First live plant attempt

[geoff]

I have a 15gal tall that I want to set up as pretty much a plant only tank. I think I will put a few zebra danios and a few cory catfish in there. The tank is mainly for plants though.

I've heard that HOB power filters are not good for planted tanks because of the excess surface agitation. So, my question is, what type of filter would I need?

[GulfCoastAquarian]

A canister filter is what is usually recommended. Mostly because the tubular return can be submerged to prevent surface agitation and subsequent CO2 loss. But this assumes, first of all, that you will be injecting CO2 and providing intense enough light to mandate those CO2 requirements. If so, a small canister is your best bet.

Also, there are some power filters that have less surface agitation than others. Hagen's AquaClears are excellent for planted tanks because they also make fairly efficient CO2 reactors. You can inject CO2 air into the filter, which is broken up into tiny bubbles, which are then captured beneath the filter media, dissolving in the water stream before moving up and into the tank. Most power filters have vertical standing filter media that allows the tiny bubbles to simply rise to the surface and become lost to the atmosphere.

You can also modify your filter somewhat by removing the small lip at the bottom of the "waterfall" on the power filter. This causes the water to drop directing into the tank, rather than being diverted across its surface.

These are all good thoughts to ponder, but in the grand scheme of things, are not nearly as important as substrate selection, lighting or CO2 supplementation.

Welcome to the board!

[geoff]

Thank you for your help. I do plan on setting up DIY CO2 and I am in the process of building a hood that will house 3-5wpg (haven't decided on a fixture) for that tank. I have a 15 pound bag of flourite and 10 pounds of pea gravel that I am using for substrate. So there is about 4 inches of gravel. I wanted plenty of room for roots. Does this sound like a good start so far?

I like the idea of a canister filter, but most of them seem to be for 30+ gal tanks. Is there one that's better suited for a smaller tank?

[GulfCoastAquarian]

An oversized can on a small tank is a great concept simply because it has a larger filter media capacity that will require fewer cleanings. The extra flow might be a bit turbulent in the tank if you go too large, but there are plenty of choices for your tank. I personally don't worry much about filtration with my planted tanks, just use whatever is lying around. The plants do most of the filtration and nutrient export. The filter is more like a convenient way to have a CO2 reactor. I've even used only a reactor and powerhead in place of a filter.

[geoff]

So, would somehting like a Eheim ECCO 2231 or the Eheim Plus 2213 be a good choice for my set-up?

[Rex Grigg]

If this is your first planted tank start with around 2 watts per gallon. Three to five watts per gallon when you are new to the hobby is like trying to drive a F1 car the day after you get your drivers license.