Help With my 10g Planted Please!

[jmitchell]

Hello All!

Im making a 10g planted dwarf puffer tank for my dorm room to replace my 10g reef (coral is too expensive). I already have the 10g tank, a 50w stealth heater, 2 AC20s, and the thermometer for the tank, but I have a few questions:

1. I have a 70w Metal Halide Viper Lamp I used on my reef, would this be too much light for FW plants and the puffers? If not I could get the current satellite fixture for 80 or 40 watts of power compact lighting.

2. I have no experience with CO2 injectors. If someone would be kind enough to let me know how they work and what would be the absolute best for a heavily planted 10g with lighting options, id appreciate it!

3. Would the 2 AC20s be enough/ too much filtration? Flow?

Lastly, with my lighting, is there any plants I couldn't use because of either too much or too little light?

And...

What (if any) does everyone recommend to dose for a planted tank?

I really want the best of the best as far as equipment goes, so money shouldnt be an issue as long as it isnt outrageous (I dumped over 1500 into my 10g reef, so Im used to it )

Sorry for all the questions! Im just trying to get all the stuff I need for Christmas!

 

[davo]

Moved this to the planted/aquascaping area, you might get a better response there.

 

[WyldFya]

Read the sticky at the top of the planted section for beginners. That will get you started and running. As far as the lighting, you can use MH, but get the right spectrum. If you use that type of lighting, the ac20s will not be usable, and you will have to have co2 injection.

 

[Cohazard]

Here's the best guide to planted tanks I've read. It's thurough, to the point, and funny to boot: Rex's Planted Tank Summary

This guide is what helped me finally understand dry fertilizer dosing (it would be a good idea to join that forum as well, lots of great advice and help): All about FERTILIZER! - m.lemay TPF (the planted tank forum)


HTH, there's a TON of information contained in those two links and you really should be able to run a successful tank. Plus, we're always here to answer questions and help.

 

[WyldFya]

Here's the best guide to planted tanks I've read. It's thurough, to the point, and funny to boot: Rex's Planted Tank Summary

This guide is what helped me finally understand dry fertilizer dosing (it would be a good idea to join that forum as well, lots of great advice and help): All about FERTILIZER! - m.lemay TPF (the planted tank forum)


HTH, there's a TON of information contained in those two links and you really should be able to run a successful tank. Plus, we're always here to answer questions and help.

We have a guideline to setting up planted tanks here as well.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49718

 

[Bk828]

Here's the best guide to planted tanks I've read. It's thurough, to the point, and funny to boot: Rex's Planted Tank Summary

This guide is what helped me finally understand dry fertilizer dosing (it would be a good idea to join that forum as well, lots of great advice and help): All about FERTILIZER! - m.lemay TPF (the planted tank forum)


HTH, there's a TON of information contained in those two links and you really should be able to run a successful tank. Plus, we're always here to answer questions and help.

thanks that rex page actually does have good info

 

[Cohazard]

thanks that rex page actually does have good info

Sure does! Glad you found it helpful!

Don't forget to check out the fertilizer guide too because there's a lot of important information in it such as the chemical names of the 3 macro nutrient ferts, which are commonly referenced as N, P, and K.

Potassium Nitrate -N- (KNO3)

Postassium Sulfate -P- (K2S04)

it doesn't give the name for mono potassium phosphate -K- , but it's KH2P04

1. I have a 70w Metal Halide Viper Lamp I used on my reef, would this be too much light for FW plants and the puffers? If not I could get the current satellite fixture for 80 or 40 watts of power compact lighting.

2. I have no experience with CO2 injectors. If someone would be kind enough to let me know how they work and what would be the absolute best for a heavily planted 10g with lighting options, id appreciate it!

3. Would the 2 AC20s be enough/ too much filtration? Flow?

Lastly, with my lighting, is there any plants I couldn't use because of either too much or too little light?

And...

What (if any) does everyone recommend to dose for a planted tank?

Sorry I forgot to try to help with the questions.

1) Those all sound like great lights. Personally, I'd stick with PC lighting, but keeping with MH just means you can keep the extremely high light plants, and you'll be trimming like mad!


2) Peep the link to Rex Grigg's planted tank guide. It'll give you a lot of facts about lighting and C02 injection.

3) Yes, they would cause too much surface agitation, and gas off your C02. In planted tanks, you want minimal surface disturbance, as the plants will produce the oxygen for your fish.

You do want good flow in a planted tank though, so switching to a filter with spray bar below water level, or using power heads will give you the flow you need, again, be careful the flow isn't agitating the surface too much.

From what I've read, even anubias (commonly referred to as a low-light plant) will thrive in high light conditions. If you notice problems, you can always shade the low-light plants with larger stem plants, or under driftwood shadows etc., but they should be fine in high light setups.

With the MH, there's no plant you can't keep, however there might be plants you can't keep up with!


HTH