how much money would it take to change a 185 gallon cichlid tank into a planted tank complete with co2, soil, plants, and lights
how much $
- Thread starter oscarfish1395
- Start date
A good system can cost anywhere from a few hundred up to a few thousand or more.
It all depends on what you have, what you need, what you can make, and what you can't. We'll need some specifics before we can even start to address your question.
What plants do you want? What livestock? How much maintenance? Do you want to have to dose ferts? Do you want to create a sealed system?
These are starter questions, there will be many more to come in order to finish your planning, let alone setup.
It all depends on what you have, what you need, what you can make, and what you can't. We'll need some specifics before we can even start to address your question.
What plants do you want? What livestock? How much maintenance? Do you want to have to dose ferts? Do you want to create a sealed system?
These are starter questions, there will be many more to come in order to finish your planning, let alone setup.
i'm thinking about some discus, 2 plecos, some cories and a schools of tetras including neons and blacks skirts. im want to use cabomba, valisneria, green foxtail(myriophyllum pinnatum), amazon swordplant, and green wendtii. i am welcome to any suggestions about the plants and livestock. i want the maintenance to be medium difficulty. as for dosing ferts i might but the substrate will be seachems fluorite black so i will do so accordingly. im not sure what you mean by a sealed system, i have done planted tanks before but on a smaller and less sophisticated scale. Thanks.
CO2 systems for that size tank will run about $400 go for the Automatic dosing system as it's safer then the set an pray systems, it requires more tweaking. For lights you could go with a 2 or 4 48" dual tube holders at $100 or $200 (McMasterCarr) respectively not including bulbs.
The bigger the better. I'm using a 5 lbs tank and will be upgrading to a 20lbs ($110 http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/tanks/co2/C20.shtml ) tank as the refills can get to be a hassle. On the 55 I had to refill it once every 3 months. In that tank if it's heavily planted and they starts to grow you'll burn through a 5 lbs in a week depending on the number of fish.
Yeah. Should be good. Also before you start down this path makes sure you have some place to refill the bottle. None of my local paintball shops had the valves for larger tanks. Check for welding supply stores near you. They are much cheaper $65 (local pet store) vs $12. If there is no place to fill large bottles you might need to go with keeping a bunch of 20Oz. bottles which are easier to get filled, my local HW store, Sportsmen store and Wally world can fill these.