New to planted tanks and such-135 setup

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Backfromthedead

Backfromthedead

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Jul 12, 2017
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Fredericksburg va
Just recently shifted my stock around, leaving my 36x24x36 tank empty. Ive decided to attempt a planted tank with it, which is a first for me.

Need advice for plants, lighting, substrate, temperature, stocking, pretty much anything and everything a beginner should know.

I use a large sponge filter with powerhead. Ph is generally right around 7 for my tap water.

Tentative plans are some valisneria and amazon swords. I'd like to keep my threadfin acara and 3 clown loaches in this tank initially. Hopefully keep the temperature around 80-82. Ive already laid down 15 lbs. Of floramax substrate. Was thinking of mizing in some black sand or pebbles or should i just go with all floramax?

Biggest step right now is the lighting. Ive been looking at the fluval aquasky lights and finnex programmable led strips. Maybe even a decent reef light setup. Really just need a push in the right direction.

I'll post some pictures of my setup so far after a while. Thanks for any and all advice!
 
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Would do just the floramax substrate. It has a rock and pebble like look to it already. Just from a easthetic POV.

Plants should be fine. Not a lot of light needed. Can be fine once planted. Root tabs will help as they feed that way.

As for lighting. I have a cheap led light from amazon. For the plants ur looking at most lights should work. It works well as I have a low tech setup. Light requirement isn’t heavy. But would go with the flu all aqua sky cause it’s cheaper those two you are deciding on.
 
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kno4te said:
Would do just the floramax substrate. It has a rock and pebble like look to it already. Just from a easthetic POV.

Plants should be fine. Not a lot of light needed. Can be fine once planted. Root tabs will help as they feed that way.

As for lighting. I have a cheap led light from amazon. For the plants ur looking at most lights should work. It works well as I have a low tech setup. Light requirement isn’t heavy. But would go with the flu all aqua sky cause it’s cheaper those two you are deciding on.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. I forgot about root tabs completely.

The tank does get a lot of ambient light and some direct light as it is. Something cheap and reliable should do the trick i guess.
 
Heres what got so far. The aquasky lights were on sale at petsmart so i snagged them up and another bag of floramax. Im liking the floramax and the lights a lot so far.
20190126_222216.jpg
I'll be putting the threadfin in tonight. Ready to start planting i guess. Think im just gonna start out with java moss everywhere.
 
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If you ever get more into planted tanks those SB lights are pretty good from what i’ve seen in the past...

They really seem to bring colors out of the plants really well...
 
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Amazon swords are heavy root feeders so make sure to give them some root tabs if they start to yellow. The biggest advice I can give is to start with a tank full of plants. Too many folks start with rich soil, strong lighting, ferts, and so on...all necessary for a lush planted tanks but only start with a handful of plants to “grow them out.” Big mistake...all those nutrients will cause algal blooms. You need to add a bunch of plants from the start to uptake those nutrients and outcompete algae so it can’t take hold. In the beginning, it’s not a bad idea to get some floaters or fast growing stem stems plants to export excess nutrients until your tanks are dialed in and balanced, and your plants establish a strong rooting system
 
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phreeflow said:
Amazon swords are heavy root feeders so make sure to give them some root tabs if they start to yellow. The biggest advice I can give is to start with a tank full of plants. Too many folks start with rich soil, strong lighting, ferts, and so on...all necessary for a lush planted tanks but only start with a handful of plants to “grow them out.” Big mistake...all those nutrients will cause algal blooms. You need to add a bunch of plants from the start to uptake those nutrients and outcompete algae so it can’t take hold. In the beginning, it’s not a bad idea to get some floaters or fast growing stem stems plants to export excess nutrients until your tanks are dialed in and balanced, and your plants establish a strong rooting system
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Wish i got it before i got started lol. Never thought about an excess of nutrients being a problem but i guess there is a balance to consider.

I guess I'll just order a bunch of plants online cause im having trouble finding val at the stores around me.

Any other tips for accelerating root growth?
 
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