Questions: Setting Up New 55 Gallon Planted Tank

[englandsemo]

Okay i'm setting up a 55 gallon 48" long tank and i want to make sure i'm on the right path. Hoping you could provide some info to help me fill in the blanks before i get this put together and add water. Just an fyi: this is my first planted tank. I've only had fish filled tanks with fake decorations prior to this. I'm going to be planting almost the entire tank bottom and adding in fish as well.

Here is what i'm working with:

55 Gallon 48" Long Tank w/2 24" glass versa tops

48" T5HO set up but i'm unsure of exactly how many watts i should be using and what light spectrum i should aim for. I've seen people using all 6700, some others that split between 6700 and 10k with one of each bulb. From what i have learned i need roughly 2-3 watts per gallon.

Using Eheim 2026 canister filter. Do i need a bio wheel? Do i need a powerhead? I'm torn between using either.

Heater will be a Hydor 300w in line heater to run with the Eheim

CO2 input via Regulator from a bottle and a glass CO2 diffuser 5000 (from greenleafaquariums.com) I'll be using a bubble counter and a PH Controller (SM122). Do i need to run a bubbler for oxygen at night? Should the CO2 be running 24/7?

Okay so thats my hardware...unless i'm forgetting something??

For substrate i'm really unclear what to use. I'm leaning toward eco-complete mixed with a fine grain substrate. Any help in there area would be greatly appreciated as well.

I want to used several natural decorations such as driftwood and natural stones. I've heard these can alter the PH of my tank. Is this enough to be a concern? Are there certain things i should avoid?

This is where i am as of now. I think thats the majority of my thought process so far. I'm purchasing all the hardware now and just want to be sure i'm headed in the right direction and not setting myself up for heartbreak and empty pockets. Any aid that can be offered would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[lowlight]

I run a Rena Xp3 on my 55gal tank which is lightly planted for now. I am in the process of adding more DW and plants along with some more fish. The setup you are going with is more involved and I don't have the experience to really give advise. Try posting in the planted tank section if you haven't done so already. Good Luck

[terrapin24h]

This is where i am as of now. I think thats the majority of my thought process so far. I'm purchasing all the hardware now and just want to be sure i'm headed in the right direction and not setting myself up for heartbreak and empty pockets. Any aid that can be offered would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Being a plant neophyte, I can't advise you on the substrate for plants or any of the other stuff. I believe the spectrum of light you are using would be determined by what you want to grow(not sure though) The canister you are using is a good unit(i know someone who has one and likes it) so i don't think you need either a powerhead or a biowheel filter. I have a bio wheel unit(it's my spare filter now) and like it fine; it worked well but tended to be a bit loud. But in your case, you will have all the bio filtration you need between the plants and your canister.

What do you plan for the fishy part of the tank?

--chris

[rich311k]

Okay i'm setting up a 55 gallon 48" long tank and i want to make sure i'm on the right path. Hoping you could provide some info to help me fill in the blanks before i get this put together and add water. Just an fyi: this is my first planted tank. I've only had fish filled tanks with fake decorations prior to this. I'm going to be planting almost the entire tank bottom and adding in fish as well.

Here is what i'm working with:

55 Gallon 48" Long Tank w/2 24" glass versa tops

48" T5HO set up but i'm unsure of exactly how many watts i should be using and what light spectrum i should aim for. I've seen people using all 6700, some others that split between 6700 and 10k with one of each bulb. From what i have learned i need roughly 2-3 watts per gallon.

That lighting would be perfect

Using Eheim 2026 canister filter. Do i need a bio wheel? Do i need a powerhead? I'm torn between using either.

No biowheel is never needed. I have a powerhead, I like a little extra current or atleast my rainbows do. Certainly not needed

Heater will be a Hydor 300w in line heater to run with the Eheim

Good choice

CO2 input via Regulator from a bottle and a glass CO2 diffuser 5000 (from greenleafaquariums.com) I'll be using a bubble counter and a PH Controller (SM122). Do i need to run a bubbler for oxygen at night? Should the CO2 be running 24/7?

The PH controller will regulate the CO2 flow. You should not need a bubbler. If the fish are gasping then change the setting on the controller.

Okay so thats my hardware...unless i'm forgetting something??

For substrate i'm really unclear what to use. I'm leaning toward eco-complete mixed with a fine grain substrate. Any help in there area would be greatly appreciated as well.

A planted substrate is a good idea. I have Eco in my 75 and i am very happy with it.

I want to used several natural decorations such as driftwood and natural stones. I've heard these can alter the PH of my tank. Is this enough to be a concern? Are there certain things i should avoid?

