Need help !

SJR said:

I was thinking about setting up a planted aqaurium, but i have never kept real plants before ive been looking on youtube and some people say dont use co2 and some say you do, some say use you can use sand some say you are meant to use aqua soil, this has got me really confused and now i debated weather or not to keep them or not because it is going to cost a bomb for the plants and soil and then for the co2 system. so i need some help on what i need to do as i dont have a clue

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It's not really a you HAVE to do it this way or you HAVE to do it that way kind of thing. It's really personal preference.

If you are installing co2, you are installing it because you want fast growth. With co2 NORMALLY comes high lighting and fertilization. There are other ways to supplement co2 in lower lighting systems (excel - liquid co2 supplement) but it often costs more money down the line. There is no perfect substrate either. It's all personal preference. Things like aqua soil have their benefits but I have heard of people growing lush jungles by just using sand too.

you really have to do your research and decide what fits YOUR lifestyle. How much time do you want to put into your tank every week? How much money do you want to spend? Do you want a high maintenance tank? or a low maintenance tank?

I have a far different way of starting than has been suggested here. When starting a new project, I often have little idea of what it requires fully until I get more into it. The question is often a matter of how much I can get done with the amount of time, effort and money I am willing to spend. But that also takes some time to find out what it requires. So that leaves me wanting to start slow and easy and then work into it more or less as I find out what it takes.
My method is starting with what I do know I can do with the amount I'm willing to do on money,time,effort. I never do things quickly when I am sure I know little about the new project. Often the easy is also the least expensive. First go folks may kill a few things so I find it much better to kill a few cheap if it has to be, rather than investing in expensive only to find I killed it?
I find I do better by setting goals that I can and do achieve and then setting the sights higher when I find what it takes.
Cheap sand/dirt and plants combined with cheaper low level CO2 and ferts are a good way to find what it takes before adding the much, much higher lighting and CO2 equipment. Nothing turns me off as much as buying a bunch of junk that I find I don't need or want.

And it is always cheap to do a bunch of reading and study before breaking out the money!

I am like you. I want to buy it once. Not several times. In fact I just had to buy a new filter for my 15g. I should have bought what I wanted the first time. I did not make that mistake on my 40b. What size of tank do you have? I run eco complete and it works great. If you shop around you can pick it up from 20 - 30 dollars a bag. My co2 is basic but total cost is 300+. I use it for 2 tanks. You can get into paint ball size canisters for a decent price if the tank is small. Once you have the soil, filter, lights and co2 you are ready to go. I have had many algae problems but I knew with jumping into hitech I would. It all depends what kind of maintenance you are willing to do. I dose ei daily with my weekly water changes. It's not quick and simple but most things we have as hobbies are not. Just one man's opinion.

SJR said:

The tank iam going to put my plants is in 4ft tank when i get this week its going to be at-least 2 or 3week before anything goes init because it needs a good clean and paint job going to do a before and after picture if anyone is in interested in looking at them ill post them. But alot of people say you dont need co2 because the fish produce it and if i just doni diy one will that be enough

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Unless you overstock the tank the fauna will not produce enough CO2 to keep up with a lush tank that has anything thick growing. In the case of wanting a carpet, unless its Java Moss, you will not have any luck. Some carpeting plants don't need CO2, but you will be waiting ages to have the carpet you want.

brandon429 said:

since you are unsure, you just need to take a deliberate path that will end in a predicted way thats guaranteed.

go to the planted nanos forum, search for a tank called Shrimp Highball and copy that exact setup. its the cheapest you can do to get your feet wet in a predictable outcome manner, you'll have crazy plant growth.

sure you want to start a larger tank, we all did, but trust me with this level of indecisiveness you just need to actually start a small planted nano and then cash it in later for the big one. at this rate, you'll pay for a big one and get not much. decisiveness is the key, and shrimp highball thread is what you want to copy because it will work great and is just about bulletprooof.

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He says he has a tank, so going a highball method wouldn't be the best idea for him. Volume differences and all.

trds said:

Hi SJR,

what lighting are you using. T12, T8, T5, T5ho
high lighting no CO2 injection = algae.

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SJR without the overall specs of what you have we can't really give you feasible input. We need to know the following:

1 - Size of the aquarium
2 - Type of lighting you have
3 - Type of filtration
4 - Overall goal for the tank (besides wanting a carpet)