The start with no end - Journal

To try and keep track of my adventure into the planted tank world.

As this is a new venture for me I was thinking to keep a journal in here and post "everything"
Hopefully my serious errors will be picked up by those in the know before I go and implement.

Current status:

Tank size is a little 60l
Current lights: yes there is something producing light
Plants: none
Substrate: Inert gravel white
Fishies: 8 danios one mollie

THE PLAN:

Tank size to remain the same for now.

Lights: DIY LED system. Planned to have 18 off LED's on a heat sink. 3 strings of 6 each on dimmable drivers (cool white, warm white and blue, 60 degree optics for each)
Purchased PAR sensor.

Substrate: thinking along the lines of fluorite ?

CO2: purchased drop checker, bubble counter, diffuser and check valve. Still need to sort out co2 cylinder and the flow control meter/gauge

Plants: wanting to go the scraping route, so got a very limited and rough idea of what I want. All input is welcome here.

Out of the country for three more weeks, then this needs to start happening.

 

Sounds interesting will be following

 

I am thinking along the lines of going into the mountains to find some rocks for my eventual scape.
Knowing that not all rocks are created equal. Are there anything specific to look out for? I can think that sand stone is for instance not a good idea.

I have read somewhere that there is a "vinegar" test that can be done.
Anyone familiar with this?
I like the sound of it, it seems it would save me lugging rocks for no good reason.

 

Only crit I have is to maybe exclude the blue LED's as they will be prone to cause algae.

 

take me with you! I know almost as much about rocks as I know about fish if not more after all gemstones was my 1st love then came fish

 

Yes this is correct.
If the vinegar reacts its not safe to use in aquariums, if no reaction then the rock Is neutral and may be used in the aquarium.

 

if it reacts to the vinegar it means that it will effect your PH (usually buffer PH)

 

Hi Getafix. Just some observations. If you want to use CO2 then you should have a better substrate than inert gravel. You can really see the difference between plants that have been grown in inert substrate and plants that have been grown in aquasoil or flourite. Substrate and lighting are really important if you want to have really healthy plants. I have plenty of cuttings when you are ready.

 

if you don't have cash for the expensive substrate you can always go for palm fiber pleat.. works great

 

Mhmm... not sure I would agree with this.
Plants need blue and red light for photosynthesis out of the visible light spectrum, peaking roughly at 430 to 450 nm (blue) wavelength and 640 to 670 nm (red) (Nanometers). The more red pigment in the plants the more blue light it needs.
I would change the warm white LED's for red though.

 

Hein, what Good times said

I have already purchased/ordered the LED's. so for the time being it is what it is.
If this does not work out, I can upgrade/change

 

Ray, tag along is just fine and dandy with me. Do you know where to go? I'll drive

 

@Good_Times sure it needs blue spectrum but not full out blues, you can get blue out of 10000k, go on APSA show me one aqua scaper with full blues over their tank?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

@TheGrissom the idea is to run with a substrate that's not inert. I hate the gravel.
Can I get fluorite from Ult. Aquat in town? Have not been able to look as I am out of the country.
I will most def take you up on your gracious offer

 

Hein, I am planning on toning the blues down considerably. Or as need be.
The initial thought was just to try and give the full spectrum.

The blues are a worry for me also, but more from an aesthetic point.

 

I agree, the white light usually already has a spectrum with blue and red peaks, and blue without red might be a bit unbalanced. Just red and blue will work fine, but it will have a pink/purple appearance making it look like a hydroponic setup and so ruining the aesthetics.
I know @cheekychops has some blue led's mixed in with his nano lighting and the tank is looking great.

 

I am desperately looking for the bridgelux emitter data. But it seems to be quite well hidden

 

Something like this ? Is that the lights you are using?

 

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/1060744157/200lm_Cool_white_LED_bridgelux_3w.html?s=p
More like this

 

I got all my LED stuff through @cheekychops