Starting A Planted Tank

[alexbinge]

ok i have had my tank for over 2 years now and i want to introduce live plants. I am changing my gravel over to sand and under the sand i am putting this substrate ( http/www.arkpetsonline.co.uk/tetra-plant-complete-substrate-58kg-p-4077.html ) I am not sure what lights I have in my tank because the logo has slowly come off. But I do know the lights are the original bulbs that come with a juwel rio 180. any help with letting me know what lights I have would be great. I am also considering getting under sand heating do I need this. I have also got some tetra plant crypto food to put at the base of the plants. Do you think the plants will be ok or do I need to research more thirst. Any help will great.

 

[C.J.]

Sorry, I don't know what lights you have But I do know that you don't need under sand heating. My planted tank is doing great and I don't have under sand heating.

 

[alexbinge]

o ok thanks for that it was quite expensive like 60 pound and i didnt want to get it if i didnt know it would work. what set up do you have ?

 

[jacko32]

the light units on rio 180 are usually T5 45watts so you have 90watts thats around 2.3 watts per gallon in total. if the writing has worn off you probably need to replace the tubes you dont need under sand heating this is a thing of the past most people who have planted tanks these days run an inline external heater that attaches to an external filter so theres nothing visual in the tank.

 

[alexbinge]

o ok thanks for the info and i will consider new bulbs do you think i will need to dose with co2

 

[jacko32]

o ok thanks for the info and i will consider new bulbs do you think i will need to dose with co2

at 2.3wpg you will probably need co2 either liquid or pressurised to keep control of algea