Start of my first planted tank

24865 Views 165 Replies 29 Participants Last post by Neatfish, Jul 24, 2014

Neatfish

Discussion Starter · Aug 31, 2012

This thread will be for my first planted tank. I already got all the stuff to get this done except co2. Equipment: 29g tank with hood, t8 light, big bag of Eco complete, root tabs, dwarf hair grass, bacopa, aquatop cf400-Uv canister filter, 29g wood stand. Tomorrow I'm going to get the stand built and by the night it should be ready to plant. I been reading for months about this stuff now it's time for hands on. I welcome any tips to help me have a nice planted tank. Maybe a nice piece of drift wood in the middle with some moss growing off it like a tree. I'm going for that carpet look maybe some tall grass toward the back.

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Neatfish

Discussion Starter · #2 · Aug 31, 2012

Nothing to add?

pejerrey

· #3 · Aug 31, 2012

Start heavily planted and with the co2 up and running. Yes, while it cycles.
6hrs light in the beginning.

Did I already say start heavily planted and with co2 from day one?

Django

· #4 · Aug 31, 2012

I had mixed results with my 18" F8 on a 10gal tank. Of course, it was the one that came with the canopy :frown:. Now I have a dual 24" F12 last used in 1990 on there and it's working much better. More expensive to run - 20w x 2 vs. 15w x 1 F8.

Another piece: 10 gallon tanks are 13" high.

Neatfish

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 3, 2012

Update: The stand is built it was a pain to put together nothing was connecting together right. Got the hood and light put together. Tank is now on the stand. Next i need to put together the filter add eco complete get it planted fill it up with water. Yup it's been a fun day getting mad that nothing was lining up good.

Neatfish

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 3, 2012

Update: Got the filter put together and it took me a hour to prime the dam thing. Eco complete and plants are in the tank filled it up with water and tetra safe start. Now the heater is warming up the water. Don't worry I will get pics soon.

QQQUUUUAADDD

· #7 · Sep 3, 2012

Why do you need the root tabs when you have Eco?

Neatfish

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 3, 2012

Because the more help the better I'm guessing.

Neatfish

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 3, 2012

9

Update with pics:

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AirstoND

· #10 · Sep 3, 2012

Let the aquascaping begin!

Don't forget the background. You say you're going for the carpeted look, ever consider a blue-white background, in addition to some hardscaping/mosses?

Consider getting cories, otos, trumpet and nerite snails to control the new tank diatom and algea blooms and start nutrient/waste management cycle.

caykuu

· #11 · Sep 3, 2012

You should post this thread under "tank journals". Perfect place to start a "making-of" for new setups like yours.

Neatfish

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 3, 2012

I don't know how to move this but if a mod can that will be fine. Maybe I'll do a white back ground.

Neatfish

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 5, 2012

4

Here is some new pics.

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pejerrey

· #14 · Sep 5, 2012

Are all those the plants real?

Hmmm, you may not have enough plant mass to have a long photoperiod without have an algae explosion.
Just be conservative with the light. It's the driving force.

-may the light be with you-

PinkRasbora

· #15 · Sep 5, 2012

Are those just bubbles on the glass?

aquarist

· #16 · Sep 5, 2012

They appear to be just bubbles.

Sethjohnson30

· #17 · Sep 5, 2012

QQQUUUUAADDD said:
Why do you need the root tabs when you have Eco?

Eco complete does not have much to it. I just set up a 72g w/ Eco complete and my plants were dying within two days. I added root tabs and I'm dosing a small amount of dry ferts. My plants are flourishing it's been two months, no sign of algae(knock on wood)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sethjohnson30

· #18 · Sep 5, 2012

pejerrey said:
Are all those the plants real?

Hmmm, you may not have enough plant mass to have a long photoperiod without have an algae explosion.
Just be conservative with the light. It's the driving force.

-may the light be with you-

Fake plants are bad uhhhhh..... They cut your fish. And fake plants are bad.....

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Neatfish

Discussion Starter · #19 · Sep 5, 2012

I'm taking the fake plants out. That's bubbles from the spray bar.

pejerrey

· #20 · Sep 5, 2012

I wouldn't have the light on for more than 4 hrs for now.

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