New tank for Newbie

ambchang · 03-31-2010, 06:03 PM

Hi all:

After years of procrastination, I have finally decided to go into keeping planted tanks.

A little background, my dad has been keeping freshwater fish since as far as I could remember, and my brother has been doing the same, with a recent foray into salt water tanks, so I have a decent idea of what is needed.

Anyways, I have recently ordered a 30G tank (36" x 12" x 16") from Miracles Aquarium.

Light: AquaticLife Dual Lamp T5 HO.
Filter: Eheim 2213 with Hydor Koralia 1 powerhead.

Subtrate: Seachem Flourite Black 21 kg

Heater: Rena Cal Top Light Excel Heater - 200W

CO2 and nutrients: Sistema natural plant system, and a bottle of APL Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.

Plants: Planning to have dwarf hair grass, maybe some HC, some marimo balls

Fauna: Planning to get red cherry shrimps, guppies, and a group of oto catfish.

Haven't decided on the larger plants yet, and thinking what kind of mid-level fish I should get.

Anyways, I will use this thread to document my tank building struggles, put in some suggestions to help a newbie out!

Thanks.

Update 1: More specific about gear, changed some fish.
Update 2: I am direct linking to my posts with pictures below:
My Equipment
Driftwood
Tank with Stand
Tank filled with water
First set up, with fish
Tank first planted with Dwarf Hairgrass
One week after planting, Oto and Male Guppy
Fish, including three guppies and a halfbeak

webgirl74 · 03-31-2010, 06:33 PM

I'm newer to planted tanks myself, but from what I've learned on here, you'll need a CO2 setup with an T5HO fixture and you will have to dose fertilizers as well. I'm sure the more experienced folks on here can make some suggestions to you as well, but a lot of people seem to set up DIY CO2 systems on smaller tanks.

hurley0816 · 03-31-2010, 07:09 PM

welcome to the forums!

webgirl74- thats a mighty beautiful trout you have there!

ambchang · 03-31-2010, 07:30 PM

Thanks webgirl. Forgot to mention, I have a DIY CO2, with a CO2 ladder. I may have to double the capacity given the amount of light I have. Depending on how the CO2 setup works, I may move onto a pressurized setup.

hurley0816 · 03-31-2010, 08:28 PM

some sort of crypt wouldnt be to bad for larger plants and you need to get some moss too!

ambchang · 04-01-2010, 01:35 AM

First setback, though not a big one.

Finally got all the supplies, felt like a kid on boxing day. Opened the box, and realized that I was mistakenly given the stingray stand instead of a two-door model I was looking for. So it either means that I will go back for a refund or an exchange, which, regardless is an extra trip.

The light I got is the aquatic life T5 HO Dual light, and the tank was a custom-made rimless tank. They look great, and I can't wait to set it up. But I guess I will have to wait a little while on those ....

**timwag2001** · 04-01-2010, 03:04 AM

welcome to the site. i want pics!

**minicrazy592** · 04-01-2010, 12:33 PM

I will be watching.

ambchang · 04-01-2010, 03:28 PM

I will be putting up pics, but this is probably going to be a 2 week + process, minimum.

Thanks for the support guys. I am totally stoked about this, it's like having a new born!

ambchang · 04-02-2010, 08:29 PM

Image of my stuff. I didn't have the flourite black around, and am still waiting on the stand.

My wife and I decided to go solid wood stand instead, since the cost difference isn't too much, and would have to wait another week or so for it. The petstore owner is very helpful, and just a friendly guy in general. He is willing to give out advice pretty quickly, and concentrate on giving the right advice instead of constantly trying to push new products. Great for a newb like me.

**duff** · 04-02-2010, 10:53 PM

Welcome aboard, looks like your getting close to starting! you'll love it here - So much good people and info here! Cant wait to see how your tank comes along.

**timwag2001** · 04-03-2010, 12:13 AM

he needs to sell products to stay in business so beware. its very common for them to try to get you to buy products to alter ph and what-not. if you have questions, post them first. we have nothing to lose in giving you advice

ambchang · 04-03-2010, 12:23 AM

Thanks timwag2001. That's the thing that was impressive about the petstore, I actually asked him if I need to get testing kits and stuff, and he said that he would do the water testing for me for free, and that most testing kits are not needed. There were a few things that I wanted to get, and he basically told me that those are not things for planted tanks. Pretty honest guy.

VincentK · 04-03-2010, 01:29 AM

Hey, I don't know if it's out of your budget, but instead of doing the DIY co2, I would do pressurized and return the ladder, because you have HO lights, I think most people would probably recommend pressurized also, also as a plus, you would save space, because the ladder takes space and looks funny (IMO), and just replace the ladder with a smaller diffuser. Your pet store guy sounds like a good guy, better than mine, who told me I could fit 15 angelfish in a 10 gallon tank (=.=")

ambchang · 04-03-2010, 02:13 PM

Thanks VincentK, the pressurized system is definitely one thing I am looking at, but right now, it is way over my budget. In fact, my system is around 40% over budget already, without even getting the fish and plant and stuff .... tough, tough hobby.

