[SJR]

Need Help !

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

 

[sewoeno]

you don't have to do co2, i have a few planted tanks with just sand and good lights.. i dose flourish randomly but they are all super happy! i think lighting is more important. have you looked in the low tech section on here?

 

[Tihsho]

Welcome SJR,

First off you need to decide what plants you would like to keep. Why? Because some plants require CO2 for the nice growth you see where others don't need it. If you would like to go high tech (injected CO2, high lighting, nutrient substrate, and regular fert dosing) you have a lot of options for plants that have color or that grow low thick carpets. If you want something low tech (no CO2/DIY CO2, gravel/sand, occasional ferts and moderate lighting) you will be keeping broad leaf plants and some stem plants. Find some tanks that you like and post some pics of what you want and we can give you a better guideline of what you're going to be getting into.

SJR you posted this thread twice: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=625162

 

[Tihsho]

SJR you posted this thread twice: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=625178

 

[Stone454]

well as said above you also need to decide how much time you can invest into it, a high tech tank requires more time "checking co2 levels, checking ph, dialing in the right amount of ferts and light, and things like running around town getting co2 tanks swapped/refilled. lower tech tanks you do not have to monitor things as much but you still need to get the right amount of light dialed in and pick the right plants

 

[SJR]

I cant post pictures for some reason but if you go on youtube and type in nature choas green machine thats the one i want to build or even reciprocity by green machine thats my goal to make one of them

 

[SJR]

So biscally all i want is a plant as a carpet and some mid level plants. I dont want to buy a co2 system as they cost a bomb. So i want some plants that are a easy care level and that will look good together and dont want to spend too much on it either

 

[jbig]

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

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?

 

[PlantedRich]

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!

 

[SJR]

See iam different if you want to learn something ask some one then do it whats the point in starting small spending that money to only upgrade and buy different stuff for your tank. Its better to start big and end big. As i said ive already got a fish tank with my fish in and buying a 4ft fish tank soon so i was going to keep the fish in the one iam already using, then plant my plants in my new tank until it looks healthy enough and grown abit then i will put my smaller fish in the tank first to see if they die and work that way across, all this post was is to get some insight on whats the easiest plant to use as a carpet and will grow pritty fast and what other plants i should use as a mid level plant and what moss to use

 

[SJR]

And weather or not to buy a co2 system or soil etc

 

[Whjdm069]

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]

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

 

[brandon429]

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.

 

[trds]

Hi SJR,

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

 

[Tihsho]

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

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.

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.

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

Hi SJR,

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

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)

 

[SJR]

I dont know what type of light this new tank has at the min iam running a 5w light in about a 2ft tank. When i get the new tank i was going to buy a new light anyways i was thinking t5 light so your saying if i went with a higher light i wont need co2. I was going to use some aqua soil for the plants. My plans was to put auasoil in the middle of the tank then sand round the outside to make it look like a island

 

[lauraleellbp]

If you don't want to use CO2, then spend some time in the Low Tech forum looking at other people's setups to see how others have set up their tanks- equipment, plant species, etc.

This is a good thread to look through, a lot of info and ideas in this one thread: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=99729

 

[Tihsho]

I dont know what type of light this new tank has at the min iam running a 5w light in about a 2ft tank. When i get the new tank i was going to buy a new light anyways i was thinking t5 light so your saying if i went with a higher light i wont need co2. I was going to use some aqua soil for the plants. My plans was to put auasoil in the middle of the tank then sand round the outside to make it look like a island

Lets keep this simple. You're confusing yourself from the sounds of it

High ligher = CO2 = Ferts

Low light = CO2 Supplements (at most) = occasional ferts

If you don't want to use CO2, then spend some time in the Low Tech forum looking at other people's setups to see how others have set up their tanks- equipment, plant species, etc.

This is a good thread to look through, a lot of info and ideas in this one thread: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=99729

Agreed. Please do a bit more reading, it will pay off