New 65G Plant and Fish. Please Comment on Plan.

Atari · 01-13-2013, 12:48 AM

I just got a new 65 gallon tank and I would like to try my hand with some plants. I'm looking for simplicity and wouldn't mind keeping the price down as well. Below is my equipment list.

65G Tank (36.4"L x 18.4"W x 25"H)
eco-complete plant substrate
AquaClear 70
Aqueon 200W heater
Finnex FugeRay Ultra Slim LED

Fish Stock
I'm still deciding but I would like to move my Rubber Lip Pleco out of my 26. Will he eat my plants? Other than that, I'll likely have a lot of neon tetras, and a few other tetras, guppies, catfish and mystery snails.

Plants
I'm going for low light and no CO2. If I can swing it, there are a couple of sword plants I like. I really like Java Moss too.
It will also have at least one sizable piece of driftwood, perhaps two.

One problem area is the very large volume of natural light that come into my house. I had an algae problem with my 26 so any thoughts about that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

caoder · 01-13-2013, 01:33 AM

Use the light you get natural is great, change ur photoperiod accordingly,otherwise add some diy co2.

Sent from my XT885 using Tapatalk 2

**Hoppy** · 01-14-2013, 01:22 AM

I also have a 65 gallon tank of that shape. I think you will do better if you use a canister filter, even a cheaper one. I was never happy using one of those AquaClear hang on back filters.

The light you chose is very good for low light. From http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=189944

It will cover the whole substrate pretty uniformly. You might find that the plants will grow towards the light, so moving the light from front to back occasionally may be necessary to discourage that.

If the sunlight in the room includes direct sun light, you will likely run into algae problems, even with low light. If you can avoid any direct sun light it should work well.

Saxtonhill · 01-16-2013, 11:41 AM

Thanks for the educational info!

ramen lover · 01-16-2013, 03:53 PM

i agree.. just a single aquaclear 70 isn't enough filtration. i have a 55G and i use a Rena XP3 canister filter and then an aquaclear 70 hob for surface aggitation. I also added a koralia nano powerhead for water movement in the tank

Atari · 02-22-2013, 11:55 PM

I called Finnex and they recommended the Ray2 dual 7k since my tank is a bit taller. Too bad because they are out of 36" Ray2's.

01-13-2013, 12:48 AM	#1
Atari Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: USA Posts: 18	New 65G Plant and Fish. Please Comment on Plan. I just got a new 65 gallon tank and I would like to try my hand with some plants. I'm looking for simplicity and wouldn't mind keeping the price down as well. Below is my equipment list. 65G Tank (36.4"L x 18.4"W x 25"H) eco-complete plant substrate AquaClear 70 Aqueon 200W heater Finnex FugeRay Ultra Slim LED Fish Stock I'm still deciding but I would like to move my Rubber Lip Pleco out of my 26. Will he eat my plants? Other than that, I'll likely have a lot of neon tetras, and a few other tetras, guppies, catfish and mystery snails. Plants I'm going for low light and no CO2. If I can swing it, there are a couple of sword plants I like. I really like Java Moss too. It will also have at least one sizable piece of driftwood, perhaps two. One problem area is the very large volume of natural light that come into my house. I had an algae problem with my 26 so any thoughts about that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

01-14-2013, 01:22 AM	#3
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,204	I also have a 65 gallon tank of that shape. I think you will do better if you use a canister filter, even a cheaper one. I was never happy using one of those AquaClear hang on back filters. The light you chose is very good for low light. From http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=189944 It will cover the whole substrate pretty uniformly. You might find that the plants will grow towards the light, so moving the light from front to back occasionally may be necessary to discourage that. If the sunlight in the room includes direct sun light, you will likely run into algae problems, even with low light. If you can avoid any direct sun light it should work well. __________________ Hoppy

01-16-2013, 11:41 AM	#4
Saxtonhill Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New England Posts: 177	Thanks for the educational info! __________________ 20G tropical tank (re-learning about live plants & lighting conditions) 30G tropical tank (also re-learning plants here) 40G goldfish tank (natural rock hardscape, just a java fern here) 60G (has plants now...more education going on here also) 10G (live plants and a betta) "Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience." Ralph Waldo Emerson

01-16-2013, 03:53 PM	#5
ramen lover Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 240	i agree.. just a single aquaclear 70 isn't enough filtration. i have a 55G and i use a Rena XP3 canister filter and then an aquaclear 70 hob for surface aggitation. I also added a koralia nano powerhead for water movement in the tank __________________ ---------------- Mark View my 55G Planted Low-Tech Tank View my GLA 6G Rimless Low-Tech Iwagumi Style Nano Tank (In Progress)

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01-13-2013, 01:33 AM	#2
caoder Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 110	Use the light you get natural is great, change ur photoperiod accordingly,otherwise add some diy co2. Sent from my XT885 using Tapatalk 2

02-22-2013, 11:55 PM	#6
Atari Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: USA Posts: 18	I called Finnex and they recommended the Ray2 dual 7k since my tank is a bit taller. Too bad because they are out of 36" Ray2's.