New to planted tank - need advice on substrate, lighting, plant selection

Aniplanter · 01-29-2013, 08:40 PM

My boyfriend and I have been lurking on here for some time and are looking for some advice. We just purchased a AGA 46 gallon corner bowfront tank and are in the planning stages. We need advice on just about everything, but for now are looking for recommendations and feedback on the type of substrate and/or gravel we should use.

We currently have an Aqueon 15 column planted tank with sword plants, Anubias nana, microsword, baby tears, and dwarf sagittaria. We planted in Fluval substrate and just use the light that came with the tank. Our plants have made a steady decline since planted, and we anticipate its due to improper lighting conditions and/or nutrition. As we would like to start our new tank properly from the beginning, what are the first things we should be looking into in terms of substrate and supplemental plant nutrition? And lighting? We are shooting for 2WPG, but have no clue as to the proper light fixture or setup for this tank.

Also, any recommendations on plants that would be suitable for beginners? We are currently planning on buying dward sagittaria, Anacharis and Hygrophilia.

Thank you!

chew · 01-29-2013, 08:53 PM

For lighting check the lighting subsection. WPG is pretty outdated now its all done by PAR. As for easy plants just look for low light plants like anubias wisteria swords and crypts. But when your choosing substrate it's sometimes good to get good stuff instead of having something set up for a few months and then wanting to get more high tech and have to change it out

Aniplanter · 03-19-2013, 01:35 AM

sorry for the late reply chew,

I looked up PAR and did some lighting of my own.

I started with Flourite, but ended up not liking it at all, so I switched to Sandblasting Silica sand.

01-29-2013, 08:40 PM	#1
Aniplanter Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: MA Posts: 35	New to planted tank - need advice on substrate, lighting, plant selection My boyfriend and I have been lurking on here for some time and are looking for some advice. We just purchased a AGA 46 gallon corner bowfront tank and are in the planning stages. We need advice on just about everything, but for now are looking for recommendations and feedback on the type of substrate and/or gravel we should use. We currently have an Aqueon 15 column planted tank with sword plants, Anubias nana, microsword, baby tears, and dwarf sagittaria. We planted in Fluval substrate and just use the light that came with the tank. Our plants have made a steady decline since planted, and we anticipate its due to improper lighting conditions and/or nutrition. As we would like to start our new tank properly from the beginning, what are the first things we should be looking into in terms of substrate and supplemental plant nutrition? And lighting? We are shooting for 2WPG, but have no clue as to the proper light fixture or setup for this tank. Also, any recommendations on plants that would be suitable for beginners? We are currently planning on buying dward sagittaria, Anacharis and Hygrophilia. Thank you!

01-29-2013, 08:53 PM	#2
chew Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: sacramento Posts: 268	New to planted tank - need advice on substrate, lighting, plant selection For lighting check the lighting subsection. WPG is pretty outdated now its all done by PAR. As for easy plants just look for low light plants like anubias wisteria swords and crypts. But when your choosing substrate it's sometimes good to get good stuff instead of having something set up for a few months and then wanting to get more high tech and have to change it out __________________ 20L Journal

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03-19-2013, 01:35 AM	#3
Aniplanter Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: MA Posts: 35	sorry for the late reply chew, I looked up PAR and did some lighting of my own. I started with Flourite, but ended up not liking it at all, so I switched to Sandblasting Silica sand.