My new planted tank project

Looked at filters today and the prices are scary! I saw that the 1000l per hour one was MUCH more affordable than the others. At a stretch, with plants, would this be ok for my tank?

 

IMO I would say no. A 1000l/hr canister will only turn your water twice an hour. I have the 1300l/hr canister and an internal submersable filter at 450l/hr in my 300l giving me a total of 5-6 times per hr.

Maybe you can balance the cost by using a canister and an internal filter?

 

Also remeber that that 1000lph is when the canister is empty more like 800lph with filter media. Also plants doesnt meen you need less filtration.

 

Ok, so, if I use a 1200l per hour filter plus internal filter, will it work? Or just a 1200l?

 

i always have an extra internal filter for if i want to run purigen or AC. just make sure your inbox isnt full. replied yesterday to om dont think you got it

 

Sorry about that @Ryno . So that would work? A 1200lph plus internal. Must it be a powerhead or sponge? What filter would be needed for internal?

 

It doesn't really matter what make you use for the internal filtration (just check the l/hr rating). As I said earlier, I am running a Boyu SP603e in my tank but I bought other internal yesterday with 3 foam compartments so that I can modify seperate compartments with AC, filter floss, Purigen etc (like @Ryno suggested).

 

Thanks @MarcHawke . Still no answer, Will it be enough? A 1200l per hour plus internal filter. Thanks

 

With a 1200l/hr canister you would still require an internal filter of 600l/hr or more to get the recommended filtration rates or to throw a spanner in the works, maybe a HOB filter

 

Thanks @MarcHawke , saw some awesome mopani wood at the LFS today and will soon pick some up.

 

Just remember the wood will leach tannins for a few months. It will make your water brown but it's supposedly good for your fish. You should either boil it in a pot for a few hours or soak it in a bucket (change the water daily until you see very little discolouration) or throw it in your pool if you have one. Also, if you don't know, get yourself Seachem Purigen. It will help to remove the tannins from the water. Activated carbon also helps(will really polish your water making it crystal clear). And lastly, regular water changes will help.
Ha ha ha...I feel like this :alberteinstein:

 

mopani wood leeches tannins for quite a long time. if its small enoug to fit in a pot boiling it will help alot

 

Thanks guys, will def boil the wood befor placing in the tank. What is the best internal filter I could use?......with the canister.

 

i like eheim but its very expensive. not a fan of the dophin ones they clog up quickly

 

Just thought of plants apart from ones sold by @Ryno that would work in a low-tech tank:
Java Fern - Microsorum pteropus
Windelov Java Fern, Windelov Fern - Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov'
Narrow Leaf Java Fern - Microsorum pteropus v. 'narrow leaf'
Java Moss - Vesicularia dubyana
Green Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma
*Sunset Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig'
Ceylon Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma 'Ceylon'
Rotala Rotundifolia - Rotala rotundifolia
Rotala Rotundifolia sp. Green - Rotala rotundifolia sp. 'Green'
Rotala Indica - Rotala indica
Hornwort - Ceratophylum demersum
Parrots Feather - Myriophyllum aquaticum
Moneywort, Water Hyssop - Bocapa monnieri
Brazilian Pennywort, Pennywort - Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Crypt Wendtii - Cryptocoryne wendtii
Crypt Balansae - Cryptocoryne Balansae
Pygmy Crypt - Cryptocoryne pygmaea
Guppy Grass - Najas guadalupensis
Anubias barteri - Anubias barteri v. barteri
Anubias barteri 'marble' - Anubias barteri 'marble'
Anubias barteri v. 'glabra' - Anubias barteri v. 'glabra'
Anubias nana - Anubias barteri v. 'nana'
Coffee leaf anubias - Anubias barteri v. 'coffeefolia'
Crypt retrospiralis - Cryptocoryne retrospiralis
Crypt spiralis - Cryptocoryne spiralis
Golden nana - Anubias barteri v. 'nana golden'
Narrow leaf nana - Anubias barteri v. 'nana narrow leaf'
Petite nana - Anubias barteri v. nana 'petite'
Philippine Java Fern - Microsorum pteropus 'Philippine'
Red Java fern - Microsorum pteropus "red"
Crypt Becketii - Cryptcoryne becketii
Pelia - Monosolenium tenerum
Waterwheel Plant - Aldrovanda vesiculosa
Bacopa - Bacopa caroliniana
African Water Fern - Bolbitis heudelotii
Hornwort - Ceratophyllum submersum
Crypt Aponogetifolia - Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia
Micro Crypt - Cryptocoryne petchii
Tropica Sword - Echinodorus parviflorus 'Tropica'
Downoi - Pogostemon helferi
If anyone has used any of these plants, and they are easy, please tell me.

 

i have brazilian pennywort. grows very easy very fast. also bolbitis (african water fern) easy grower but slow growing. likes water flow.

 

Rotala indica grows fast but haven't gotten it to turn red.

 

Thanks guys, am looking at the following plants from @Ryno (thanks man) :
rotala indiaca, bacopa caroliniana, java fern, aponogetons, glosso, sunset hygro and some other stuff I cant remember...........

 

Do you maybe know which one?.

 

Think i have an aponogeton undulatus. But he is thinking of crypts. Wendi brown and green