How to set up a planted fish tank

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gollervem

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I have used plastic plants for all for my tanks, but I want to try to convert my empty 29 gallon tank to a tank with REAL plants!

1. What kind of substrate should I use? I have gravel, but should I use something else? And how much of it?

2. What are some easy plants to start off with?

3. What kind of light will I need?

4. What fish should I stay away from?

5. What is CO2 injection?

6. Any fish to stay away from wiht a planted fish tank?

7. Any helpful guides/websites for setting up a planted fish tank
 
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nerbaneth

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gollervem;68452 said:
I have used plastic plants for all for my tanks, but I want to try to convert my empty 29 gallon tank to a tank with REAL plants!

1. What kind of substrate should I use? I have gravel, but should I use something else? And how much of it?

2. What are some easy plants to start off with?

3. What kind of light will I need?

4. What fish should I stay away from?

5. What is CO2 injection?

6. Any fish to stay away from wiht a planted fish tank?

7. Any helpful guides/websites for setting up a planted fish tank
Click to expand...

The first thing you need to do is decide whether you want a low tech or high tech tank. A low tech tank will cost a lot less, but it will limit your possibilities greatly and make it harder to control algae. A high tech tank will allow you to do just about anything you could imagine and give you much greater control of your tank.

1. Low tech - your current substrate will suffice, you could buy root tabs and place them under the plants to help them get nutrients through their roots.

1. High tech - ADA Aqua Soil 'Amazonia I' or 'Amazonia New' is the simplest option. One 9 liter bag is enough for a 29G tank.

2. Low tech - Java Fern, Moss and Broad Leaf Ludwigia are plants that do well in low light.

2. High tech - any plant, as long as it is an actual underwater plant will do well. There are some plants that can be grown underwater that aren't really underwater plants and there are A LOT of plants that are sold as underwater plants (Petco and Petsmart) that will just slowly die underwater.

3. Low Tech - Your current light will work, but you should buy a bulb that is meant to grow plants.

4. High Tech - I suggest T5HO or Metal Halide fixtures. I really like fishneedit.com fixtures because they are REALLY cheap compared to some of the brand name fixtures and they work just fine. That said, almost every fixture I have bought from them needs to be rewired before using them.

5. Low Tech - DIY CO2 injection is a method of supplying the plants with a CO2 source by using sugar, water, yeast and a 2 liter soda bottle. CO2 makes a huge difference in a planted tank.

5. High Tech - Pressurized CO2 injection is a similar method, but uses a CO2 tank, like what welders use.

6. Goldfish generally.. Some of the larger cichlids and fish. Its usually best to keep peaceful small fish and a lot of algae eaters (That don't eat plants)

7. Read the forum on the estimative index (EI) - specifically Greg's EI light. EI is a great, relatively simple way, to supply your plants with all the nutrients they need. There is many different ways to use EI including low and high tech methods.
 
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nerbaneth

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Also.. If you do decide to go with a high tech tank, you should consider a different tank size. the 29 gallon tanks (If I recall correctly) are a really strange size for a light fixture. Go with a 2 foot, 3 foot or 4 foot tank so you can upgrade later without having to buy a new fixture.
 
ShadowMac

ShadowMac

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I disagree with the statement low tech makes it harder to control algae. More light will always mean a greater potential for algae, IMO.

Light will depend on what plants you want to grow and more importantly if you choose to add pressurized CO2 or not. I don't like to count DIY as it is finicky and inconsistent. Not to be relied on for increasing your light, IMHO.

The 29 is a funny size, but my low tech is a 29 that was given to me. It can work. The fixture I have over it uses 24" bulbs, but it is about 20" above the water suspended from the ceiling, so the light spreads and is also reduced. I have zero algae and slow growth, perfect for a low tech. The low tech tank is my wife's favorite. Although when my high tech rescape fills in i think she will change her mind.

I would recommend low tech to start. It will help you learn slowly and get the hang of it. Low tech's can look great. You won't need CO2 injection and stick to low light. Low tech plants include cryptocoryne sp., anubias sp., mosses, java ferns. Combine those with some neat manzanita branches or other wood; you get one nice tank with lots of greenery. Plant it dense, as it will grow slowly and planting a lot of plants off the start will help avoid possible algae issues.

I recommend a nutrient rich substrate like ADA aquasoil. I would use 2, 9 liter bags.

Keep in mind what fish you want to keep also while setting up the tank, so that it is compatible for them. African cichlids won't be very nice to delicate plants and rooted plants, but in a tank of anubias on rocks they should do fine. I like a dense low tech jungle style with a school of cardinal tetras, cherry shrimp, apistos, ottos.

There is a lot to read in the new to aquatic plants section. A great article on setting your goals and how to get started, which was a great help to me as a beginner.

READ READ READ....and READ SOME MORE! can't say it enough. Arm yourself with information and be a critical thinker.

www.aquascapingworld.com is a great place in addition to this site. there are a multitude of beginner friendly articles.

Ask questions when you have them or search the forum's. Odds are someone has had the question before.

Welcome and good luck!
 
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nerbaneth

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ShadowMac;68528 said:
I disagree with the statement low tech makes it harder to control algae. More light will always mean a greater potential for algae, IMO.

Light will depend on what plants you want to grow and more importantly if you choose to add pressurized CO2 or not. I don't like to count DIY as it is finicky and inconsistent. Not to be relied on for increasing your light, IMHO.

The 29 is a funny size, but my low tech is a 29 that was given to me. It can work. The fixture I have over it uses 24" bulbs, but it is about 20" above the water suspended from the ceiling, so the light spreads and is also reduced. I have zero algae and slow growth, perfect for a low tech. The low tech tank is my wife's favorite. Although when my high tech rescape fills in i think she will change her mind.

I would recommend low tech to start. It will help you learn slowly and get the hang of it. Low tech's can look great. You won't need CO2 injection and stick to low light. Low tech plants include cryptocoryne sp., anubias sp., mosses, java ferns. Combine those with some neat manzanita branches or other wood; you get one nice tank with lots of greenery. Plant it dense, as it will grow slowly and planting a lot of plants off the start will help avoid possible algae issues.

I recommend a nutrient rich substrate like ADA aquasoil. I would use 2, 9 liter bags.

Keep in mind what fish you want to keep also while setting up the tank, so that it is compatible for them. African cichlids won't be very nice to delicate plants and rooted plants, but in a tank of anubias on rocks they should do fine. I like a dense low tech jungle style with a school of cardinal tetras, cherry shrimp, apistos, ottos.

There is a lot to read in the new to aquatic plants section. A great article on setting your goals and how to get started, which was a great help to me as a beginner.

READ READ READ....and READ SOME MORE! can't say it enough. Arm yourself with information and be a critical thinker.

www.aquascapingworld.com is a great place in addition to this site. there are a multitude of beginner friendly articles.

Ask questions when you have them or search the forum's. Odds are someone has had the question before.

Welcome and good luck!
Click to expand...

oops! Thanks for the correction. It's been a while since I have tried a low tech tank. My low tech tanks were always failures because I wanted everything to grow FAST. I also forgot about the article on goals and how to get started. VERY useful!
 
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