Please help a noob and his future fuge

[Kobeclone]

I have never had a planted tank or fuge so bare with me.

I am in the process of buying equipment for my 1100 gallon indoor, un-planted pond. I would like to include a 50 gallon fuge in my diy filter. The fuge will be in a 50 gallon tote. I have a few questions:

1. What are some very easy very low lighting plants that can thrive in very rapid water conditions- 60 times water turn over an hour in the 50 gallon tote?
2. How many watts per gallon do these plants need?
3. What other light requirements for these plants? (I am a noob to plant lighting so be very specific please)
-I know they have "plant grow lights" at wal-mart. Will these work?
4. Do I absolutely need any fertilizer or CO2 in my fuge to allow the plants to grow?
5. If I put snails in my fuge, and a filter sock over the output from the fuge, is there any chance of snails/snail eggs getting into my pond?
6. Can I just use cleaned play sand/pool filter sand in my fuge for substrate?

Sorry for the long post. Thank you in advace for any help!

 

[Bk828]

I have never had a planted tank or fuge so bare with me.

I am in the process of buying equipment for my 1100 gallon indoor, un-planted pond. I would like to include a 50 gallon fuge in my diy filter. The fuge will be in a 50 gallon tote. I have a few questions:

1. What are some very easy very low lighting plants that can thrive in very rapid water conditions- 60 times water turn over an hour in the 50 gallon tote?
You should first consider what lighting you will want to get for the 50g but preferably a 96w or 130w fixture would be best for you to grow low light plants. With that you can grow a big variety of plants such as mosses, ferns, and many stem plants (the list is big)
Not 2 sure if that very rapid water condition will effect the plants.. i do know some plants dont do so good with great moving water..

2. How many watts per gallon do these plants need?
1.5-2wpg would be fine

3. What other light requirements for these plants? (I am a noob to plant lighting so be very specific please)
-I know they have "plant grow lights" at wal-mart. Will these work?
You need to get special bulbs which are in the 6,700-10,000K rating.

4. Do I absolutely need any fertilizer or CO2 in my fuge to allow the plants to grow?
You do not need co2 or ferts but co2 wouldnt hurt.

5. If I put snails in my fuge, and a filter sock over the output from the fuge, is there any chance of snails/snail eggs getting into my pond?
You can add a sponge to cover it

6. Can I just use cleaned play sand/pool filter sand in my fuge for substrate?
You can use playsand but if you want a very light clean look for the sand, I would suggest Pool filter sand

Sorry for the long post. Thank you in advace for any help!

Just my 2 cents..
-Bk

 

[schaadrak]

Java fern, Bolbitas (sp?) ferns and most aquatic mosses are low light plants that love current. You wouldn't need a substrate for those plants either, just wood and/or rocks to attach them to.

 

[]v[onster Loaches]

If its a tote I assume your not turning this fuge into a show tank or anything, just some plants to suck up nutrients? With that in mind, I'd do something like peace lilies. They really need nothing except their roots in the water. If you have bright room lighting that might even suffice, but unless its a sun room or something I'd probably supplement it still. They will get co2 from the air. And will absorb nutrients faster than any submerged plant I believe. You could just put something like a shoplight over them for an easy cheap solution, go to home depot and get the 2x 40W T12 fixture for $10 thats electronic, and get a two pack of their philips daylight deluxe 6500K T8 bulbs for $7. nothing else needed except maybe a timer, and a way to set them in place. Good luck!

 

[Kobeclone]

If its a tote I assume your not turning this fuge into a show tank or anything, just some plants to suck up nutrients? With that in mind, I'd do something like peace lilies. They really need nothing except their roots in the water. If you have bright room lighting that might even suffice, but unless its a sun room or something I'd probably supplement it still. They will get co2 from the air. And will absorb nutrients faster than any submerged plant I believe. You could just put something like a shoplight over them for an easy cheap solution, go to home depot and get the 2x 40W T12 fixture for $10 thats electronic, and get a two pack of their philips daylight deluxe 6500K T8 bulbs for $7. nothing else needed except maybe a timer, and a way to set them in place. Good luck!

Yeah, it will be in the seperate room behind my pond. Great advice!