Does anyone here keep FW planted tanks? My wife and I are looking at setting one up, and I was wanting to get some insight on them. I know that I want to run a 6500K Halide over it, but beyond that I am stumped. I'm looking probably at a cube tank, or a hex tank for this project. The wife is wanting some Discus or Angelfish with some dither fish (neons, rasporas, etc.) to fill in. Thanks in advance for the help.
FW planted tanks
- Thread starter Kennetht
- Start date
What's that?
Tomoko Schum
New member
I have a couple of FW planted tanks. You don't really need so much light (PC's would do just fine) but CO2 injection is necessary. A FW planted tank can be just as much fun as a reef tank, but it's easier to maintain IMHO.
Try this site for some really good information:
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/
Try here for ideas/pictures:
http://www.adaeuro.com/gallery.asp?g_id=9
Here's a forum for planted aquarium
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/index.php?
Tomoko
Try this site for some really good information:
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/
Try here for ideas/pictures:
http://www.adaeuro.com/gallery.asp?g_id=9
Here's a forum for planted aquarium
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/index.php?
Tomoko
Tomoko Schum
New member
Thanks, Chris 
Kennetht - Both Discus and Angelfish get really big. You need a good size tank for them. They do better in a small school, too. I'd say at least half a dozen of them, otherwise they get really mean. After all they are cichlids.
Tomoko
Kennetht - Both Discus and Angelfish get really big. You need a good size tank for them. They do better in a small school, too. I'd say at least half a dozen of them, otherwise they get really mean. After all they are cichlids.
Tomoko
Last edited:
Runner
Active member
Wow. I feel totally inadequte now.
As for the halides, they would be fine for plants. But you still won't get benefit of the high-level lighting growth without adding CO2 (and perhaps the proper substrate).
Obviously Tomoko could help more than I could, but if you have any questions, feel free to send me a message. I've neglected my FW tank since I started my reef tank. I used to have a heavily planted 135G tank with growth that sucked down all the nitrates I could add to it. But I let it go and now my giant pleco messes up my plants.
-Scott
As for the halides, they would be fine for plants. But you still won't get benefit of the high-level lighting growth without adding CO2 (and perhaps the proper substrate).
Obviously Tomoko could help more than I could, but if you have any questions, feel free to send me a message.
I've neglected my FW tank since I started my reef tank. I used to have a heavily planted 135G tank with growth that sucked down all the nitrates I could add to it. But I let it go and now my giant pleco messes up my plants.-Scott
Tomoko Schum
New member
If your tank is more than 28 inches deep, you need a metal halide. If you use a MH lamp, you will drive your plants to grow fast, but you need to add nutrients to the tank and trim plants more frequently. In a shallower tank, this could lead to an algae outbreak unless the plant volume, nutrients level and the bioload is well balanced. I have a heavily planted 75G tank with four 55W PC's (considered a high light set up) and I can grow any plants I want. CO2 is a must for a high light tank. A lower light set up with shade loving plants are easier to maintain. If it's a small tank, you can even get away without CO2 injection.
Tomoko
Tomoko
Tomoko Schum
New member
These are Amano's tanks except for the last one, which is 2005 contest winner's tank.
Here's mine:
There are a few pictures of my reef tanks in my gallery. They are not very good pictures. It's a lot harder to take a picture of a reef tank because of the lighting. They all turn out too blue for me.
Tomoko
Here's mine:
There are a few pictures of my reef tanks in my gallery. They are not very good pictures. It's a lot harder to take a picture of a reef tank because of the lighting. They all turn out too blue for me.
Tomoko
