Planted ~55 Gal Breeder

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Dirty Old Man

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 9, 2006
332
0
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Arizona
I would like to set up a 55 gal planted breeding tank. Assuming all I have is a tank & stand, what else would be needed to have a thriving luscious planted tank?
What kind of substrate should I use?
Filtration?
Flourite?
Driftwood?
CO2 Canister?
Sump?
Lighting?
Anything I Missed?

Thanks
 
I would use a laterite based substrate. Filtration, go with a XP2, and make sure that there isn't much surface agitation. Driftwood is optional, if you like it use it. CO2 is very good to have. Lighting depends on the plants you intend to keep. For a basic planted tank I'd go with at least 165 watts for the tank. A double PC hood would be better. As to ferts I use dry ferts from gregwatson.com. Liquid ferts are next to useless, there just isn't enough in them for your money.
 
WyldFya;493495; said:
I would use a laterite based substrate. Filtration, go with a XP2, and make sure that there isn't much surface agitation. Driftwood is optional, if you like it use it. CO2 is very good to have. Lighting depends on the plants you intend to keep. For a basic planted tank I'd go with at least 165 watts for the tank. A double PC hood would be better. As to ferts I use dry ferts from gregwatson.com. Liquid ferts are next to useless, there just isn't enough in them for your money.


That's EXACTLY how I run my 55 planted.
Xp2, 260 watts of Power compact lighting, ferts from greg watson, CO2 canister with solenoid and a Pinpoint PH Controller (as apposed to PH monitor.)

CO2 is cheap to maintain, the refills are under 10 bucks for a 5lbs cylinder and mine has lasted over 6 months so far.

I'd also strongly recommend one of thies:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12703&
I baught mine from ebay for a little cheaper.

It's a little bit of a pain to fit on the Xp2/3 (the flex tubing needs warmed and stretched a little, not much though) but works great, adjusts to the water level as some evaps.


All the hardware installed on my 55 is:
Xp2,
bio media (Matrix I think?)
Coralife 260watt PC lighting,
Stealth heater,
airpump connected to the controller,
Silicon tubing (Co2 destroys vynal,)
High quality air stone (Coralife limewood I think.)
CO2 pressure regulator w/ solennoid,
Pinpoint Co2 controller
and a small fan to keep it cool.
that surface skimmer

I'd recommend a slightly small airstone because when the controller kicks it on to burn off CO2 if it moves to much water the PH change might happen to quickly.

This link offers the beginners guide to dosing ferts, it gives you a list of dry ferts to order aswell.

If you're heavily stocked skip the KNO3. ;)



The Fertilator:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/fertilator.php

This little gift from god lets you calculate how much ferts you should be dosing to hit the target range for each reading.

If you need any more help drop me a PM.
 
Yep, mixes the traces well, decent (ok, GREAT) prices, and damn quick on getting them here.

I'm still trying to use up all the fish bags I baught from him.
 
Gotta love the prices of his stuff. The equivalent in liquid ferts at LFS would cost over $100, for just $25 of gregs ferts.
 
yeah laterite-based substrate, or i use this stuff called eco-complete, which is working outstandingly well in the planted 10gal i have in my dorm room. i got a wicked good deal though i think its expensive retail. if plants arent doing too well, i use peat as spot fertilizer and its been working so far... but CO2 is a good idea. you can also make a good one (DIY) out of a 2-3 liter soda bottle, rig up airline tubing to the cap, and make a mixture of yeast and sugar. and if you dont want to do compact hoods, try a metal halide light. i've heard the work well. hope i helped...
 
A halide would be overkill for something that small. I wouldn't use a halide on anything shorter than 24". PCs are cheaper, unless you find a used setup, but the bulbs are much cheaper. Eco-complete is amazing stuff, but yeah, very pricy.
 
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