[luda2001]

Update

shutting tank down for sale or trade
bought 49 rimless 36x18x18 starting soon still need some equipment
looking for quad t5ho 36in light fixture with hanging kit (bought already)
eheim 2217 canister filter with lily pipes (bought already)

Hi All

This is my first attempt with plants. Im a saltwater guy but sold my set up about 3 yrs ago. I got a great deal on a 20g marinland combo kit with stand told the wife just a small set up not like the monster I had lol So i've been roaming around gathering info from this site. Im looking to do a med to low tech planted.

Here is my Equipment list

20g tall with stand
beamswork 24 in planted EVO [email protected] 6500k
40lbs of eco-complete (3in sandbed)
nano 240gph hydor k
100watt heater
marineland biowheel 150 HOB
c02 aquatek reg and paintball 20oz setup
glass nano diffusor
glass drop checker
2 pieces of driftwood

6500k evo light 2.4wpg
is this enough light for a carpet thats my main goal?

tank is cycling right now just with eco complete and buddy's dirty media

any advice, help or plant list cause im not sure yet but I do want a nice carpet bottom hc cuba im lovin

Thank you kindly
Alex

 

[luda2001]

Update


Cycling tank right now still waiting for some parts for c02 setup before I add plants

What do you guy's think so far?

any advice on dry ferts i bought excel and iron from big als so far

 

[futurezach]

Where did you get the aquatek regulator? Which one did you buy?

 

[charlie1]

Update

Cycling tank right now still waiting for some parts for c02 setup before I add plants

What do you guy's think so far?

any advice on dry ferts i bought excel and iron from big als so far

Congrats on finally finding the cool niche in this hobby .
I read your posts, from my understanding you got some grungy media with your tank & is cycling the tank with it, I`m concerned that the good guys in that grungy media may have died off if (1) it was out of the tank too long & (2) there is no ammonia feeding the cycle , either by fish waste or other.

I would not wait for your co2 parts to start planting. Plant the tank heavy from now , unless the parts are months away.
Regards

 

[jimmyjam]

looks good so far, I would second the opinion of planting right away, it really helps with the cycle. You said you already have excel, so you can start dosing your carbon source from the get go.

As with dry ferts, being your first try at this, you might want to look into the liquid stuff, either commercial brands, or I can get you a premix EI dosing.

You should have enough lighting for HC, Ill have some in about a week if you wanted some.

I would also tie some moss to that driftwood, with maybe some narrow leaf ferns.

I also see that you have a powerhead, how much flow is going through there? flow is great for a planted tank, but make sure its not too much otherwise you will drive off the CO2.

lets see some pics when you plant.

 

[charlie1]

Something else to note, I see you are running a HOB filter with a bio wheel, that filter would be counter productive to keeping co2 in solution, as CO2 is easily outgassed with any surface disturbance. Look into a canister filter.
Regards

 

[luda2001]

Hey thanks for the replies guys

futurezach I got aquatic mini from ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-AQUATEK...751?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bf2657a7

its a hydor nano 240gph smallest of the series just to move the co2 once installed

I got the dirty media from my buddies tank he cleaned his canister out and brought it right away in a little garbage can so it was in water the whole time

I filled the 20 oz paintball can today 5$ @ sgt splatter in toronto all I'm waiting for now is nano diffusor

I went today to AI to buy eheim canister 2213 but they were sold out so big als in brampton is gonna match the sale price so I'm heading there tomorrow morning and yes hob suck can't stand them at all
hob for sale after tomorrow...lol

and jimmjam ill take you up on that offer for hc cuba how much?

 

[luda2001]

Today was my first time at AI and WOW its really nice there . the wife and I both loved the 46 gallon starfire .Really thinking about selling my 20 lol and buying the star fire tank any takers on the 20 , great guys that work there Im starting to like planted world tanks they are very beautiful

 

[jimmyjam]

ya AI is awesome, Sam is the best guy to deal with there.

Pm me, and ill get you price an plant list.

I love how your hooked, its been over 15 years since my first planted, and I feel like a kid every time I start a new tank.

 

[luda2001]

shutting down 20g starting 49 rimless

Update :

Im gonna be shutting down the 20g which is up for sale now. I got a great deal on a 49 fire tank from kijiji (thank you sam from AI for helping me out)

tank stand and aqua soil

what do u guys think?

looking to get orphek par78 for lighting just waiting from them on how much
or aquaticlife t5h0 quad
eheim 2215 with lily pipes from ai waiting for them to restock

wont be stating it yet till i finshed installing my hardwood floors tank to heavy to move when filled

any advice guys ?????

