First planted tank any pointers 120gal (fahaka)

[nmullens]

I have a 120gal 4*2*2 tank with 260Wat @ 6700k . I have 120lbs of eco complete and 60 lbs of fluorite black sand.

I plan on laying my tank out so that 3 feet of it is covered in eco complete and 1 foot covered in the black fluorite sand(so my fahaka can bury him self).
I will have one large stump with roots sprawling across the tank(home made with Styrofoam, cement, paint and Epoxy) looks cool pic comming..

I plant to have Dwarf hair grass and micro sword for my ground cover. Some other plants I plan to try.


Cryptocoryne Balansae
Aponogeton ulvaceus
Micro sword
Dwarf hair grass
Tiger Lotus
Subwassertang (round pellia)
Star Moss
Narrow leaf javafern
Giant Marino ball
Downoi Pogostemon helferi
Red Cryptocoryne wendtii
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Cryptocoryne lucens
Cryptocoryne undulata
Cryptocoryne bekettii
Cryptocoryne nevillii
Crinum thaianum

I dont plan to do C02 yet as I would like to keep it a low-med light tank. I have never done a planted tank to this scale before and would love any input that anyone with some experiance can give me. Also I would like to hear if my selected plants will work.

Thanks in advance..

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

and welcome to MFK!

Great decision to plant your tank. But you've got quite the laundry list of species. Some are easier to keep than others, some grow extremely slow, other faster. Be prepared that only a few species will eventually succeed in your tank, it all depends on your water chemistry and water movement. And ferts. Liquid ferts are a must! Make sure to plan these into your budget.

Best of luck,
HarleyK

 

[nmullens]

Hey HarleyK,

Thanks for the welcome,

I have finally finished my Styrofoam stump if any one is interested they can see the process and finished result in the slide show hear
http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd214/nmullens/Stump/?albumview=slideshow

About fets I have read that I wont need them with the eco complete, should I dose anyways? If so does anyone know what ferts will be safe with my puffer?

also I am removing the downoi, and the star moss from my list of plants in my tank. And I have been told that my hair grass will die from lack of light and C02 so I am expecting that to no do so well

 

[asianmick]

Hey HarleyK,

Thanks for the welcome,

I have finally finished my Styrofoam stump if any one is interested they can see the process and finished result in the slide show hear
http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd214/nmullens/Stump/?albumview=slideshow

About fets I have read that I wont need them with the eco complete, should I dose anyways? If so does anyone know what ferts will be safe with my puffer?

also I am removing the downoi, and the star moss from my list of plants in my tank. And I have been told that my hair grass will die from lack of light and C02 so I am expecting that to no do so well

cant wait to see it in the tank. what size tank are u putting it in?

 

[nmullens]

120gal 4*2*2, I will silicone then stump into my tank in two day, let the silicone set for two more days then I can start the set up the tank

 

[asianmick]

nice hope to see it soon

 

[5am]

wow amazing work on the stump! do update with pics

 

[dragonfish]

Nice work on the stump, looking forward to seeing it in tank. Glad you have the patience for that. I have the skills but when I get a tank I want it filled as fast as possible. Waiting a few weeks would kill me.

 

[nmullens]

Yah I hear yah. I am actually converting my old African tank into a planted tank. I decided to do it over two months ago, and finally sold my Africans about two weeks ago, and have been working on the stump for about three weeks. I am going to silicone it in my tank today and hope to start putting water and plants in it on sunday. My large plant shipment comes in next wedensday or thurday. Then I will keep it just a planted tank for two or three months to let the plats grow in. Then I will add my fahaka who is in a grow tank right now. I am not that patient but I have a specific vision in my head and it is taking lots of time for it to turn out right. I can't wait to get watter in my tank

 

[nmullens]

Finally go the stump in my tank. I am still waiting for my large plant order but hear are some pics.