Lightly Planted Fluval Chi Questions!!!

Mablisboa · 04-10-2012, 04:42 AM

Hi Guys,
I bought a Fluval Chi and some eco complete, I want to start a light planted tank for my betta. I will attached a pic of what I want/wish to do... Since I don't want a lot of plants should I start a fishless and plantless cycle or should I add the plants and a week later add the fish. Do i need any flourish excel or any other supplement?? I've been reading about planted tanks for about a week... I know is better to start with a heavy planted tank, but i don't really want to do that.

Any help will be really appreciated

TIA

thechibi · 04-10-2012, 04:47 AM

You can add plants from the start.

Although, they will affect a fishless cycle.

JMex · 04-10-2012, 05:18 AM

I did a fishless cycle on my chi with it planted from the beginning and it cycled just fine in 4 weeks

. I don't think that you will need to dose excel cause of the low light of the stock light/filter combo.

Mablisboa · 04-10-2012, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMex

I did a fishless cycle on my chi with it planted from the beginning and it cycled just fine in 4 weeks

. I don't think that you will need to dose excel cause of the low light of the stock light/filter combo.

Oh that's nice... What plants did u use?? Did u add some fish food to help with the cycle? Was is havely planted?

Thechibi... In which way will they effect my cycle? Is it bcuz of the amonia plants absorb

JMex · 04-10-2012, 04:38 PM

I had 2 java fern and 2 anubias (not sure which variety) when I cycled it. I wouldn't consider it heavily planted at all and I'm not sure how heavily you can plant a stock chi and have it grow. As for the cycle I used 3 drops of ammonia daily until nitrite reading then 1 drop until 0 ammonia and nitrate then 75% water change to bring nitrates down and it was good to go.

Mablisboa · 04-10-2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMex

I had 2 java fern and 2 anubias (not sure which variety) when I cycled it. I wouldn't consider it heavily planted at all and I'm not sure how heavily you can plant a stock chi and have it grow. As for the cycle I used 3 drops of ammonia daily until nitrite reading then 1 drop until 0 ammonia and nitrate then 75% water change to bring nitrates down and it was good to go.

That's exactly how i want mine.... Not too crowded... Thanks for your help, [censored]will def try that. [censored]

I do have another question were you able to plant anything on the top [censored]of the fountain?[censored]

Thanks again

Mablisboa · 04-10-2012, 10:43 PM

What's up with does [cersored]???

JMex · 04-11-2012, 02:46 AM

No problem. I can't help with the plants on top though since mine is under a shelf with no room. I'm sure that if you had some form of light getting to it it would work just fine though. I've seen lots of pictures of people doing it successfully.

Mablisboa · 04-12-2012, 11:03 PM

quick question JMex... did you leave the filter pad (carbon filter) in your tank?

Svham · 04-13-2012, 12:43 AM

I have the top of my fluval chi planted. There's a large water sprite growing out of the top tray with the root mass covered in a thick layer of java fern. Some of the larger roots from the water sprite also hang off the side and the water from the filter kind of drips off them. It's cool. I do have a desk lamp with a CFL above it for supplemental light.

Mablisboa · 04-13-2012, 01:16 AM

That sounds really nice!!! Do you have pictures?? Hopefully I'll have my chi up and running by tomorrow... Do you have your carbon filter pad in or out?

JMex · 04-13-2012, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mablisboa

quick question JMex... did you leave the filter pad (carbon filter) in your tank?

Yeah, the pad is 2 different kinds of filtration in one if I remember right so I just left it. It grows some of the bacteria as well as the sponge and it never did anything bad.

Svham · 04-14-2012, 12:03 AM

I'm sorry - no pics, I'm probably the last loser on the planet with no camera or camera phone. I do have the carbon pad in, but it hasn't ever been changed, Like JMex I just use it for extra space to grow bacteria.

Mablisboa · 04-17-2012, 02:12 AM

Soooooo here is my Fluval Chi up and running... is been running for 4 days... plants still looking good... no fish yet, doing the fishless cycle, just wanted to show you guys!!! and thanks for the help!!

I really wanted some dwarf baby tears on lava rock in it, but i heard is pretty tough to keep in low light

Suggestions accepted!!!

JMex · 04-17-2012, 03:37 AM

Looking very nice. What's that plant you have in the front left?

04-10-2012, 04:42 AM	#1
Mablisboa Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 30	Lightly Planted Fluval Chi Questions!!! Hi Guys, I bought a Fluval Chi and some eco complete, I want to start a light planted tank for my betta. I will attached a pic of what I want/wish to do... Since I don't want a lot of plants should I start a fishless and plantless cycle or should I add the plants and a week later add the fish. Do i need any flourish excel or any other supplement?? I've been reading about planted tanks for about a week... I know is better to start with a heavy planted tank, but i don't really want to do that. Any help will be really appreciated TIA Attached Images

04-17-2012, 02:12 AM	#14
Mablisboa Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 30	It's almost done!!! Soooooo here is my Fluval Chi up and running... is been running for 4 days... plants still looking good... no fish yet, doing the fishless cycle, just wanted to show you guys!!! and thanks for the help!! I really wanted some dwarf baby tears on lava rock in it, but i heard is pretty tough to keep in low light Suggestions accepted!!! Attached Thumbnails

04-17-2012, 03:37 AM	#15
JMex Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 131	Looking very nice. What's that plant you have in the front left? __________________ 5 Gallon Fluval Chi 1 Gallon Bowl

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04-10-2012, 04:47 AM	#2
thechibi Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: San Marcos, Texas Posts: 1,861	You can add plants from the start. Although, they will affect a fishless cycle.

04-10-2012, 05:18 AM	#3
JMex Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 131	I did a fishless cycle on my chi with it planted from the beginning and it cycled just fine in 4 weeks . I don't think that you will need to dose excel cause of the low light of the stock light/filter combo.

04-10-2012, 04:38 PM	#5
JMex Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 131	I had 2 java fern and 2 anubias (not sure which variety) when I cycled it. I wouldn't consider it heavily planted at all and I'm not sure how heavily you can plant a stock chi and have it grow. As for the cycle I used 3 drops of ammonia daily until nitrite reading then 1 drop until 0 ammonia and nitrate then 75% water change to bring nitrates down and it was good to go.

04-10-2012, 10:43 PM	#7
Mablisboa Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 30	What's up with does [cersored]???

04-11-2012, 02:46 AM	#8
JMex Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 131	No problem. I can't help with the plants on top though since mine is under a shelf with no room. I'm sure that if you had some form of light getting to it it would work just fine though. I've seen lots of pictures of people doing it successfully.

04-12-2012, 11:03 PM	#9
Mablisboa Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 30	quick question JMex... did you leave the filter pad (carbon filter) in your tank?

04-13-2012, 12:43 AM	#10
Svham Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Clemson, SC Posts: 26	I have the top of my fluval chi planted. There's a large water sprite growing out of the top tray with the root mass covered in a thick layer of java fern. Some of the larger roots from the water sprite also hang off the side and the water from the filter kind of drips off them. It's cool. I do have a desk lamp with a CFL above it for supplemental light.

04-13-2012, 01:16 AM	#11
Mablisboa Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 30	That sounds really nice!!! Do you have pictures?? Hopefully I'll have my chi up and running by tomorrow... Do you have your carbon filter pad in or out?

04-14-2012, 12:03 AM	#13
Svham Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Clemson, SC Posts: 26	I'm sorry - no pics, I'm probably the last loser on the planet with no camera or camera phone. I do have the carbon pad in, but it hasn't ever been changed, Like JMex I just use it for extra space to grow bacteria.