to give me 1.3PWG would be better than the 0.9WPG I'd have without it.
Substrate - 3mm black gravel with plenty of laterite in there, will probably use 1.5x the amount recommended as I'll have plenty to spare. Not sure if I'll mix it or just bottom layer it yet. Thoughts?
Ferts - I going to use the AE trace mix weekly or whenever needed, as its better than leaf zone. Not EI either
CO2 - pressurised, with glass diffuser, no solenoid. Using a pub type cylinder with German reg.
Plants - lots of anubias on the wood, got a really nice piece that's quite big, going to be the focal point of the tank. I did a thread on it a while back if anyone has a good memory. Other than that not really sure, will probably have some swords and crypts, but any suggestions would be welcome.

I have this also on the new aquaessential forum, but will try and keep them both updated.

Sam

 

[Ginge]

What about fish???
Sam can i ask what laterite is and what you do with it?

 

[Themuleous]

Fish stock will ba as in my profile, so plenty of them!

Laterite is a plant substrate that contains lots of iron and a few other plant nuritents to help the plants grow and produce roots. You basically either put it under the gravel or mix it into the gravel, you can even use it on its own but I prefer the black of the gravel, as its a red/orange colour like terracotta plant pots.

Sam

 

[Gnatfish]

You gonna do a before and after pic?

It 'll be very interesting!

EDIT: You going to use EI?

 

[Themuleous]

I shall indeed! Hopefully there is be a huge difference for the better

Not doing EI as there are far to many fish in there and can't afford the lighting upgrade at the moment (potential to upgrade to full EI later thou ) also dont have to the time to do 50% water chagnes on two tanks! Also, think of the RO water waste there would be with changing 10G of water each week!

 

[Themuleous]

Steady FKNM! All in good time, hoping to do it next weekend so thats only 9days, you can wait that long Im sure

 

[Gnatfish]

Steady FKNM! All in good time, hoping to do it next weekend so thats only 9days, you can wait that long Im sure

No...

 

[Themuleous]

Oi you can wait too! Def gonna happen on the 24th, unless I get run over or something, gonna rip it apart! Woohoo!

 

[craynerd]

Sam,

I am intersted to see how you go about adding your CO2, are you still going to run it to 30ppm even with low light and no EI ?

Chris.

 

[Themuleous]

I sure am , it'll probably be up around 40ppm just to be on the safe side. Im kinda basing this on Jimboo's planted cube, and he had CO2 on that I think. TBH Im having it for two reasons, mostly for the algae controlling abilities that CO2 is supposed to have, but also for the plants, I think any plants would appreciate the added CO2 even if they are not necessarily able to use it to the full as the light, etc are there.

Have to read Jimboo PFK articles? He says in that, that the first things to sort are CO2 and substrate, light comes next. I might upgrade the light later on, will see.

Oh and glass diffuser for adding the CO2.

Sam

 

[Gnatfish]

For Jimbooo's Cube he dosed 15ppm if i can remmeber correctly

EDIT: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&sho...dpost&p=1146030

This post tells you what he had.

 

[Themuleous]

So he did well 30ppm cant hurt then I guess And Ill have a huge three foot cylinder so CO2 waste isn't a problem!

Sam

 

[Themuleous]

Right quick update, no pics get but just got the tank and substrate. Decided in the end to get a bag of eco-complete, as the black gravel was 29quid for a bag, big bag mind, but still quite a bit. So I decided to get the eco-complete and two small bags of the black gravel, total cost was £31.79 so only a couple of quid more. Also having read a bit more about laterite I think it would need supplementing with root tabs under the swords and things, so the EC should mean I dont have to do that and give the plants plenty of nutrients.

I'm still going to use the laterite, mix in a bottom layer with the black gravel and have the EC over the top, think it should work well.

My thoughts have now turned to my plants. I'm going to put lots of anubais on the wood, probably several types, just to try them out and also for the colours and shapes. Any suggestion for species?

Am thinking I will have a 'grass like lawn' of either dwarf sags (from my nano as they are growing like mad!) or dwarf hairgrass (why did I throw that last lot out again! Idiot) that way it'll seem like the wood is emerging out of the grass, should look quite good hopefully. Any thoughts on either of those two species or suggestions for others? Dont forget I'll be running at just over 1WPG so nothing to demanding

Cant wait for the weekend now!!!!!!!! woohoo!!!

 

[Qays]

You could put in some Java Ferns.

Cant wait to see pics!

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh I thought about that, but think they'll get to big and look out of place, but could give it a try. Dont really have any plants for it as yet so will be able to get what I want after its set up and I can see how it all fits together.

FYI have realise hairgrass is a medium light plant so prob will use the sags.

Sam