Joe. Making a RR tank into a planted tank is very doable. Many people have done it. There are obvious benefits and drawbacks. Will it outgas Co2 more rapidly than a tank w/o a sump? Sure to some degree, but I for one really like the fact that all the equipment can be moved out of the tank and placed in the sump.
Really after set up, you may have to work out a few quarks, but I've seen some pretty incredible RR tanks set up as planted tanks. I guess it's up to you if you want to balance the Co2 loss vs. set up options. Personally I feel that the pros outweigh the cons on a large scale. I have enough complexity in my reef tanks, that I like to keep my planted tanks simple, canister set-ups. But to each their own
Good Luck.
Thanks for your reply, i have had it setup as a planted tank and i did somewhat well. besides the plant eating fish i had. :icon_lol:
I would really love to see this 240gal tank one monstrous tank setup all planted , man it would look sweet! the bigger the better i always say. but with that comes a price.
it was turn this 240 into a planted tank or a FOWLR or a Reef. i really don't want to go Reef or FOWLR with it right now as it is in my Living room. and the last thing i wanna hear is a big skimmer slapping water around next to my couch when trying to watch a moving. the tank is silent as it is now with FW, i have overflow silencers in the reef boxes and the reef boxes are also sealed as well as the sump. so you don't hear it at all. allot of people come over and ask if it is on lol
When i start this i want to do it right so i succeed with it and not have plants dieing off, but growing like weeds.
last time i had it planted i had over 2ft java ferns and blooming baby-lings left and right. and i didn't have much lighting and just a carbo block. i would like to hook up all of my equipment to my sump such as the Co2 equipment and then have it returned into the tank that way. the tank is also Acrylic so not a lot of space with it being sealed along the top for HOB's etc.
maybe ill get a couple of local guys to come over and help out with the project :icon_lol:
also as for the fish i plan to have in it, just some tetras and angels. maybe a ram or two. and a few other's