New to this and starting a 180 high tech planted- Progression and Question thread

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skiptomyzoo

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 13, 2007
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San Diego, CA
Well here we go.
Bought this tank
Light on it is current outer orbit 60" 4x54 t5ho and 3x150 mh
Already understand that this immediately places me into high-tech with c02 required, have to look into that. It's cool though bc I always wanted to do planted on a large scale. Any idea on suspension level above surface, read about par and penetration, but the diagram doesn't show anything about when you mix mh with t5ho. I guess I could always dumb down the fixture and not run all for a bit, I know this thing is an overkill.

If you want to want to suggest all I need for c02 go for it, just started reading into diffusers, regulators, etc. Know it would be dumb to get a tank less than 20gal thats about as far into it as I am.

Still have to read about dosing/fertilizers, substrate, and actually what plants I am going to start on as well as how to acclimate plants, what should be foreground and background, diseases and algae to look for, how to treat etc etc...

Gone through a few stickies, but anyone who wants to recommend other things, feel free. Heck even show me/link me to your setups

Need to get a basic understanding of these before I start asking more questions, however for the time being interested in what everyone is running in their sumps (this one will be a 55)

Right now just cleaning tank up, reskining the stand, etc, and figuring out what I have to order on the RO unit cartridge wise.

Anyhow, stay tuned if you would like, I for one am looking forward to this, and will appreciate the help of all whom would like to.

No idea on stocking for fish yet, actually planning the plants out first, instead of the usual vice-versa and that will be the deciding factor.

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Try and Pm jcardona he used to be big into this, hope he sees it anyway. I would probably go with an Amazon theme to it if planted, don't know of a good site for those plants, but snook has a variety of nice fish of south america.Or you could look into rehobothaquatics.com, toyin has a good site for a west african plant list, but most of those don't need these high beams, and also a variety of fish of the west african area.
I really don't see the benifites to the expensive florite, I have crypts in mine and I don't see miracles happening, seems the same as anything. I do dose now and plants are speeding up growth. I'll take a look at the bottles I have that aquatic jungle gave me, they have been working well. I only have 2 watts a gallon pc on my african plants.
 
A sump will make things more difficult. Quality substrates are important when doing high light setups. These will provide many micro nutrients for the plants that would not be found in good levels in most commercial ferts. The stickies will help a lot.
 
WyldFya;4889206; said:
A sump will make things more difficult. Quality substrates are important when doing high light setups. These will provide many micro nutrients for the plants that would not be found in good levels in most commercial ferts. The stickies will help a lot.
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Already been through most, just need to read the dosing.
I have a bag of flourite from an old project however I'm not buying more of those to cover a 180. Thats just too much, so I have to read into that.

Question with sumps being more difficult though. I know there will be more c02 loss from it, compared to canisters, however the more I read into that, the less it is then thought, and there are some tanks on other sites with sumps that prove this. Was thinking I could even run pothos in the sump too to lessen nitrates further with the idea of the more the plants use it, the less algae can. I like the fact that you can run them opposite of the tank light cycle too, to prevent ph swings and what have you keeping the tank more stable.
Is there a different reason why sumps are more difficult, other than c02 loss, or is this mainly it? As I don't have a problem switching to canisters, just would like to know the reasoning to.
 
Also like the idea that you can dose from the sump, therefore diluting it a bit before it goes to the display, as well as that you can hide some equipment.
 
Sumps on planted tanks work, and they work just fine - if you put a little thought into the set up and plumbing. Just look at the 57g in my sig. Running overflows w/ sump. Sure, you may lose a little more co2 than if you were running a canister, but the benefits far outweigh the cost of having to refill a co2 tank a little quicker.

As for that light, I think it's far too overkill. I'd sell it and go with a 2-4 bulb T5HO fixture. Those MHs may get you some nice cash if you sell it to a reefer. For FW, there's no need. If you want to keep the light, don't touch the MHs.

2x T5HO bulbs 24" off the tank floor will give you well over medium lighting. This will be enough for most of the 'high' light plants. My tank had about 45 PAR at the substrate. Looking at the charts, you'll see that is low medium lighting, and my plants grew just fine.

So I'd say stick with two bulbs, in the outer most banks of that fixture so you get even coverage.
 
jcardona1;4890996; said:
Sumps on planted tanks work, and they work just fine

As for that light, I think it's far too overkill.

2x T5HO bulbs 24" off the tank floor will give you well over medium lighting. This will be enough for most of the 'high' light plants. My tank had about 45 PAR at the substrate. Looking at the charts, you'll see that is low medium lighting, and my plants grew just fine.

So I'd say stick with two bulbs, in the outer most banks of that fixture so you get even coverage.
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Yeah, I was figuring such on the light. Only reason I am partial to it, is that I would think on days that I really want to show it off for a bit, kick on the MH for the shimmer effect for a very little amount of time. Probably will sell it though.
Interesting observation on the plants not matching the par diagram, noted.

And I have been in all your planted threads before haha.

Wish WlydFya would come back in to give me reasons not to run a sump, as I always like seeing the other side to things, but oh well.
 
Just my 2c worth.
I'm currently in the middle of a 7x3x2.5 planted setup, and i'm using an old tank as a sump...
As far as I can tell, so long as there is no wet/dry, or "bio-tower", and you limit the ammount of agetated water, you'll be ok. I have kept the water level in the overflow high for that reason, (the water only has to fall about 2"), and also only 2 baffles in the sump to limit more agitation. As far as I can tell, it wont lose much more CO2 then a regular tank, and my main concern will be the 7*3 surface area, not the sump.
But I say do it, as has been said, you can dilute your ferts in there, put all your heaters and other equipment in there to keep them out of the tank, and it's easier to throw more media in as well.
From what I can tell, there is no real right or wrong way to do things, people have success either way, its what works for you and your tank.
Good luck with the setup, and i look forward to seeing some updates.
:)
 
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