Keeping planted tanks again...

xdoomsongx · 04-30-2008, 06:59 PM

Hello, new to the forum, and haven't kept planted tanks in a long time. I am wanting to start off easy. I have a 30glln that I am planning to use. I picked up some soilmaster select, and some peat to put down. I want to cover the SMS with some of the 3m colorquartz product. My lighting is a 65 watt PC I believe the bulb is a 6500K. I think that my wattage is at the higher end of the low tech setup, but I don't want to run co2 off the bat. I was thinking that I would plant real heavily to start off so that I wouldn't have to worry about algae, then remove some as the tank got established and I could add plecos and shrimp. Any thoughts or criticism welcome, sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance.

**waterfaller1** · 04-30-2008, 07:54 PM

WELCOME to TPTF! Sounds like you have a good plan. What kind of plecos? You do know some get huge? Maybe otos or cories might make a better choice? Olive nerites do a great job on the glass.

**lauraleellbp** · 04-30-2008, 08:26 PM

I agree, welcome to TPT and sounds like ya got a good plan to me!

xdoomsongx · 04-30-2008, 09:22 PM

Thank you for the welcome, I do know that some plecos get huge (I have several large ones in my bigger tanks!). I had been thinking about a clown or BN. I have always had trouble with keeping the ottos. I have tried putting them in a tank on their own and I have tried putting them in well established tanks. I have always kept them in groups, and I always lose them

. I haven't tried to keep them in a while, so it might be time to try again.

xdoomsongx · 05-01-2008, 06:30 AM

I was wondering about filtration, I have an emperor 280 that I could put on it, but I was thinking that it might agitate the water surface to much, any ideas on a decent filter that would work on a budget? Thanks for your input, getting more confident feeling about setting it up.

xdoomsongx · 05-07-2008, 07:23 AM

Started working on these tonight. Here are the first picks of the tanks with the substrate in them.

This is going to be fun, what isn't going to be fun is planting the bottom tank with my large man arm

.

xdoomsongx · 06-19-2008, 01:04 AM

I finally got some time to work on these again. Here are a couple pics of them. I am using the AGA 8000K bulb in the top fixture and a Current 6500K bulb in the bottom tanks fixture. I strongly prefer the look of the AGA, and I am on the hunt for a square pin 8000K for the bottom fixture. I think that I am ready to plant at this point, hopefully Swap and Shop will help with that

. If you like the driftwood, I picked it up here from Badcopnofishtank. I didn't intend to use it in these setups, but couldn't resist. I guess now I will have to order more wood from him.

plantoon · 06-24-2008, 12:36 PM

driftwood looks good

, is that lion or frog?

Church · 06-24-2008, 02:08 PM

I love the driftwood! Looks like you're off to a good start to me!

seAdams · 06-24-2008, 05:47 PM

Nice wood! A BN will enjoy that.

Is the statue a permanent resident?

xdoomsongx · 06-24-2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

is that lion or frog?

It's a Fu dog.

Quote:

Is the statue a permanent resident?

I haven't decided yet. I hate to admit it, but I am known for not being able to pass up cheesy Asian themed ornaments

. Funny part is I don't keep many fish from Asia at all.

Quote:

I love the driftwood! Looks like you're off to a good start to me!

Thanks! I am hoping to get plants going in them this weekend/early next week. It all depends on if the people I know locally can provide with enough plant trimmings. Otherwise I am going to have to go with mail order. The input is appreciated.

**lauraleellbp** · 06-24-2008, 08:08 PM

Look forward to seeing the plants go in!

**mizu-chan** · 06-28-2008, 12:03 AM

Love the placement of the drift wood. Can't wait to see the plants grow in.

btw -- i really like that statue

xdoomsongx · 06-28-2008, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Love the placement of the drift wood. Can't wait to see the plants grow in.

btw -- i really like that statue

Thanks! It is nice to know that there are others who enjoy a good ornament. I keep telling the people who see my tanks that next thing they know there will be a Fu Dog or stone dragon in every tank they see, 'cause I am a trendsetter

. Mostly they just laugh, but not in a good way.

seAdams · 06-28-2008, 04:00 PM

Actually, I had an Easter Island head in one of my small tanks, and after it was covered in mossy green algae, it looked quite awesome, IMO!

