Setting up my 260 as a low tech planted tank, using a layer of aquatic compost capped with a layer of sand. For lighting I have 2 x 54 watt T5HO bulbs and four 50 watt LED floodlights (I can cut the number down if I have algae problems). Can anyone recommend plants that will do well in this set up? Will I have to add ferts even though i'm using compost and if so what kind?
Low Tech Plants
- Thread starter Jhncf
- Start date
Wow! 260 is very ambitious if you're new to planted tanks. Tank dimensions would help but sounds like you have sufficient lighting. You'll do well with anubias, java fern & moss along with some floaters (frogbits)...ferts in the water column. Root tabs required for those in substrates. I've thrown in ludwigia in my low tech setup but they do not color up nor grow as well without co2 & higher lighting.
I recently moved a low tech setup from a 40 gal to a 110 gal...because it was doing so well in the smaller setup. I'm experiencing a very bad algae bloom. With a larger setup, there is a lot more nutrients in the water.
I recently moved a low tech setup from a 40 gal to a 110 gal...because it was doing so well in the smaller setup. I'm experiencing a very bad algae bloom. With a larger setup, there is a lot more nutrients in the water.
Dimensions are 7Lx2.5Wx2H. It's not my first planted tank but it's my first dirted tank. I've ordered 200 mixed plants online and I'm just going to plant heavily and see what does well. Surely the nutrient levels will always be relative to the size of the tank as a larger tank will also have more water to dilute them? For the first couple of weeks I'll do regular water changes to keep nutrient levels down.
Hope you have better luck with those flood lights than I did. I had a 150 dirted tank that was 2 ft tall also...plants grew tall & slender and anubias eventually melted. I also found lots of air pockets in the substrate I capped with blasting sand.
Good luck!
Good luck!
My substrate was 2 inches in the front and 3 inches towards the back. Bad odor came from the air pockets and fine particles from the potting mix I used would come up with the bubbles. I read that the air pockets would eventually go away but I didn't keep the substrate long enough to see it happen (about 3 months). I was adding ferts to the water column. I would say there wasn't enough lighting along with the black background and black blasting sand. I used 2 flood lights over a 5 ft aquarium that was 2 ft in height.
Thanks, just trying to learn from others mistakes so hopefully I have a bit more success! I'll be using 2 x 50 watt flood lights and the 2 x 54 watt t5ho to begin with and can up that if necessary. My dirt is all 1-1.5" and sand is about 1" eith an extra bag in case I have to cover up any spots. Whatever way it goes it'll be a learning experience
