Just starting out, what do you think?

hdrestr

Junior Poster
Apr 25, 2009
14
0
1
Milwaukee, WI
Hello,

I'm new to this forum and new to planted tanks. I'm setting up under a tight budget and here is what I've got so far:

29 ga X-high (tall?) with a HOB filter. Lighting is from a Coralife 65 W PC fixture, currently with a 10K bulb in it. Substrate is just regular gravel so far. Heating comes from a 150W submersed heater. Finally, there is a Regent 170GPH powerhead to keep things stirred up. No fish, no plants, no CO2 injection yet. This setup has been running for about 3 weeks now.

I've read that I should load up with plants all at once, can this be any aquatic plant? Locally I can get some Hornwort, but are there other plants that are preferable? What recommendations can you give about my setup?

I'm thinking to follow the low light, no CO2, large biomass path. Ultimately I want a tank with a lot of plants, a few small fish, and a cleanup crew of inverts.

Thanks in advance for your responses and double thanks for all the great information that's been posted here already.

-hdrestr
milwaukee
 

hdrestr

Junior Poster
Apr 25, 2009
14
0
1
Milwaukee, WI
Here's an update.

I've got a bunch of Hornwort floating now, and the substrate is going to be EcoComplete by the end of the weekend. Long term, I may try to go for a theme for the plants, may be South American. I have to start reading some more though. Thanks for any suggestions or critiques!!

-herm
 

Gerryd

Plant Guru Team
Lifetime Member
Sep 23, 2007
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South Florida
Hi herm,

You want to get mostly stem plants at first as they tend to adapt and grow more quickly than others.

Hygrophila, rotala, ludwigia, are all fairly easy to grow.

Your biggest issue will be c02. If the light is kept low you will be better off.

Once the tank has established and the stems are DOING WELL, you can start replacing them with other plants.

The eco complete will help by providing nutrients.

I would toss in some guppies or something to help cycle the tank. You can always give them away......

You may want to also use Java fern, anubias species, and mosses as these all require less light and do well in your type of setup.

Hope this helps.
 

VaughnH

Lifetime Charter Member
Lifetime Member
Jan 24, 2005
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Sacramento, CA
Hornwort is very useful when you first setup the tank because it absorbs a lot of the ammonia given off by the fish, and it dims the light at the substrate enough to help avoid algae. Later, you will probably want to get rid of it.
 

hdrestr

Junior Poster
Apr 25, 2009
14
0
1
Milwaukee, WI
OK, the Eco-Complete is in now and the hornwort is planted instead of floating. It looks like a forest in there. I'll put up a picture soon. Thanks everyone for your help, I'm pretty excited with the setup so far.

-herm