Planted aquarium

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R.Y.K. LEE

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Hi guys,

Are there any aquarium hobbyists here who can give me some advise on starting a planted aquarium?

I have a Fluval 120L aquarium which has had normal gravel in it, and plastic plants/ornaments. I have recently gotten rid of the ornaments and plastic plants and replaced it with azalea roots and a few live plants - Amazon sword, anubias coin, and java fern. Yesterday I also got some elodea densa from a friend who had loads of it growing in her pond.

I have the updated tank which replaces the old tube lights with LED ones. I have also replaced the filter I got with it, and now using 2x large sponge filters (I have a lot of platy fry in the tank) and a wave maker for circulation.

I do not want to dose CO2, but would like to dose fertiliser.

What are you guys using to dose your planted tanks? Also what are your opinions and advise on root tabs? Shall I get store bought stuff, or should I DIY them (cheaper?). Any idvise at this point would be greatly appreciated! (My Amazon sword has gone a very light shade, almost see-through).
 
I've kept tanks for many moons now, both FW and SW although I've never really had a planted tank. They can look stunning. Lighting is probably the biggest factor but it is plant dependent. I would advise CO2, even if you don't want to. By adding fertiliser, you are adding nitrates, which if they get out of control can promote algea growth. You can buy CO2 reactors that you put tablets into, that dissolve and slowly release C02 but I'm not sure on their effectiveness or practicality and if they too may release toxins at the same time. You really are better off getting a bottle and introducing it properly, your plants will thank you for it.

If you'd asked me how to keep corals, I'd have been able to help more so please take my advise with a little salt as I've not really ever kept a planted tank and technology might have moved on since I was last serious about fishkeeping.
 
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I cannot think of a time when I didn't have a tank of some sort, mainly marine and pond now..

aquatic soil is the best way to go, it's a bloody PITA when you first set it up but settles down..

lighting is pretty similar to marine, you want to simulate the day.. LED has given us plenty of automated options now albeit can be pricey.
 
I got a small bottle of Tetra Plantamin the other day and put some in. It seems to have brought some of the colour back to the Amazon sword. But it was really expensive! £5 for 100ml, 35ml per dose for 120L tank.

I've been reading about CO2 and it says I can either use a gas cannister or liquid carbon. Is liquid carbon, CO2? Or just a source of carbon that the plants can use?

Also read that some people are using garden stuff in their tanks. Sulphate of potash, Doff plant tonic etc. Even miracle-gro slow release granules to make DIY root tabs. Has anyone done the same, and is it safe/effective?

Does the aquatic soil already contain all nutrients needed by the plant? Will it need replacing after all the nutrients are spent?
 
Its is possible to make up a DIY CO2 injector using, I believe, yeast and a 2 litre drinks bottle etc. Obviously cant be regulated though so trial and error would be needed and obviously doesn't "look" that good so would need hiding away.
 
Is it possible to overdose CO2 gas in the aquarium? That was my main concern. Also I am using 2 large air driven sponge filters, one at each end. Would surface agitation just remove all the CO2 I'm pumping in?
 
Have to say I think a dedicated aquarium forum is liklely to be more useful than info obtained here.
 
R.Y.K. LEE said:
Is it possible to overdose CO2 gas in the aquarium?
Click to expand...

As with most things, too much of a good thing can be bad and it is possible to overdose with CO2. If you're observing your tank though, there will be signs of overdosing, mainly stressed looking fish, probably gasping at the surface. Even bottom dwellers and shy fish will rise to the surface but this will give you fair warning to react. It shouldn't come to that though, levels should be checked but equipment tends to fail when you're not around, been there, wrecked that.
 
Use this :
http://www.swelluk.com/easy-life-easycarbo/

No need for CO2 bottles and all that jazz....add loads of good lighting and before you know it, you will spend your life cutting back and trimming out of control plants and the few fish you have will need a samurai sword to get through the jungle in the tank....

...ask me how I know....

Also, use a goos subtrate like caribsea eco complete.
 
Hertsman said:
Use this :
http://www.swelluk.com/easy-life-easycarbo/

No need for CO2 bottles and all that jazz....add loads of good lighting and before you know it, you will spend your life cutting back and trimming out of control plants and the few fish you have will need a samurai sword to get through the jungle in the tank....

...ask me how I know....

Also, use a goos subtrate like caribsea eco complete.
Click to expand...
Looks good! Do you use any other fertiliser in your tank? Or are you only using the soil, CO2 and strong lighting?

Will inert substrate (standard gravel) be okay? With something like root tabs added?

Just reading some of the stuff on the Easylife website and noticed their fertiliser contains no nitrate and phosphate. Other brands seem to give a rating for all 3, n-p-k.
 
Hi Ray, I got bored of the planted tank very quickly Im sorry to say, its nowhere near as fulfilling as other forms of aquaria for me.

However, as I said above, that was all I used...along with very good flow - think 2 Eheim pro2 2028's on a 4 footer.....


...currently about to embark on a 3 foor Reef - now THATS demanding/expensive/fascinating/ruinous.....
 
Thanks for the reply guys! Went for the Easylife products in the end, as they seem to be the most value for money.
 
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