I cant answer many of your questions, because I have never kept a large tank before, but I do know that I would much rather go with the 180 than the 110 given those dimensions. For non-co2 tank methods, google "el natural planted tank".
Old school newbie-intro and Qs
A little background on myself to start thigns off....
For most of my life Ive had some sort of fish tank. Of course I had the regular guppy tank with a few mollies and a pleco for the longest time when I was younger. Once I got to decide what went into my tanks (parents not paying
), I immediatly wanted something more challenging and diverse. I started out with a lot of half and half tanks with turtles, frogs, salamanders and the like. It grew into full on dart frog vivariums and reef tanks. I ended up having about one of every different type of tank I was interested in (PDF vivs, turtle paludarium, reef tank, FW planted, FW rock style, SW nano, the whole shabang) in my home. Last year a freek fire occured in my reef tank canopy and wiped out my tank and left my home powerless for a couple of weeks in the dead of winter. I lost most all of my collection of PDFs, day geckos, mantellas, fish and others, including the reef tank that was set a blaze :icon_frow
Well its been over a year now, and I think Im ready to take on a new project. Im going to be a little different this time, and not do so many tanks Luckily Ive got a 110 and a 180 that are empty and awaiting some sort of inhabitants. I think with tanks this size I can get the diversity and style I want with less quantity.
I had a 37 gallon planted tank before. I grew more interest for PDFs so the tank was converted to a vivarium and the fish/plants were transfered to the (then new) 110 paludarium. I may be looking to replace it based on some of your answers to the questions that follow
Im looking for something less maintenace than a reef, and something where I dont have to breed food items (ie fruit flies for PDFs and DGs). This brings me to the planted tank. Im thinking this will be a good way to get a beautiful diverse tank back into my home without adding the head aches of some of my other ventures.
My small list of questions (that will grow as I get answers):
1.) Which of these tanks would be better as a planted tank? The 110 is 48x18x29, and the 180 is 72x24x24. I know this is somewhat personal preference, but tell me yours...and why
2.) Can a planted tank of this size be done without C02? Any good reads on this?
3.) Where are all the tanks with roots? Ive been searching the forums religiously for the past few weeks and sledomely run across a tank (can only remember one) dominated by nice roots and wood. Is there somewhere I can find some pics of these (other than the profile section)?
4.) Can you keep shrimp in a tank this size and get to enjoy them?
I know some of my questions can be answered by searching about. I have allready done so over the last few months. Im looking for mroe detial than Im finding in the searches.
This seems to be a really good site with helpful members, so hopefully I can get some good feedback, and the help I need to get a beautiful planted tank going.
Thanks in advance!
For most of my life Ive had some sort of fish tank. Of course I had the regular guppy tank with a few mollies and a pleco for the longest time when I was younger. Once I got to decide what went into my tanks (parents not paying
), I immediatly wanted something more challenging and diverse. I started out with a lot of half and half tanks with turtles, frogs, salamanders and the like. It grew into full on dart frog vivariums and reef tanks. I ended up having about one of every different type of tank I was interested in (PDF vivs, turtle paludarium, reef tank, FW planted, FW rock style, SW nano, the whole shabang) in my home. Last year a freek fire occured in my reef tank canopy and wiped out my tank and left my home powerless for a couple of weeks in the dead of winter. I lost most all of my collection of PDFs, day geckos, mantellas, fish and others, including the reef tank that was set a blaze :icon_frow Well its been over a year now, and I think Im ready to take on a new project. Im going to be a little different this time, and not do so many tanks
Luckily Ive got a 110 and a 180 that are empty and awaiting some sort of inhabitants. I think with tanks this size I can get the diversity and style I want with less quantity.I had a 37 gallon planted tank before. I grew more interest for PDFs so the tank was converted to a vivarium and the fish/plants were transfered to the (then new) 110 paludarium. I may be looking to replace it based on some of your answers to the questions that follow
Im looking for something less maintenace than a reef, and something where I dont have to breed food items (ie fruit flies for PDFs and DGs). This brings me to the planted tank. Im thinking this will be a good way to get a beautiful diverse tank back into my home without adding the head aches of some of my other ventures.
My small list of questions (that will grow as I get answers
):1.) Which of these tanks would be better as a planted tank? The 110 is 48x18x29, and the 180 is 72x24x24. I know this is somewhat personal preference, but tell me yours...and why
2.) Can a planted tank of this size be done without C02? Any good reads on this?
3.) Where are all the tanks with roots? Ive been searching the forums religiously for the past few weeks and sledomely run across a tank (can only remember one) dominated by nice roots and wood. Is there somewhere I can find some pics of these (other than the profile section)?
4.) Can you keep shrimp in a tank this size and get to enjoy them?
I know some of my questions can be answered by searching about. I have allready done so over the last few months. Im looking for mroe detial than Im finding in the searches.
This seems to be a really good site with helpful members, so hopefully I can get some good feedback, and the help I need to get a beautiful planted tank going.
Thanks in advance!
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Im betting most will agree with the 180 over the 110. Im a little torn though, as I will porbably set up a reef tank in the future, and the 180 is WAY more suitable for that.
What type of lighting would you reccomend? Ive got tons of PC lighting that I can throw over it. I recently read a thread here about depth not reducing light, but Im a bit skeptical until I read a lot more on the subject. It goes against all the experience I have keeping reefs. Im hoping PC light will be enough because Ive got 1000 watts or more collecting dust along with the tanks.
Ive searched the gallery and the tank profiles extensively. I just dont see many tank with extensive stumps/roots/bog wood/drift wood (whatever you want to call it
) to my liking. Ive seen plenty of isniration, but not in the direction I think Id go towards. I guess from adding massive quanitites of wood to vivariums to add surface area, Ive grown acustomed to wood dominated hardscapes. I may have to stry from that, bu I dont know if Im giving in yet Thanks for sharing your thoughts so far. I look forward to hearing what you think about PC lighting, and any other reccomendations you have.
Thanks a lot. I read your post and will go back and read the entire thread. Thats just the info Im looking for. I found some such material in the low-tech forum here, so Ive got a lot more reading/searching to do here as well.
1 - 6 of 6 Posts