Driftwood is fine it will slightly drop your Kh depending on how hard your water is. Choose rocks which are inert, slate is a good choice and you will not have any water parameter issues.

This is where i am as of now. I think thats the majority of my thought process so far. I'm purchasing all the hardware now and just want to be sure i'm headed in the right direction and not setting myself up for heartbreak and empty pockets. Any aid that can be offered would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

My thoughts are above in red.

[aspects]

Lol. I agree
A bio-wheel is never needed. Its essentially a party trick. A shiny spinning distraction so you don't realize that you basically just bought a whisper filter for triple the price. Hahaha.
But I digress.

Your lights and Co2 will greatly depend in what plants you plan to grow.
With your projected 2-3WPG, you're still in the low-mid light range. There are many options for low light plants that will do well in your set up that don't need any Co2 at all. However most ground covers will require more light than that.
your best bet is to research some ground cover plants (HC, dwarf hairgrass, riccia, etc) and see if you are able to meet their requirements.

A nice low light amazon type plant scape is always good for a beginner. plants like misses, ferns, anubias, swords, etc are all pretty forgiving and allow you to get your feet wet without worrying about your system crashing.

[englandsemo]

Thanks so much for all the compliments. The tank is going up in the next week or so. I'll be sure to let you know how it's going.

I'm still a little confused as to what substrate to go with. I've been reading a lot about the pre-cycled stuff like activ flora but I've heard both good and bad. I just find it hard to believe the good bacteria can survive in a sealed plastic bag. For right now I'm leaning toward Eco complete and estes sand in the non planted areas as decoration to make a shorline look.

No bio wheel lol thank you for your input on that.

What could I do about lighting? I'd like to have som ground covering plants. Should I shoot to be closer to 4-5 watts per gallon?

Thanks again for all your help!

[rich311k]

3 - 4 watts a gallon will grow just about anything, more than that and you will be fighting algae endlessly.

[aspects]

Again, it all depends on what you plan to plant. First decide on the plants you want, and that will pretty much tell you what you need in regard to lighting requirements, ferts/micro nutrients, Co2, etc. you should be looking to upgrade to T5HO as a minimum.

Do not believe the hype of anything that claims "instant cycle" or "active bacteria". Bacteria needs food to thrive. So unless someone is opening the bag and regularly adding ammonia, it is not going to be any more beneficial than just doing a cycle. However, some subtrates do provide other nutrients for your plants.
I personally use ADA soil, but it can be a difficult substrate for novice planters. You will be fine with eco-complete mixed with a regular substrate.

[englandsemo]

Okay so I have everything set up and I'm adding in substrate this week to get things going. Thank you to everyone for your help above! I'm snagged on what to use for my substrate...is Eco complete worth the price if I'm running co2 injection thru an inline reactor? I have 216w of light in the 6700 spectrum for my 48" 55gallon tank. I've heard Eco complete only provides nutrients for so long and ferts are still needed in the long run. Would it be a wiser choice to mix ecocomplete with something or just use a substrate like sand/smaller gravel to provide a place for roots to grasp and fertalize from the start to get the necessary nutrients to my plants? My tank is basically a high tech tank I'd like to think at this point...co2 via 20lb cylinder with regulator/bubble counter and ph controller. T5 ho 216w lighting. Eheim 2026 pro II. Do I really need a high quality substrate? Would I be missing out on anything by using something with a neutral ph and no added nutrients? Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks again!

[aspects]

I use ADA aquasoil mixed with eco-complete.

[rich311k]

Eco actually starts out with few nutrients and gathers them as it matures. I have always liked it.

The ADA soil is supposed to be great stuff. It will release some ammonia and play with your PH for a while.

You can use a fine grained gravel or sand with fert tabs if you want. With high light the planted substrate do help and they make planting ground cover type plants easier.

[englandsemo]

Okay I'm going to just use Eco complete and a mixture of Eco complete and fine gravel on the top layer of my substrate. Thanks for the help.

I have a question regarding lighting...I'm running 4 54watt t5 ho bulbs in the 6700k range over my planted tank. Should these lights just turn on when the light cycle starts and remain on for the full 10-12 hours or should I have 2 come on earlier and then run all 4 around mid-day until going back to 2 before night? To mimic a sunrise/full light mid-day/sunset cycle? Is there any real benifit to doing this?

[rich311k]

I would run them no more than eight hours. A staggered aproach is a also a good idea, help keep the algae down.

[englandsemo]

Really? Only 8 hours? Most places I read say to run the lights around 10-12. How should I work the staggered pattern? 2 hours with 108watts...4 hours with 216watts...final 2 hours with 108watts?

[rich311k]

I am sorry I meant to type 10. My apologies, 10 hours is a good starting point.