Starting a 20g cube planted tank

[muscle]

Hi Everyone!

I've decided to setup my 20g cube tank (old reef nano with sump and power compact lighting) as a planted tank without C02. I have never done plants and looking for some guidance.

My plans:

- Either CaribSea Eco-Complete or Floramax
- 1 Angel fish, maybe some tetras and a group of cori's
- maybe some freshwater inverts
- drift wood and plants

Questions:

- Do you ever vacuum these type of substrates?

- Do I have to wait for the tank to cycle before adding plants?

- What are some good beginner plants for a small tank like this? I want some ground cover and something that will grow tall.

- The tank has four 24 watt bulbs. Will I have to run all of them?

- What kind of water flow does a planted tank need?

 

[JamesF]

1) Just skim over the surface to remove whatever is on top. Stuff in the substrate is plant food.
2) No, add them at the beginning. They help reduce the cycle drastically.
3) pygymy chain sword, dwarf hairgrass, anubias, dwarf sagitteria, hygrophila polysperma, rotala indica. That would give you a good mix.
4) Only if you want to add CO2. If you can, start out with 2 of them and see how it goes.
5) Good current, but not a raging cyclone. Plants need water flow to carry nutirents to them.

 

[muscle]

Awesome... Thank you!