Here we go...first 30gal planted tank

[kevinly]

Well this is my first planted tank. What I have setup is 30 gal long with Eheim 2211, aquasoil and power sand.

Also I got two pieces of driftwood in there.

Well guys let me know how it is now. Any advice would help. Also what kind of plants do you guys recommend I get.

I will continue to post updates as it goes along.

Thanks
Kevin

[Roujin]

Nice! What kind of CO2 system are you using. I see your ball reactor. Lighting?

[kevinly]

Nice! What kind of CO2 system are you using. I see your ball reactor. Lighting?

im gonna be running a co2 system with a milwaukee regulator. as for lighting i have a coralife t-5, i got that from dan today...heck i got everything from dan today at HAW.

[Roujin]

I guess with that kind of setup you can have any species of plants. What will your livestock be?

I recently started my first 10g planted tank and I should really post pics. I want to put in some pygmy corys.

[ssrprelude]

I got some free plants if you want to come get it. Start you off good. NW Houston.

[Mzungu]

Did you get the 2211 from Dan, as well?

[kevinly]

Did you get the 2211 from Dan, as well?

yep sure did

[tnguyen]

Hello,


I haven't been on here in a while. To be honest, you are going about the wrong route on this one. It is best when scaping a tank to plan and get all the material and plant first.

Filter---Canister eheim is a excellent choice for filter but 2211 is not for a 30 gal. You want good circulation. I would recommend minimum 2213. 2215 is better for this tank.

Lighting---Need more lighting. T5HO, compact florescent, metal halide(150W) More light give you flexibility to grow almost anything you want.

CO2---since you are planning pressurize---excellent choice CO2 reactor looks ok


Setting a tank with aquasoil and no plant = high chance of Algae(unless you want to be an algae farmer)

these are just my thoughts. Discovering the green side!

Here's a good link since you have choosing to right soil for your planted tank. Great information for noob and expertise alike!

http://www.aquajournal.net/na/index.html

Cheers and have fun!

[Complexity]

I'm in agreement in general, but have some other thoughts to add for consideration. So here goes:

It is best when scaping a tank to plan and get all the material and plant first.

Yes, yes, and triple yes!

Filter---Canister eheim is a excellent choice for filter but 2211 is not for a 30 gal. You want good circulation. I would recommend minimum 2213. 2215 is better for this tank.

Actually, I think the 2211 is perfect IF used with a second canister. I prefer redundancy of two canisters instead of one. So the 2211 would be perfect if a second 2211 or better is added to the overall filtration. I agree that a 2211 alone is not enough for a 30g planted tank.

Lighting---Need more lighting. T5HO, compact florescent, metal halide(150W) More light give you flexibility to grow almost anything you want.

When I first saw what lighting was being used, I also thought the same. However, lower lighting, such as the T5NO, can be best for those who either want slower plant growth, prefer slower growing plants in general, and who aren't quite ready for bright lighting. Unless everything else is in place – CO2, ferts and plants – then it's best to not have bright light on the setup.

That being said, a single Coralife T5NO fixture over a 30g is far too low lighting in general for a planted tank. Two Coralife T5NO fixtures would be adequate. T5HO and the other options you mentioned would be best.

I do agree that brighter lighting would be best, overall, for a planted tank when certain goals are in mind, such as using ground covers, red plants, etc. If java ferns, anubias, and the like are the goal, then brighter lighting can be problematic.

CO2---since you are planning pressurize---excellent choice

Headbanging right along with you on this one! There is nothing like injected CO2 for a planted tank.

Setting a tank with aquasoil and no plant = high chance of Algae(unless you want to be an algae farmer)

I have no experience with aquasoil (unfortunately), but I think this applies in general. The lighting must be kept very low (even kept turned off at this stage) until the tank is stuffed with plants. Then let the show begin!

these are just my thoughts. Discovering the green side!

You have much more experience than I, but I hope my thoughts can add to the discussion.

[kevinly]

Thanks to tnguyen and complexity for all the comments. I appreciate all the comments for my setup.

Well here is a quick update on the tank then. I added another bag of aquasoil and got another t-5 light adding my total watts to 84 which should be enough .

