My first planted freshwater aquarium

[sundance2010]

I am about to try my had at a freshwater planted aquarium (55G) and have a few (to say the least) questions.

First is there a good guide somewhere to put me on the right path?

On Bio-active substrate, does it have an expiration date? My local petco has a clearance on $20 bags of Activ-Flora, they are going for $5 each and I want to make sure I am not buying something that is of no value for my aquarium.

Thanks, and hi to all.

Steve

[Nitesbane]

"sundance2010" > wrote in message
...
>
> I am about to try my had at a freshwater planted aquarium (55G) and have
> a few (to say the least) questions.
>
> First is there a good guide somewhere to put me on the right path?
>
> On Bio-active substrate, does it have an expiration date? My local petco
> has a clearance on $20 bags of Activ-Flora, they are going for $5 each
> and I want to make sure I am not buying something that is of no value
> for my aquarium.
>

In my experience, you shold not believe the claims on anything that says it
is "bio active" or cycles your tank "instantly". Read a few reviews on the
product first. Here's two from the same board I found with a quick search:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CDQQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fishlore.com%2Ffishforum%2Fmi sc-reviews%2F51219-activ-flora-review.html&rct=j&q=activ-flora&ei=n211TMvhCsOC8gayvtTOBg&usg=AFQjCNHOQNO5bGKbxKxYfn4Q9eed7viptA&cad=rja

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=7&ved=0CDsQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fishlore.com%2Ffishforum%2Ffr eshwater-substrates-gravel-sand%2F49949-activ-flora.html&rct=j&q=activ-flora&ei=n211TMvhCsOC8gayvtTOBg&usg=AFQjCNFNPePYP4yiXLEiFyVcCeeZ-4hpoA&cad=rja

Freshwater plants will grow in virtually any substrate from sand to gravel
to nothing but bare glass (depending on the plant of course). Pick a
substrate that you enjoy looking at, and that isn't difficult to work with.
Sand, for instance, tends to be very messy when replanting things but gives
a beautiful natural look. I am a big fan of the old Eco-Complete, because
of the way it looks and I enjoy the way it settles "naturally" in the tank.
It hasn't helped my plants grow any better than the tanks I have with plain
gravel, and it did not help cycle my tanks at all.

Regardless, the first place you want to start with a planted aquarium is
lighting. This is the biggest factor to consider when starting out. What
kind of lights do you have and how many watts are they putting out? A "low
light" tank has 1-2 "watts per gallon" of lighting. "High" light tanks have
around 4+. You're going to want to plant according to your light intensity,
and then to your water quality. Just like a "regular" garden, some plants
simply won't grow in the "shade" while others (like crypts) will thrive in
it.

Hope that helps,
-N

[sundance2010]

Thanks for the review links.

[Michael Grossman]

On 2010-08-25, Nitesbane > wrote:
>
> "sundance2010" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> I am about to try my had at a freshwater planted aquarium (55G) and have
>> a few (to say the least) questions.
>>
>> First is there a good guide somewhere to put me on the right path?
>>
> In my experience, you shold not believe the claims on anything that says it
> is "bio active" or cycles your tank "instantly". Read a few reviews on the
> product first. Here's two from the same board I found with a quick search:
>
>
> Freshwater plants will grow in virtually any substrate from sand to gravel
> to nothing but bare glass (depending on the plant of course). Pick a
> substrate that you enjoy looking at, and that isn't difficult to work with.
> Sand, for instance, tends to be very messy when replanting things but gives
> a beautiful natural look. I am a big fan of the old Eco-Complete, because
> of the way it looks and I enjoy the way it settles "naturally" in the tank.
> It hasn't helped my plants grow any better than the tanks I have with plain
> gravel, and it did not help cycle my tanks at all.
>
>
Why are Nitesbane's posts appearing twice?

[Michael Grossman]

On 2010-08-28, sundance2010 > wrote:
>
> Thanks for the review links.

I highly recommend fluorite for growing cryptocoryne, amazon swords, and
various anubias species. You'll never have to worry about running out
of iron with this gravel.

I am not so sure about lighting. I think diode lighting is on the
horizon, but I do not have any experience with this equipment.

I have used a mix of actinic and Walmart "Plant & Aquarium" fluorescent
bulbs in 48" shop lights to grow the plants mentioned above. I'd
appreciate some info on halogen lamps, T5, diodes, and CO2 injection.


>
>
>
>

[lenitaray]

Freshwater plants will grow in almost any substrate, but gravel from the sand bare glass (depending on plant, of course.) Choose a substrate, you like to see, this is not difficult to work with. Sand, for example, tends to be very messy thing, but when replanting gives a beautiful natural beauty. I am a big fan of the old ecological integrity, because the way it looks, the way I like to quell the "natural"in the tank.

[pitterritz]

Freshwater plants will abound in around any substrate from beach to gravel to annihilation but bald bottle (depending on the bulb of course). Pick a substrate that you adore searching at, and that isn't difficult to plan with. Sand, for instance, tends to be actual blowzy if replanting things but gives a admirable accustomed look.