Have you tried putting your statue more to the back and off-center?

04-30-2008, 06:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
xdoomsongx Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 32	Keeping planted tanks again... Hello, new to the forum, and haven't kept planted tanks in a long time. I am wanting to start off easy. I have a 30glln that I am planning to use. I picked up some soilmaster select, and some peat to put down. I want to cover the SMS with some of the 3m colorquartz product. My lighting is a 65 watt PC I believe the bulb is a 6500K. I think that my wattage is at the higher end of the low tech setup, but I don't want to run co2 off the bat. I was thinking that I would plant real heavily to start off so that I wouldn't have to worry about algae, then remove some as the tank got established and I could add plecos and shrimp. Any thoughts or criticism welcome, sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance.

04-30-2008, 07:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
waterfaller1 Aquatic Artist (View User Tanks) PTrader: (38) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,764	WELCOME to TPTF! Sounds like you have a good plan. What kind of plecos? You do know some get huge? Maybe otos or cories might make a better choice? Olive nerites do a great job on the glass. __________________ Orlando from GLA has class! Keep smiling~ Carole

04-30-2008, 08:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (37) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 8,804	I agree, welcome to TPT and sounds like ya got a good plan to me! __________________ Laura Lee; 29gal, 46gal,and 90gal FW planted in progress- see my journal at http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

04-30-2008, 09:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
xdoomsongx Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 32	Thank you for the welcome, I do know that some plecos get huge (I have several large ones in my bigger tanks!). I had been thinking about a clown or BN. I have always had trouble with keeping the ottos. I have tried putting them in a tank on their own and I have tried putting them in well established tanks. I have always kept them in groups, and I always lose them. I haven't tried to keep them in a while, so it might be time to try again.

06-19-2008, 01:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
xdoomsongx Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 32	New pics I finally got some time to work on these again. Here are a couple pics of them. I am using the AGA 8000K bulb in the top fixture and a Current 6500K bulb in the bottom tanks fixture. I strongly prefer the look of the AGA, and I am on the hunt for a square pin 8000K for the bottom fixture. I think that I am ready to plant at this point, hopefully Swap and Shop will help with that. If you like the driftwood, I picked it up here from Badcopnofishtank. I didn't intend to use it in these setups, but couldn't resist. I guess now I will have to order more wood from him.

05-01-2008, 06:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
xdoomsongx Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 32	I was wondering about filtration, I have an emperor 280 that I could put on it, but I was thinking that it might agitate the water surface to much, any ideas on a decent filter that would work on a budget? Thanks for your input, getting more confident feeling about setting it up.

05-07-2008, 07:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
xdoomsongx Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 32	Started working on these tonight. Here are the first picks of the tanks with the substrate in them. This is going to be fun, what isn't going to be fun is planting the bottom tank with my large man arm .

06-24-2008, 12:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
plantoon Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Indonesia Posts: 117	driftwood looks good , is that lion or frog?

06-24-2008, 02:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
Church Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tampa Posts: 1,404	I love the driftwood! Looks like you're off to a good start to me! __________________ 10 gallon — 5 gallon

06-24-2008, 05:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
seAdams Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 281	Nice wood! A BN will enjoy that. Is the statue a permanent resident?

06-24-2008, 08:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (37) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 8,804	Look forward to seeing the plants go in! __________________ Laura Lee; 29gal, 46gal,and 90gal FW planted in progress- see my journal at http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

06-28-2008, 12:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
mizu-chan Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 759	Love the placement of the drift wood. Can't wait to see the plants grow in. btw -- i really like that statue __________________ 魚は好きです。 20L journal (:

06-28-2008, 04:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
seAdams Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 281	Actually, I had an Easter Island head in one of my small tanks, and after it was covered in mossy green algae, it looked quite awesome, IMO! Have you tried putting your statue more to the back and off-center?

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