Ok, I've been talking about my new 'dream tank' for a while and I am ready to start it very soon. And my current tank is the only heavily planted tank I've done and its evolved from an algae nightmare from before I was on any forum. So basically I've not started a planted tank from scratch very well before, and looking for any suggestions.
Unfortunately I dont think Tom's method for starting a tank immersed will work well for me since a lot of my plants either dont have a immersed form or are very large already, or arent in the substrate at all (as well as it being really hard to seal off anyhow).
My plan is to start off as plant only until they get going, then adding in my algae crew (SAE's, Ottos, flagfish). After I am sure everything is growing in well and balanced I will begin adding the rest of the fish.
I am not sure if I should alter EI during the startup (as in reducing what I would normally dose) until the plants grow in. And I am not sure what EI will actually be in a tank this size. Tanks is 240G, avg 3" depth PFS, 66G sump. When I start planting it the sump probably wont be running yet, so it will be 240G... I may not even fill it all the way. I could just put 120g in there until things get going. My lights are two banks of T5HO, 340/680W with Icecap SLRs. WPG for 240g would be 1.4/2.8WPG. During the initial setup CO2 will either be full manual or set with timer, but eventually will use pH controller (on backorder right now). With no fish I can set it wherever. For ferts I have KNO3, K2PO4, and TPN, as well as TPN root tabs. Substrate is 100% PFS.
So in summary, I would have the option to either have the tank full or down to half, either 340W or 680W lighting, co2 as high as needed, root tabs and ferts (but not sure how much to dose). I have my 75g packed full of plants to start with, but I am sure it will start out a little sparse in the 240. Any advice is appreciated. P.S. the sump portion wont probably be running for a few weeks, still working out the details there and some equipment is backordered. Thats why i can lower the water level if need be. Circulation will be two 1200gph Koralia pumps in the tank.
Unfortunately I dont think Tom's method for starting a tank immersed will work well for me since a lot of my plants either dont have a immersed form or are very large already, or arent in the substrate at all (as well as it being really hard to seal off anyhow).
My plan is to start off as plant only until they get going, then adding in my algae crew (SAE's, Ottos, flagfish). After I am sure everything is growing in well and balanced I will begin adding the rest of the fish.
I am not sure if I should alter EI during the startup (as in reducing what I would normally dose) until the plants grow in. And I am not sure what EI will actually be in a tank this size. Tanks is 240G, avg 3" depth PFS, 66G sump. When I start planting it the sump probably wont be running yet, so it will be 240G... I may not even fill it all the way. I could just put 120g in there until things get going. My lights are two banks of T5HO, 340/680W with Icecap SLRs. WPG for 240g would be 1.4/2.8WPG. During the initial setup CO2 will either be full manual or set with timer, but eventually will use pH controller (on backorder right now). With no fish I can set it wherever. For ferts I have KNO3, K2PO4, and TPN, as well as TPN root tabs. Substrate is 100% PFS.
So in summary, I would have the option to either have the tank full or down to half, either 340W or 680W lighting, co2 as high as needed, root tabs and ferts (but not sure how much to dose). I have my 75g packed full of plants to start with, but I am sure it will start out a little sparse in the 240. Any advice is appreciated. P.S. the sump portion wont probably be running for a few weeks, still working out the details there and some equipment is backordered. Thats why i can lower the water level if need be. Circulation will be two 1200gph Koralia pumps in the tank.