new 140 gallon low techtank

stephenjr · 01-13-2013, 04:39 AM

Hey everyone! I been bouncing ideas to start a high tech vs low tech aquarium. I have decided to go low tech. my tank measures 48x24x28H. my substrate is a 50/50 mix of flourite and filter sand. going to dose seachem equlibrium, potassium nitrate, and potassium mono phosphate according to Tom Barrs method. will have low light plants only. fish will be a school of angels and then other small schooling fish and some rams and some Oto's. My filter is a sump with a filter sock and bioballs. My one main concern is lighting. What type and how much wattage should be used?

stephenjr · 01-14-2013, 09:25 PM

After reading the lighting sticky about par values I chose to go with thE HD diamond plate 2 x t8 fixture with 6500k bulbs.light is 29.5 inches over substrate.will also make the change to canister filters this weekend and will.also heavily plant tank this weekend as well.

Contrl · 01-16-2013, 03:05 AM

I'm in about the same shape, 135/150 gallon 6 foot tank and thinking of the diamondplate fixture (s) also. Have the wet/dry/sump available but not sure if I should use it... not sure of substrate but I am sure I want planted. and small schoolers.

the only thing I'm really sure of is planted, and hopefully heavily.

stephenjr · 01-17-2013, 08:09 PM

Got the canister hooked up today. Going to buy as many planted as I possibly get this weekend and maybe a school of hatchet fish and some angels

ramen lover · 01-17-2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephenjr

Got the canister hooked up today. Going to buy as many planted as I possibly get this weekend and maybe a school of hatchet fish and some angels

is your tank cycled? seems like if you just setup the canister filter.. you aren't cycled yet. those fish will either die or suffer from ammonia burn. i highly suggest researching about how to cycle a tank and then add in the fish once you read 0 across the board when testing your water. if you are cycled (because you used bacteria from an older tank), then please ignore my post

stephenjr · 01-18-2013, 11:17 AM

the tank has been up and running for about 3 weeks. I just added the canister filter to the system. I will absolutely check all of my levels before adding any fish. I have kept saltwater reef tanks for years. I am new to planted freshwater. I have found there some what of a learning curve even in the first 3 weeks.

ramen lover · 01-18-2013, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephenjr

the tank has been up and running for about 3 weeks. I just added the canister filter to the system. I will absolutely check all of my levels before adding any fish. I have kept saltwater reef tanks for years. I am new to planted freshwater. I have found there some what of a learning curve even in the first 3 weeks.

Oh sorry

i thought since you just added the filter that the tank was just started. Is saltwater more difficult than planted freshwater?

stephenjr · 01-19-2013, 01:47 AM

about the same but process is much slower as far as adding corals and fish. most corals present a large bioload per coral and if stocked to fast will result in algae outbreaks and loss. extreme lighting also. as much as 5 or 6 watts of metal halide per gallon depending on corals requirements. I ordered 30 amazon swords, 1 red tiger lotus and a mat of christmas moss from aquariumplants.com and ferts from green leaf aquariums. hopefully this will constitute heavy planting for my tank. Will post pics when I get the plants in.

tomfromstlouis · 01-19-2013, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephenjr

...I ordered 30 amazon swords, ....

stephenjr · 01-21-2013, 01:24 AM

I changed my plant order. I figured 30 swords would be a bit much. I have ordered 15 swords, 2 java ferns, red tiger lotus, multiple pots of four leaf clover.

Geek2Nurse · 01-23-2013, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephenjr

Hey everyone! I been bouncing ideas to start a high tech vs low tech aquarium. I have decided to go low tech. my tank measures 48x24x28H. my substrate is a 50/50 mix of flourite and filter sand. going to dose seachem equlibrium, potassium nitrate, and potassium mono phosphate according to Tom Barrs method. will have low light plants only. fish will be a school of angels and then other small schooling fish and some rams and some Oto's. My filter is a sump with a filter sock and bioballs. My one main concern is lighting. What type and how much wattage should be used?

I have the same size tank that I am setting up for my first ever planted tank, also planning to try the low-tech route. I am pretty tall, but I just about need a snorkel to reach the gravel; this is the biggest tank I've ever owned!

