Freshwater planted aquarium set up help

Joeganja · Aug 28, 2016

Looking to try a planted tank since I just love the idea of how it looks. I've kept freshwater fish before just don't have much experience with plants. Looking to do a rimless cube around 10-20 gallons. Since I'm used to spending so much money on reef tanks money isn't going to be an issue with this one. I like the idea of having a white sand path way and the furry hair looking grass like plants that go in the sand bed. For those who know this area please help me.

What should my filtration be?
What light should I use?
Gravel?
Should I use driftwood?
Should I use a co2 system?
Any other tips would be appreciated.

Anthony Wood · Aug 28, 2016

A simple HOB will be plenty. A canister would give you more flexibility if you wanted to add say carbon.

Get either a kessil horiculter light, kessil planted tank light or just go with a simple T5HO light with 6500k bulbs

Since you want rooted plants your going to have to use some sort of substrate that will provide nutrients. They make planted tank specific substrates just google it and find the best.

Driftwood is up to you. Just depends on the aquascape look you want.

If you want your plants to really take off and thrive not just do "ok" CO2 is a must. That'll also open up the doors to keep whatever plant you would like to get. This will be your most expensive cost. Get CO2 setup on a pH controller and let it go. It'll save you a huge headache of trying to dial in how much CO2 to inject into the tank. If you go to much then you kill the tank.

I've tried a planted tank and so have many of my buddies. All of our tanks did "ok" some plants survived and others died. All but one of us our downfalls were not forking over the money for a the proper substrate and not having CO2 on the tank. Even the guy with the correct substrate although he did a tad better he didn't get the growth and plant health he should have. Which we determined was from no CO2.

Hope this helps!

Joeganja · Aug 28, 2016

Anthony Wood said:
A simple HOB will be plenty. A canister would give you more flexibility if you wanted to add say carbon.

Get either a kessil horiculter light, kessil planted tank light or just go with a simple T5HO light with 6500k bulbs

Since you want rooted plants your going to have to use some sort of substrate that will provide nutrients. They make planted tank specific substrates just google it and find the best.

Driftwood is up to you. Just depends on the aquascape look you want.

If you want your plants to really take off and thrive not just do "ok" CO2 is a must. That'll also open up the doors to keep whatever plant you would like to get. This will be your most expensive cost. Get CO2 setup on a pH controller and let it go. It'll save you a huge headache of trying to dial in how much CO2 to inject into the tank. If you go to much then you kill the tank.

Hope this helps!

I've seen many do the finnex LED's what are your thoughts? I can't stand kessils.

Anthony Wood · Aug 28, 2016

Joeganja said:
I've seen many do the finnex LED's what are your thoughts? I can't stand kessils.

What is the power output of a single LED in the fixture? you also have T5's as an option which all things aside it the best thing you can get to out over the tank.

Anthony Wood · Aug 28, 2016

Joeganja said:
I've seen many do the finnex LED's what are your thoughts? I can't stand kessils.

I just looked at the finnex planted plus. I mean I see people with nice tanks using them. They all also have all rooted plants. So if you don't plan on doing anything that'll cause shading I don't see why that wouldn't work. I would just hate to see you buy it and find out it's not putting off enough light for what you want to achieve and have to spend more money getting something with more light output that's all again I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Joeganja · Aug 28, 2016

Anthony Wood said:
What is the power output of a single LED in the fixture? you also have T5's as an option which all things aside it the best thing you can get to out over the tank.

Here's my idea. I want this to look sleek as well do good. I believe they are total depending on size 16 inches is 11.9 watts. They are rated one of the highest LED's for planted tanks

Joeganja · Aug 28, 2016

Also what co2 system?

Anthony Wood · Aug 28, 2016

Joeganja said:
Here's my idea. I want this to look sleek as well do good. I believe they are total depending on size 16 inches is 11.9 watts. They are rated one of the highest LED's for planted tanks

Not a lot of wattage but it has good reviews and so I can't say otherwise give it a shot!

Joeganja said:
Also what co2 system?

