My new planted tank project

Hello to all people from the land of fish keeping!
Just wanted to share my new project with you guys, and of course get your advice! Here goes:I am going to buy a new tank in December and I have big plans for it! I am going to make a semi planted tank with driftwood and some rocks, don't have an exact design yet. It will be a low-tech planted tank with no C02 injection system, way too expensive! Here are the details:

Size: 150x60x50 (soon to be ordered from PetStop)
Filter: External canister
Lighting: Standard fluorescent bulbs
Frame and Canopy: Custom made wood frame and hood.
Heating: Two 200 watt heaters
Plants: yet to be decided, but am keen on some java fern, java moss, anubias, ambulia, some rotala, swords, hair grass and maybe some crypts.
Substrate: Planning on using ADA aquasoil or Fluorite gravel
Fertilizers: Will be using Seachem Flourish excel and seachem flourish iron (sorry for possibly incorrect names) , maybe also some tablets.

I know that I have not bought the tank yet but I am trying to plan ahead and also want some advice from the pros!
Does anyone know of any specific plants that can be used in a low tech setup? What is the best substrate for plants as well as the best fertilizers? Is an external filter good for planted aquaria? Lots of questions, yes, but I wanna get it right
After my numerous questions I thought it would be fun to show you what I am going for using different plants (not my tank) :

 

hi i use a diy co2 setup and its doing very well and not that hard to set up made a massive difference in the growth rate of my plants u don't necessarily have to have no co2 and you will have access to any plant u can dream of and get your hands on

 

Hey @manicmonkey ! I have researched a lot about DIY C02 systems, they seem awesome but my tank is quite big (450l/115 gallons) and I dont know if a DIY C02 unit will work. Does anyone know if a larger than usual DIY C02 system would work for a 450l tank? Maybe @Ryno could help ? If I cant use this then where can I buy a relatively cheap C02 system. Thanks @manicmonkey for bringing that subject up.

 

All the plants that i have been able to grow in a low tech tank(non co2):

Anubias barteri var. nana

Cryptocoryne wendtii ''brown''

Cryptocoryne x willisii

Echinodorus Osiris

Echinodorus 'Ozelot Green'

Echinodorus 'Rubin'

Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis'

Microsorum pteropus

Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv'

Hygrophila corymbosa 'Angustifolia'

echinodorus parviflorus

ludwigia repens

rotala rotundifolia

Mayaca fluviatilis

Hope this Helps

 

With good substrate,lights and ferts you can grow rotala, mayaca, watersprite is easy to grow(Must just check the BL) ludwigia is on the new Import BL. But i have it. From what i understand is that your still alowed to grow it. Correct me if im wrong. HM can grow without co2 also. Bacopa also.

 

Have also grown bacopa monnieri without co2.

 

Hey guys, thanks for all the responses. I have thought about it a little more......... is there any way I could connect the C02 canister directly to the aquarium with only an airstone. Could I just get a regulator and C02 canister and diffuse using an airstone, I know this is not the best method, but others are expensive. @Ryno , any advice? Where did get your C02 system from and what price was it? Anyones help would be appreciated.

 

@FishLover - A lot of guys are getting there gear through ebay and getting it shipped here.

 

I got mine 2nd hand. Ceck out ebay its not tgat bad can buy everything for about R1000. But also theres alot of plants that dont need co2. Low tech scapes can be as good as high tech scapes

 

Thanks @Ryno , I will look at prices and then see what I will do.

 

100% with high tech comes more maintaiinance. Theres alot of nice easy plants that one can use. Must say like im starting to like willow leave hygro. Have a few pieces but its already booked. Its a nice low tech plant.

 

Ok, just checked prices. WOW!!! That stuff is EXPENSIVE! I will definately go for a low-tech tank. Could anyone give me a further list of plants that have succeeded in non-C02 tanks. Thanks @Ryno and @DewaldC for those plants, will have a look at them.

 

Hmm somewhere theres a sticky thread for easy growig plants. Crypts, anubias, some rotala, HM, moss, java fern, bolbitis, most hygrophylia's, pennywort, watersprite, theres lots. Cant remember wheres that sticky thread maybe search for it

 

Ihave read about ambulia/asian ambulia and it looks awesome, does it need c02? Does anyone have any info to share with me?

 

Ambulia is very easy. Alot of people uses it but its BL. Also sunset hygro.

 

Yet another question....... will I be able to grow plants better if I add C02 tablets or something like that? Is this a good idea?

 

Shoot!!! Ambulia is such a good lookin plant!

 

Yep. Nah dont need that co2 tablets its expensive. Just like a carbon source like seachem excel or microbrlift carbon if you want to. But ferts, good substrate and good lights.

 

Have a look here. A list of easy growers. Just compare with the current BL to see if some may have changed.
Plant database for easy growers

 

Thanks @Ryno ! You have been a huge help! If the tank was quite stocked, not overstocked, but stocked almost to capacity, would the fish give off enough C02 to make the plants grow faster? I don't mean I want to overstock my tank, but will full stocking help plant growth due to fish faeces ans C02 released?