Going to try and plant a tank

[HybridHerp]

one bulb should be plenty, but two bulbs would work

fluorite doesn't really have nutrients though, it just retains nutrients super well...you'd need to fert eventually regardless

two bulbs though would require more nutrients...and might land you in needing co2 levels of light, which isn't bad per say but that gets costly and not what I recommend unless you want to go all out for your first planted tank

I guess though from how that fixture looks it makes more sense to have two bulbs in it...which may or may not be a ton of light....you'll want to research fertilizers before you set this up though, else you ma find yourself with an algae farm relatively shortly lol

HC is also a really painfully annoying plant....want something easier with the same look go for monte carlo (also known as MC3)

What's the borneo fern? Java fern is a thing but I don't know of any borneo fern....a quick google search tells me that its not an aquatic plant though and would die if kept submerged.

 

[burbon44s]

Do you have to use fluorite? Can your LFS get Eco Complete?
The Eco Complete has always worked best for me. Only problem is it's really fine and you would need to maybe use gravel to keep your plants rooted.

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[ehh]

Thanks everyone for the advice!
as for the Borneo fern, because you mentioned it, I am just now reading it's not aquatic. It was sold to me and an aquatic plant. I'll remove it now :-/.
As for the Eco complete, I don't know if he can order it. I can ask but he already has the onyx sand and fluorite in stock. And like I said, just trying to help out the lfs.

I will post pictures and probably a video once I set this bad boy up.


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[F1 VET]

I have used Fluorite in planted tanks, and it works very well, and never noticed an ammonia spike.
I did not like the look when using it alone, a bit too red (especially in photos)

I found by placing it under a layer of pool filter sand gave a more natural appearance, and having the sand more in the foreground, and fluorite toward the back wall more to my taste.

Have the same combo substrate plus a little river rock.


OP, Just know the flourite will eventually run out of nutrients! Depends on amount of flourite vs plants but mine ran out after 6-8months with a lot of plants!

Also on a new planted tank the spare nutrients from the substrate can cause a little algae because it takes the plants a little time to get establish and root to uptake the nutrients the substrate holds.

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Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763

 

[ehh]

So when it runs out of nutrients I need to replace it? Is there an alternative to that? Will the onyx sand eventually run out too?

Thanks for the heads up on the algae. I don't mind that though. It's just a algae.


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[HybridHerp]

So when it runs out of nutrients I need to replace it? Is there an alternative to that? Will the onyx sand eventually run out too?

Thanks for the heads up on the algae. I don't mind that though. It's just a algae.


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That's why you need to look into fertilization. Fluorite retains and absorbs nutrients from the water column to make available for the plant roots over time. You're going to need fertilization.


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