DarKfish · 01-25-2013, 07:24 AM

you need 66% 6500 Kelvin and 33% red (purple or pink) light.
if you don't have Co2 system, do not go above 1.5 wpg, coz BBA algae will take advantage of this condition.

Hardstuff · 01-25-2013, 07:37 AM

Just make sure you cycle your tank first & Quarantine the new fish in a separate holding QT tank first for 3 to 4 weeks. It is more humane to the fish & less stressful on you. Keep track of LFS TDS GH,KH, ph & add prime prior to leaving thje store to hold down ammonia in the bags than you can reset the QT tank to the levels of the LFS & drip acclimate them in to the QT tank.

01-13-2013, 04:39 AM	#1
stephenjr Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: central arkansas Posts: 18	new 140 gallon low techtank Hey everyone! I been bouncing ideas to start a high tech vs low tech aquarium. I have decided to go low tech. my tank measures 48x24x28H. my substrate is a 50/50 mix of flourite and filter sand. going to dose seachem equlibrium, potassium nitrate, and potassium mono phosphate according to Tom Barrs method. will have low light plants only. fish will be a school of angels and then other small schooling fish and some rams and some Oto's. My filter is a sump with a filter sock and bioballs. My one main concern is lighting. What type and how much wattage should be used?

01-25-2013, 07:37 AM	#13
Hardstuff Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: mesa Posts: 221	http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/memberlist.php Just make sure you cycle your tank first & Quarantine the new fish in a separate holding QT tank first for 3 to 4 weeks. It is more humane to the fish & less stressful on you. Keep track of LFS TDS GH,KH, ph & add prime prior to leaving thje store to hold down ammonia in the bags than you can reset the QT tank to the levels of the LFS & drip acclimate them in to the QT tank.

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01-14-2013, 09:25 PM	#2
stephenjr Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: central arkansas Posts: 18	After reading the lighting sticky about par values I chose to go with thE HD diamond plate 2 x t8 fixture with 6500k bulbs.light is 29.5 inches over substrate.will also make the change to canister filters this weekend and will.also heavily plant tank this weekend as well.

01-16-2013, 03:05 AM	#3
Contrl Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 60	I'm in about the same shape, 135/150 gallon 6 foot tank and thinking of the diamondplate fixture (s) also. Have the wet/dry/sump available but not sure if I should use it... not sure of substrate but I am sure I want planted. and small schoolers. the only thing I'm really sure of is planted, and hopefully heavily.

01-17-2013, 08:09 PM	#4
stephenjr Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: central arkansas Posts: 18	Got the canister hooked up today. Going to buy as many planted as I possibly get this weekend and maybe a school of hatchet fish and some angels

01-18-2013, 11:17 AM	#6
stephenjr Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: central arkansas Posts: 18	the tank has been up and running for about 3 weeks. I just added the canister filter to the system. I will absolutely check all of my levels before adding any fish. I have kept saltwater reef tanks for years. I am new to planted freshwater. I have found there some what of a learning curve even in the first 3 weeks.

01-19-2013, 01:47 AM	#8
stephenjr Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: central arkansas Posts: 18	about the same but process is much slower as far as adding corals and fish. most corals present a large bioload per coral and if stocked to fast will result in algae outbreaks and loss. extreme lighting also. as much as 5 or 6 watts of metal halide per gallon depending on corals requirements. I ordered 30 amazon swords, 1 red tiger lotus and a mat of christmas moss from aquariumplants.com and ferts from green leaf aquariums. hopefully this will constitute heavy planting for my tank. Will post pics when I get the plants in.

01-21-2013, 01:24 AM	#10
stephenjr Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: central arkansas Posts: 18	I changed my plant order. I figured 30 swords would be a bit much. I have ordered 15 swords, 2 java ferns, red tiger lotus, multiple pots of four leaf clover.

01-25-2013, 07:24 AM	#12
DarKfish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 13	you need 66% 6500 Kelvin and 33% red (purple or pink) light. if you don't have Co2 system, do not go above 1.5 wpg, coz BBA algae will take advantage of this condition.