My 1st Planted Tank

Hi all,

I’m fairly new to the whole fish tank thing, ive had my tank for about a year now. I’m looking for ideas for my tank as I would like to re-aquascape my current tank as I think it looks tatty and a bit boring and empty (from my measurements 90x35x32) its a 108 litre tank.

My 1st plan is to get it nicely setup with plants and then I will add fish, but I am having problems with mainly one thing.

Substrate: What can i use as a good substrate that will not be to high maintance, i would like to use a sand base rather than gravel/stones as i current have. From what ive read so far silica sand is a good start? I went to look at builders warehouse today for some silica but when i looked on the bag the contents said SiO2 98% Fe2 O3 0.18% and it looked more stoney thank sandy. I was wanting something a lot finer if possible. I also was worrying about the Fe2 but it did not have a % next to it so im not sure why it was listed on the bag?


One last thing is that i would like to rather use fertilzer drops than put something beneath the sand i end up choosing.



Any ideas and help would be greatly appriciated.



Thanks
Freaksta

 

For the sand, you could use river sand (Available at any nursery. Just make sure you rinse it WELL.), pool filter sand (Available at Builders, pool shops, etc. Again rinse WELL) or playsand that you buy at toy shops (I would rinse this even more than the previous options).
Prof Dirk's fertiliser drops come very highly recommend. I have not used them myself yet, but everyone who has, seems to rave about them.
If you want to add something below the sand, search for threads on this forum about palm peat fibre soaked in Chemicult. I am about to try this in my first planted tank, and it's really easy to use.
HIH.

 

Hi Freaksa,

You're asking the questions first before making the mistakes... congrats...

Darryn is right... river sand and silica sand is good. Rinse very well. Playpen sand has been used by other people in the hobby. My concern with playpen sand is that it is often chemically treated, and if not chemically, then usually mixed with salt. This is to get rid of nasties that we don't want our children to eat.

I have NEVER heard of anyone being worried about the Fe2 content in silica sand, so I wouldn't stress about it mate.

As for the undergravel/water column fertz. It's really your choice. I use to have a Sera undergravel fertilizer, feed with cheap liquid ferts (from Bio-Elite) and my plant growth needed to be trimmed once a week. I had fairly poor lighting then too.

That tank broke, and in getting the new tank, I didn't have the cash to put any undergravel stuff, so I am using purely water fertz. My lights are a little better than the previous tank, and the growth is no where near as good.

So it's all up to you. When I move in the next few months I will be going the peat mixed with chemicult. This is one of the few under gravel methods that Prof. Dirk has recommended. It's also highly inexpensive!

Also bear in mind that a highly planted tank will require CO2! You need to decide how far you are wanting to go.

 

Hi Zoom

How was your experience with the bio elite ferts?

Where do you buy it. We only get the meds and water conditioner around here.

 

Were can you get the above? Or is there an article on it?

Then my other question is what size grain do most people use when it comes to silica sand? so far the smalest ive found is 0.7mm

Thanks
Freaksta

 

Hi Vis,

The Bio-elite ferts seems to work well for me. If your LPS is stocking the Meds and water conditioner, just ask them to get you a bottle of the ferts. It's also in-expensive like their meds.

If you really want good ferts, then get into contact with Prof Dirk. He has a fert that he has produced and is selling on the SA market. I haven't personally tried it... but I have seen pictures of the results... and I think I am about the only memeber on TASA that isn't using it. All the other members swear by it. And from what I've heard, it goes pretty far too.

The 0.7mm grain is the standard pool filter sand... I think. That should be more suitable. I would highly recommend the Peat soaked in Chemicult... cappd with the silica sand. The silica sand cleans nicely with the vacuum.

My company is expanding their horizons into a light weight concrete from America, and one of the products we use is silica sand with a 0.01- 0.025mm grain size. So yes, the gravel is exceptionally fine, and to be honest, altho it looks and feels great, I think I will more than likely go back to the normal pool filter sand. You loose a lot when you vacuum, as it simply sucks it up!

Yes, there is an in depth thread on the Peat here---> http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?t=2499

 

Thanks Zoom, as i posted in another thread i have just made my peat mix now