Snailman":3rj8n4c8 said:
beaslbob":3rj8n4c8 said:
Snailman":3rj8n4c8 said:
Where is a good place to learn about starting a planted tank? I am bored with one of my tanks and would love to try this.
Diane Walstad's Ecology of the planted tank.
[edit added later]
more precisely: 'ECOLOGY of the PLANTED AQUARIUM - A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist'. [/edit]
Or just ask me how I do mine or others on this board as well.
:lol:
How do you do yours?
I think my 37 gallon would convert nicely.
For my 10g here is how I start. Upsize accordingly
add 1" of Sphagnum peat moss ($10 ofr a 3/4 cubic foot bale)
add water to top of moss and level substrate and clean tank
add 1" play sand and repeat water and clean up
add 1" of pro choice select (or aquarium gravel) and again clean and add water. I special ordered the pro choice select for $8/50 pound bag. It is a red clay gravel.
add 4-6 bunches of anacharis, 4-6 vals, 4 small potted plants and a single amazon sword. This is a mix of fast growers and slowers
Fill water (over a plate to spread water out) until tank full
let set 1 week
add 1 fish.
wait 1 week with no food.
add more fish and start feeding a flake per day.
I use about 2 watts/ gallon for pit tail lights 6500k. For a 35g that would be 3-4 20w pig tails.
replace water that evaporates.
And that's about it.
I have found that for most fish like live bearers just play sand is fine for the substrate. But for more delicate fish like neon tetras the peat moss is needed. The layering helps limit the initial cloudiness. I also just started actually testing and found the peat prevents KH and gh rise over years. PH is 8.4-8.8 using the api test kit. Fish do fine.
and just in case you think I forgot, no mechanical filtration or circulation of any kind. Just the tank, substrate, plants, fish, and light.
my .02