 

[pyrrolin]

sweet tank

 

[charlie1]

Did not take you long , those tanks have a way of calling you.
Can you share the dimensions of the tank, forgive my ignorance, but can you provide some details on the " orphek par78 ".
I`m starting to think you maybe better off with a bigger co 2 bottle & regulator as opposed to the paint ball set up.
Regards

 

[default]

I agree, that paintball tank will be a PITA as it'll run out so fast. Get a 10 pounder and it'll last years! I had one on a 29g for 2 years now and it's still at least 25% full.
Nice looking tank though, Looks like it, but is it the AI Fire tank?

 

[jimmyjam]

def get the 10 lb. thats what i run on the same tank. If you put it on the market, someone will pickup that paintgun canister and reg within in a few days I bet.

 

[coldmantis]

Did not take you long , those tanks have a way of calling you.
Can you share the dimensions of the tank, forgive my ignorance, but can you provide some details on the " orphek par78 ".
I`m starting to think you maybe better off with a bigger co 2 bottle & regulator as opposed to the paint ball set up.
Regards

I agree, there is four issues I'm concerned about with your recent upgrade and the hardware you want to use

1) 49g tank and a eheim 2215, if you ever plan on overstocking in the future I suggest you get the 2217 instead. I personally use 2 2217 on my 40g breeder

2) not sure how tall your tank is but an led might limit your plant options especially carpeting plants

3) the type of diffuser your using will not be efficient at all in a tank that size

4)20oz paintball co2, well you better get a really really good diffuser, so you can achieve optimal co2 levels with the least amount of bubble rate. Your going to have to run the bubble rate pretty high in your glass diffuser, maybe 8 bubbles a sec? But then the bubbles will be too big and it will just rise and pop out of water. I think when I had my 24oz paintball co2 running about 4 bubbles a second with a solenoid it lasted about 1.5 months before a refill is needed.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 4

 

[luda2001]

Update

Just picked up aquatic life 6 bulb t5ho from kevin on here overkill i no but great deal couldn't pass on it

I like tank mount but im gonna hang it and replace the actinic bulbs with 65k and rosette bulbs

For now im gonna use the paintball set up ill upgrade the tank later as this tank is only good to july 2014 so I dont mind filling up ever month or longer paintball place is close by

. Now for filter as mentioned looking at eheim 2217 and lily pipes

im planning to start the tank in may just buying everything I need

Thnx everyone for your advice

 

[luda2001]

Update

Just picked up aquatic life 6 bulb t5ho from kevin on here overkill i no but great deal couldn't pass on it

I like tank mount but im gonna hang it and replace the actinic bulbs with 65k and rosette bulbs

For now im gonna use the paintball set up ill upgrade the tank later as this tank is only good to july 2014 so I dont mind filling up ever month or longer paintball place is close by

. Now for filter as mentioned looking at eheim 2217 and lily pipes

im planning to start the tank in may just buying everything I need

Thnx everyone for your advice

20 gallon still for sale or trade for eheim filter and lily pipes

 

[luda2001]

Sorry double post stupid phone

 

[jimmyjam]

good call on the lights and 6 bulbs isnt too much. I have the same setup. I believe that fixture has timers on them. See if you can program them so you get a mid day burst for 2-3 hours with 6 bulbs, and 4 bulbs durings the other times. Just remember, more light = more Co2 and ferts. Try also to add some substrate ferts before beginning, so you dont have to disturb the substrate after you plant, especially in the areas that you expect to plant root feeders.

Here is my setup from 2 years ago. Yes those are DIY conduits painted plack. Lights are hung with stainless steel wires from home depot, I locked them in permanently ( I would try to make them adjustable in my future builds).

 

[luda2001]

Wow jimmyjam your tank is very beautiful great job I hope one day mine can look as good as yours ya the light lets me use 3 lights on one switch so yes iwas thinking to run 3 all day and a miday burst of the other 3 right now fixture has 3 10ks and 3 actinic gonna get rid of atinic and buy 65k and rosette what do u think shouod be my all day lights then moday burst? Also now talking ferts still little bit confused about them what do I need jimmy maybe I can come over and pic your head..lol im gonna look into a hanging kit today
Thanks guys for help and info planted world is alot of work so far and im nit even running