There isn't to much to a CO2 system. I don't know brands but the biggest pieces are the regulator, bubble diffuser and pH controller get the best you can in those for the money you have to spend. I'm sure you could get a everything in a package deal. But you could probable spend not that much more money and get a top of the line set up by piecing it together. I have a very good pH controller that is fully functional I would sell for dirt cheap as it's just been laying around in a large baggy collecting dust. All you would need is a new pH probe. I'll get the manufacturer after I wake up because I can't think of it off the top of my head and I'm going to bed. So I'll get back to you sometime lunch time EST with whatever I can do or answer to help.

Joeganja · Aug 28, 2016

Anthony Wood said:
Not a lot of wattage but it has good reviews and so I can't say otherwise give it a shot!

There isn't to much to a CO2 system. I don't know brands but the biggest pieces are the regulator, bubble diffuser and pH controller get the best you can in those for the money you have to spend. I'm sure you could get a everything in a package deal. But you could probable spend not that much more money and get a top of the line set up by piecing it together. I have a very good pH controller that is fully functional I would sell for dirt cheap as it's just been laying around in a large baggy collecting dust. All you would need is a new pH probe. I'll get the manufacturer after I wake up because I can't think of it off the top of my head and I'm going to bed. So I'll get back to you sometime lunch time EST with whatever I can do or answer to help.

Thanks

anthonywesty · Aug 28, 2016

You just need 3 inches of substrate, strong light and CO2 system.I dont use filter. Just biological filtration. You can use liquid fertilizer but is better insert fertilizer pills right under the plant.

Waters · Aug 28, 2016

Regarding the Finnex lights.....I have actually done a ton of research since I am in the process of setting up a high tech planted tank also. The Finnex Ray2 is the strongest light they sell, and can grow anything (along with CO2 and ferts) but uses strictly white lights which can make the plants look washed out. The newer Planted + 24/7 is a full spectrum light on a built in timer with a bunch of features but it isn't as strong. I am actually looking at adding one of each on my 60G. Also, regarding substrate, Eco-Complete or Flourite will both grow rooted plants. I am using Eco-Complete capped with roughly an inch of black sand.

Joeganja · Aug 28, 2016

Waters said:
Regarding the Finnex lights.....I have actually done a ton of research since I am in the process of setting up a high tech planted tank also. The Finnex Ray2 is the strongest light they sell, and can grow anything (along with CO2 and ferts) but uses strictly white lights which can make the plants look washed out. The newer Planted + 24/7 is a full spectrum light on a built in timer with a bunch of features but it isn't as strong. I am actually looking at adding one of each on my 60G. Also, regarding substrate, Eco-Complete or Flourite will both grow rooted plants. I am using Eco-Complete capped with roughly an inch of black sand.

what about the ecoexotic or current USA ones?

Joeganja · Aug 28, 2016

What about ADA?

Waters · Aug 28, 2016

Joeganja said:
what about the ecoexotic or current USA ones?

The Current USA are comparable to the Finnex, with the higher end Finnex fixtures putting out slightly more PAR. I am going with the Finnex due mainly to the reviews regarding the quality of the lights. I have not looked at the ADAs at all...I am trying to stay within a certain price point. Anything with Amano's name on it is normally 3X the price, although I have not looked at them to verify.

Joeganja · Aug 28, 2016

Waters said:
The Current USA are comparable to the Finnex, with the higher end Finnex fixtures putting out slightly more PAR. I am going with the Finnex due mainly to the reviews regarding the quality of the lights. I have not looked at the ADAs at all...I am trying to stay within a certain price point. Anything with Amano's name on it is normally 3X the price, although I have not looked at them to verify.

What about fluval?

DracoKat · Aug 28, 2016

I use finnex planted + and I love it.

I don't use CO2, I supplement with Flourish Excel and my plants are growing!

DracoKat · Aug 28, 2016

I have a regular internal filter, I just use a sponge and Purigen, that's it.

Joeganja · Aug 28, 2016

I realize the biggest thing with planted tanks is the gravel with different layers. who has suggestions as to how many layers and which ones to use. Price is not an issue.