New to Planted Tanks 50g Cadlights cube

wcreef · 01-26-2013, 11:17 PM

New to this forum but ive been checking it out and seems like a pretty onformative place with good people. My names max. Heres a bit of history, started things the opposite way. My first two tanks were saltwater and my 50g cadlight tank crashed over the summer so i ende up deciding to make it a planted freshwater tank. Im usin my two ai sol led fixtures for lighting. An mp10wes for extra flow. A rena xp3 canister filter. And thats it. No c02 yet but plan on getting a c02 setup soon. The tanks been up for a couple weeks. Dont mind the crappy cell phone pics. Any input or recommendations would be greatly appreciated as this is a totally new concept to me. Hoping it will be a bit lessr maintenance compared to having it setup as saltwater. I threw in a picture of how the tank looked before it crashed just for fun. Thanks guys.

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blink · 01-26-2013, 11:43 PM

I think that using both lights will be way too much light, you'll probably have algae problems.

Try one light for 8 hours a day and see what happens.

Otherwise, it looks nice and sounds like it should work just fine.

akpoly · 01-26-2013, 11:51 PM

He could also just dial the intensity of the light down with the controller.

wcreef · 01-27-2013, 04:14 AM

I have it on 6 different time settings maxing out at only 25% for 5 hours. Theyre set super low and if need be ill lower them more. Does a freshwater planted tank need alot of flow or is the mp10 overkill?

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blink · 01-27-2013, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akpoly

He could also just dial the intensity of the light down with the controller.

He could, but two lights is crazy overkill.

Freshwater tanks need some flow, how much depends who you ask. With my old tank I had a bunch of flow but in my new tank I have just enough to gently sway the plants that are in the flow and it seems to work nicely.

wcreef · 01-27-2013, 08:57 PM

Ok thanks. I have the mp10 set at the lowest so im sure as far as flow it will be fine..

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wcreef · 03-02-2013, 12:08 AM

Updated pics. New soil took out a giant rock. Changing it up a bit.

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alkatraz · 03-02-2013, 05:23 PM

Very natural, love it. Nice piece of wood.

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alkatraz · 03-02-2013, 05:55 PM

(Double post oops)

madness · 03-04-2013, 07:47 AM

Really good start.

You might find that the tall plants in back draw too much attention away from your rock/branch centerpiece (which looks awesome and will only look cooler as it fills in and eventually looks more like a naturally occuring feature).

It looks good half Dutch style and half Iwagumi inspired style and is probably easier for you to work with as a beginner anyways as the extra plants make it easier balance tank parameters and avoid algae.

kwheeler91 · 03-04-2013, 06:45 PM

Sorry about your reef it was very nice

Good choice taking out the huge stone. I wouldnt worry about drawing attention away from the hardscape. Unless your goal is to emphasize you hardscape like in iwagumi, it should be there to help your plant layout. Good job so far looks promising. Watch those serpae tetras if you dont have enough to distribute the aggression they may go after your other fish. Try to keep at least 6 if you can get them.

BoxxerBoyDrew · 03-04-2013, 09:42 PM

VERY NICE JOB!!!

I too am sorry about the reef crash!!! Been there and done that!!! It is hard to swallow when $1,000+ dollars of live stock wind up down the toilet!!! Don't ask!!!

You have a great layout going now, and I bet it will only get better as it grows in!

Subscribed!
Drew

**UDGags** · 03-04-2013, 09:43 PM

Looks really good especially the wood

01-26-2013, 11:17 PM	#1
wcreef Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: baldwin park, ca Posts: 5	New to Planted Tanks 50g Cadlights cube New to this forum but ive been checking it out and seems like a pretty onformative place with good people. My names max. Heres a bit of history, started things the opposite way. My first two tanks were saltwater and my 50g cadlight tank crashed over the summer so i ende up deciding to make it a planted freshwater tank. Im usin my two ai sol led fixtures for lighting. An mp10wes for extra flow. A rena xp3 canister filter. And thats it. No c02 yet but plan on getting a c02 setup soon. The tanks been up for a couple weeks. Dont mind the crappy cell phone pics. Any input or recommendations would be greatly appreciated as this is a totally new concept to me. Hoping it will be a bit lessr maintenance compared to having it setup as saltwater. I threw in a picture of how the tank looked before it crashed just for fun. Thanks guys. Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2 Attached Thumbnails

