Getting started thread( everyone may use/ reply)

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
MHcblues119;1663942; said:
The thing i need to know the most is how do i clean the tank and wat type of filtration for this tank
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Cleaning should be the same as for a non-planted set up except you shouldn't vacuum the gravel around plants. Filtration is pretty much the same also. Just try to avoid agitating the surface too much as you'll lose some of your CO2.
 
The first pic isn't tennelus, it's hair grass. The second picture, you have Echinodorus tennelus on the right, and a different echinodorus species, that is just starting to grow it's submerged leaves. The third picture is glossostigma.
 
okay so for a 25g tank would one hang on filter be enough filtration??? I will do 25 percent waterchances twice a day?sounds good? also should i have a bubbler set on a timer so that it turns out as the lights die down????

Also is the plant substrate required and if so can i mix it with the sand i have now??
 
and if so since the plant substrate is bigger grain then the sand i should lay it on top of the sand??or does it now matter if they mix together?
 
MHcblues119;1670184; said:
okay so for a 25g tank would one hang on filter be enough filtration??? I will do 25 percent waterchances twice a day?sounds good? also should i have a bubbler set on a timer so that it turns out as the lights die down????

Also is the plant substrate required and if so can i mix it with the sand i have now??
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An HOB filter will do okay as long as you keep the water level up. Otherwise you'll churn up the surface of the water and lose some of the CO2 you're injecting. For a 25g if the plants are doing well then they'll remove most of the harmful stuff, so you could probably get away with just a powerhead for flow.

25% twice a day?!?.:eek: That's way too much. You'll remove all the nutrients the plants need before they have a chance to use them. Go with about 20% every other week. If you don't like the levels after a while, bump it up to every week.

A plant specific substrate helps, but not exactly necessary. If want to keep the sand you have that's fine, just make sure you use root tabs so your plants don't starve. You can add a plant substrate on top of your sand or mix it in if you want. Just make sure that the total height of the substrate doesn't go above 3 inches and you should be fine.
 
keep in mind that the tiger barbs also known as Sumatra Barbs can be hell, they look cool are very active and hardy (if water is clean) but they can be more aggressive than a pihrana
 
Try and layer the substrate and sand. Also the tiger barbs will get aggressive when not in a school. If you get a good cleaning crew for your tank, little cleaning is required. Also some substrates on the market will break down fish waste so the plants can use it.
 
It's actually the bacteria on the substrate that break down the mulm, not the substrate itself. Any established substrate can do that, it's just that some come right out of the package with the bacteria already established on them.
 
I'll touch in on the filtration. A smaller can would be the way to go (Maybe Rena Filstar XP 1 or 2). Whatever brand you choose, the canister will create less surface agitation, thus less CO2 lost to outgassing.

If you want HC or glosso, I would go at least around 3 wpg (watts per gallon) in HO t5. You could probably get this from the Nova T5 Xtremes. Google around, they are very reasonably priced.

I would suggest Flourite or Mineralized Soil substrate (I posted a thread with an article a few days ago). Sand or gravel will work though.

I rarely gravel vac the areas of my tank with plants (pretty much all). I just kind of skim the hose over the roots.

Good luck, planted tanks are an addiction!
 
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