Well on the box of the 2211 it was recommended up to a 30g, I didn't want to get another one since I had this one lying around the house. Now it looks like I am gonna be getting a bigger Eheim, I'm thinking about getting the 2215.

As for cycling the tank without plants, I was just following Dan's from HAW recommendation. He told me that aquasoil is very toxic to the plants and that I should do a 50% waterchange everyday for a week before I start putting in plants. So far I'm on day 4 and no algae seen yet. Also I seldomly turn on the light, only to see when I am doing a waterchange.


Again thanks for all the comments and sharing your knowlodge with me.

[Mzungu]

As for cycling the tank without plants, I was just following Dan's from HAW recommendation. He told me that aquasoil is very toxic to the plants and that I should do a 50% waterchange everyday for a week before I start putting in plants. So far I'm on day 4 and no algae seen yet. Also I seldomly turn on the light, only to see when I am doing a waterchange.

Hmm...not sure why he said AquaSoil is toxic to plants...But tnguyen's right in that if you don't have plants to absorb all the nutrients that the AquaSoil leeches out, you'll be a very plentiful algae farmer. Believe me, I know from experience.

I guess you're safe without the light on, though? Do you have a timer ready for when you do plant the tank?

If I were you, I would get some plants in there. Keep up with the water changes, because the AquaSoil is creating ammonia which will help cycle the tank, and also providing nutrients for the plants. Plus, it's tough to have a tank ready and waiting and not fill it up with plants!! :)

[Complexity]

The ratings on all filters aren't a good measure, unfortunately. Planted tanks require much heavier filtration than normal. Plus, I prefer the redundancy of having two canister filters so you can always have one running when you clean the other or if one should leak or what have you. The combo of a 2211 and 2215 should be good.

Keep in mind that T5NO light isn't as strong as most of the other lights so you need higher wpg for T5NO light than for other lights. I've been running two Coralight T5NO fixtures on my 29g, and the light is adequate. It's a good place to start with a planted tank.

I have never heard of ammonia being toxic to plants. Plants can utilize ammonia for ferts. But I have no experience with aquasoil so I don't know if the ammonia it puts out is so high that it can truly harm plants.

Keeping your light off will work well to prevent algae while you're cycling the tank without plants.

[Complexity]

Plus, it's tough to have a tank ready and waiting and not fill it up with plants!! :)

So true!

[kevinly]

Hmm...not sure why he said AquaSoil is toxic to plants...But tnguyen's right in that if you don't have plants to absorb all the nutrients that the AquaSoil leeches out, you'll be a very plentiful algae farmer. Believe me, I know from experience.

I guess you're safe without the light on, though? Do you have a timer ready for when you do plant the tank?

If I were you, I would get some plants in there. Keep up with the water changes, because the AquaSoil is creating ammonia which will help cycle the tank, and also providing nutrients for the plants. Plus, it's tough to have a tank ready and waiting and not fill it up with plants!! :)

The ratings on all filters aren't a good measure, unfortunately. Planted tanks require much heavier filtration than normal. Plus, I prefer the redundancy of having two canister filters so you can always have one running when you clean the other or if one should leak or what have you. The combo of a 2211 and 2215 should be good.

Keep in mind that T5NO light isn't as strong as most of the other lights so you need higher wpg for T5NO light than for other lights. I've been running two Coralight T5NO fixtures on my 29g, and the light is adequate. It's a good place to start with a planted tank.

I have never heard of ammonia being toxic to plants. Plants can utilize ammonia for ferts. But I have no experience with aquasoil so I don't know if the ammonia it puts out is so high that it can truly harm plants.

Keeping your light off will work well to prevent algae while you're cycling the tank without plants.

so are you telling me two t-5 are not enough for the tank?

Everyone is telling me to cycle with plants, so tomorrow I'm gonna go pick up some plants to help cycle the tank.

I have been reading forums online showing people how to setup aquasoil and they all say i should at least do waterchanges for 3 days before adding plants.

I tell you, its so hard looking at my bare tank.

[Complexity]

If the two T5 fixtures are dual bulb fixtures (meaning, 4 bulbs total), then you're fine. You may want to upgrade later down the road, but what you have now will work well.

What plants are you planning on getting and from what source?