01-26-2013, 11:43 PM	#2
blink Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 489	I think that using both lights will be way too much light, you'll probably have algae problems. Try one light for 8 hours a day and see what happens. Otherwise, it looks nice and sounds like it should work just fine. __________________ "Do not need anything to block the Seascapes." My 25 gallon Solana cube 12G Rimless Club

01-26-2013, 11:51 PM	#3
akpoly Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 200	He could also just dial the intensity of the light down with the controller. __________________ 6G Edge \| 17G Mr. Aqua \| 320G Discus \| 40G AIO Breeder

01-27-2013, 04:14 AM	#4
wcreef Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: baldwin park, ca Posts: 5	Re: New to Planted Tanks 50g Cadlights cube I have it on 6 different time settings maxing out at only 25% for 5 hours. Theyre set super low and if need be ill lower them more. Does a freshwater planted tank need alot of flow or is the mp10 overkill? Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

01-27-2013, 08:57 PM	#6
wcreef Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: baldwin park, ca Posts: 5	Re: New to Planted Tanks 50g Cadlights cube Ok thanks. I have the mp10 set at the lowest so im sure as far as flow it will be fine.. Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

03-02-2013, 12:08 AM	#7
wcreef Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: baldwin park, ca Posts: 5	Re: New to Planted Tanks 50g Cadlights cube Updated pics. New soil took out a giant rock. Changing it up a bit. Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2 Attached Thumbnails

03-02-2013, 05:23 PM	#8
alkatraz Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 114	New to Planted Tanks 50g Cadlights cube Very natural, love it. Nice piece of wood. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD __________________ Current Tank: ADA 120P Iwagumi [Buildup Questions 120P Lighting? \| 120P Filter?] \| 120P Hardscape? Previous Tank: 7.9g Fluval Flora

03-02-2013, 05:55 PM	#9
alkatraz Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 114	New to Planted Tanks 50g Cadlights cube (Double post oops) __________________ Current Tank: ADA 120P Iwagumi [Buildup Questions 120P Lighting? \| 120P Filter?] \| 120P Hardscape? Previous Tank: 7.9g Fluval Flora

03-04-2013, 07:47 AM	#10
madness Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (14/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,695	Really good start. You might find that the tall plants in back draw too much attention away from your rock/branch centerpiece (which looks awesome and will only look cooler as it fills in and eventually looks more like a naturally occuring feature). It looks good half Dutch style and half Iwagumi inspired style and is probably easier for you to work with as a beginner anyways as the extra plants make it easier balance tank parameters and avoid algae.

03-04-2013, 06:45 PM	#11
kwheeler91 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 934	Sorry about your reef it was very nice Good choice taking out the huge stone. I wouldnt worry about drawing attention away from the hardscape. Unless your goal is to emphasize you hardscape like in iwagumi, it should be there to help your plant layout. Good job so far looks promising. Watch those serpae tetras if you dont have enough to distribute the aggression they may go after your other fish. Try to keep at least 6 if you can get them. __________________ *55 Gallon "Franken~Tree"*

03-04-2013, 09:42 PM	#12
BoxxerBoyDrew Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Waco,Tx Posts: 611	VERY NICE JOB!!! I too am sorry about the reef crash!!! Been there and done that!!! It is hard to swallow when $1,000+ dollars of live stock wind up down the toilet!!! Don't ask!!! You have a great layout going now, and I bet it will only get better as it grows in! Subscribed! Drew

03-04-2013, 09:43 PM	#13
UDGags aka Nick (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 551	Looks really good especially the wood __________________ 125 gallon

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