03-31-2010, 06:03 PM	#1
ambchang Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 101	New tank for Newbie Hi all: After years of procrastination, I have finally decided to go into keeping planted tanks. A little background, my dad has been keeping freshwater fish since as far as I could remember, and my brother has been doing the same, with a recent foray into salt water tanks, so I have a decent idea of what is needed. Anyways, I have recently ordered a 30G tank (36" x 12" x 16") from Miracles Aquarium. Light: AquaticLife Dual Lamp T5 HO. Filter: Eheim 2213 with Hydor Koralia 1 powerhead. Subtrate: Seachem Flourite Black 21 kg Heater: Rena Cal Top Light Excel Heater - 200W CO2 and nutrients: Sistema natural plant system, and a bottle of APL Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Plants: Planning to have dwarf hair grass, maybe some HC, some marimo balls Fauna: Planning to get red cherry shrimps, guppies, and a group of oto catfish. Haven't decided on the larger plants yet, and thinking what kind of mid-level fish I should get. Anyways, I will use this thread to document my tank building struggles, put in some suggestions to help a newbie out! Thanks. Update 1: More specific about gear, changed some fish. Update 2: I am direct linking to my posts with pictures below: My Equipment Driftwood Tank with Stand Tank filled with water First set up, with fish Tank first planted with Dwarf Hairgrass One week after planting, Oto and Male Guppy Fish, including three guppies and a halfbeak Last edited by ambchang; 05-12-2010 at 02:59 AM..

04-01-2010, 03:28 PM	#9
ambchang Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 101	I will be putting up pics, but this is probably going to be a 2 week + process, minimum. Thanks for the support guys. I am totally stoked about this, it's like having a new born! Last edited by ambchang; 04-02-2010 at 08:30 PM..

04-03-2010, 01:29 AM	#14
VincentK Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: MI Posts: 1,021	Hey, I don't know if it's out of your budget, but instead of doing the DIY co2, I would do pressurized and return the ladder, because you have HO lights, I think most people would probably recommend pressurized also, also as a plus, you would save space, because the ladder takes space and looks funny (IMO), and just replace the ladder with a smaller diffuser. Your pet store guy sounds like a good guy, better than mine, who told me I could fit 15 angelfish in a 10 gallon tank (=.=") __________________ Couple of tanks

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03-31-2010, 06:33 PM	#2
webgirl74 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 211	I'm newer to planted tanks myself, but from what I've learned on here, you'll need a CO2 setup with an T5HO fixture and you will have to dose fertilizers as well. I'm sure the more experienced folks on here can make some suggestions to you as well, but a lot of people seem to set up DIY CO2 systems on smaller tanks.

03-31-2010, 07:09 PM	#3
hurley0816 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: baraboo,wi Posts: 333	welcome to the forums! webgirl74- thats a mighty beautiful trout you have there!

03-31-2010, 07:30 PM	#4
ambchang Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 101	Thanks webgirl. Forgot to mention, I have a DIY CO2, with a CO2 ladder. I may have to double the capacity given the amount of light I have. Depending on how the CO2 setup works, I may move onto a pressurized setup.

03-31-2010, 08:28 PM	#5
hurley0816 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: baraboo,wi Posts: 333	some sort of crypt wouldnt be to bad for larger plants and you need to get some moss too!

04-01-2010, 01:35 AM	#6
ambchang Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 101	First setback, though not a big one. Finally got all the supplies, felt like a kid on boxing day. Opened the box, and realized that I was mistakenly given the stingray stand instead of a two-door model I was looking for. So it either means that I will go back for a refund or an exchange, which, regardless is an extra trip. The light I got is the aquatic life T5 HO Dual light, and the tank was a custom-made rimless tank. They look great, and I can't wait to set it up. But I guess I will have to wait a little while on those ....

04-01-2010, 03:04 AM	#7
timwag2001 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (59/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 3,434	welcome to the site. i want pics!

04-01-2010, 12:33 PM	#8
minicrazy592 Impulse Tank Buyer (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 130	I will be watching.

04-02-2010, 08:29 PM	#10
ambchang Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 101	Image of my stuff. I didn't have the flourite black around, and am still waiting on the stand. My wife and I decided to go solid wood stand instead, since the cost difference isn't too much, and would have to wait another week or so for it. The petstore owner is very helpful, and just a friendly guy in general. He is willing to give out advice pretty quickly, and concentrate on giving the right advice instead of constantly trying to push new products. Great for a newb like me.

04-02-2010, 10:53 PM	#11
duff Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (29/100%) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 594	Welcome aboard, looks like your getting close to starting! you'll love it here - So much good people and info here! Cant wait to see how your tank comes along.

04-03-2010, 12:13 AM	#12
timwag2001 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (59/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 3,434	he needs to sell products to stay in business so beware. its very common for them to try to get you to buy products to alter ph and what-not. if you have questions, post them first. we have nothing to lose in giving you advice

04-03-2010, 12:23 AM	#13
ambchang Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 101	Thanks timwag2001. That's the thing that was impressive about the petstore, I actually asked him if I need to get testing kits and stuff, and he said that he would do the water testing for me for free, and that most testing kits are not needed. There were a few things that I wanted to get, and he basically told me that those are not things for planted tanks. Pretty honest guy.

04-03-2010, 02:13 PM	#15
ambchang Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 101	Thanks VincentK, the pressurized system is definitely one thing I am looking at, but right now, it is way over my budget. In fact, my system is around 40% over budget already, without even getting the fish and plant and stuff .... tough, tough hobby.