Planted tank

[LadyHatred]

I'm posting this here as it has a few different topics.

I've been given a small hex tank. Maybe 8 gallons. Difficult to measure as the panels are different sizes. Looking at my 5 gallon, it's bigger than that but smaller than my 10.

I would like to have it planted. I wonder if I can get say, a desktop light. One of those halogen ones. The long compact florescent ones. They are anywhere from 40 to 60 watts. Would that support the plants? Or does it have to be an "aquarium" light?

Substrate wise, is the use of eco-complete or the like mandatory? Or would I be able to use regular gravel and fert tabs?

I am fairly sure I can but...would I be able to plant the tank before I cycled it? I'd like to try this "fishless" cycle as there are eventually going to be shrimp and maybe a snail in this. Tossed out the idea of getting some "cycling fish" as I have unusual luck with fish in uncycled tanks. They always live.

Filtration: Pondering a DIY sponge filter. Would this be enough? As well, would running it in one of the other tanks for a month or so, then plopping it into the new tank eliminate the need for the fishless cycle proscess?

I didn't really want this tank but it belonged to a co-worker who's son passed away last week. I didn't have the heart to tell her the reason any fish he put in there died because of the troll toys and other non-aquarium trinkets that decorated it. Some of them still had the sticky bits from the price/bar code tags.

Yet another epic post....very sorry!! :11:

[rich311k]

A desk lamp with a Cf bulb in the right color range will work just fine. You need 6400k -10000k. I have seen some pretty tanks using improvised lighting such as that. For 8 gallons you will want a minimum of 16 watts. 25 would be better. That is the actual wattage of the bulb not the amount of watts it is equal to in incandescent terms.

Any fine substrate will work. the fancy ones do produce better growth but certainly are not needed.

You can plant from the onset. No cycle needed. if you plant enough there will be no cycle or a minimal one.

[PostalPenguin]

You can use play sand for the substrate but I would still use fert tabs in it. Your plant choice and growth level will dictate your lighting and substrate choice. If you want low light, slow growers like java fern or java moss a desk lamp with a ~15W 6500K CF bulb and play sand would be fine. If you want fast growers that like lots of light such as the swords, wisteria, ludwigia I would recommend a ~24W 6500K CF bulb and a substrate meant for plants like eco-complete.

How the plant feeds will also help you make a substrate choice. Stem feeders like anacharis dont need a nutrient rich substrate since they get everything out of the water. Sword plants are heavy root feeders and would do best in a nutrient rich substrate whether play sand with fert tabs or a fertilized substrate.

My 10g has high light fast growth plants in it with play sand but they require liquid fertilizing which has lead to me dancing on a fine line between plant growth and algae growth.

[Z Fish Man]

I would recommend a plant substrate like eco-complete because of the built in nutrients and fine gravel size. However eco-complete has had a string of problems the past few years and I would not recommend it. Currently it has white particles in it that get all over everything and float around. Something like sand would work too but you would just have to dose with ferts and/or use root tabs.

[LadyHatred]

Dont' you just hate it when the stores you frequent -always- have that thing that catches your eye and you make a mental note that it's there. Only the day you actually need it, it's not there.

Went to pick up a light and, yup, not there. Ended up leaving the store with 18 tiki torches instead. The lower deck is looking a little like Tribal Counsel.

So lighting wise, it's going to have to be an aquarium one. Such a shame.

I suppose I haven't put much thought into the possibility of growing nothing but algae in the tank. *shudders* I am fairly anti-algae at the moment due to Problem Tank. lol

I've seen a few set-ups where eco-complete or the like is used only in the spots where plants that need it will be. It is then covered with "normal' sand/gravel or whatever. That is kind of what I had in mind. Although, doing it that way, would make rescaping near inpossible without tearing down.

LFS guy talked circles around me. Think I left knowing less than I went in there with! But he does have shrimp and will get "cool looking ones I'll just LOVE" if I want. >.> Oh and his saltwater set keeps getting better. I wonder what his real reason is....

[korith]

Dont' you just hate it when the stores you frequent -always- have that thing that catches your eye and you make a mental note that it's there. Only the day you actually need it, it's not there.

Went to pick up a light and, yup, not there. Ended up leaving the store with 18 tiki torches instead. The lower deck is looking a little like Tribal Counsel.


I bought a few of those compact fluorescent lights for my 10g at the dollar store, they weren't the spirally ones, they were the short tube like ones. Of course the day I go back to buy a few more, they are all sold out bleh. Happens every time. Next time I see them there, I'm gonna pick up a dozen.

[Wild Turkey]

For calculation purposes, the bulbs you are talking about are not 40 or 60 watts, its a bs number. Usually they are between 13 and 25. The 60's i think are 14watts. I use quite a few of them

Agreed with the general consensus on this thread, pick out some plant species, and start from there.