Hi folks - from Essex

[BDB]

Just joined this forum a few minutes ago
Well, things have certainly moved on since I last kept tropical fish way back in the mid to late 60's!!!
Thinking about starting up again but need some ideas, help and advice please.
I want to have a planted aquarium (really, you don't say??!!) with a few fish. But this time, I want to do it "properly" with appropriate lighting linked to a "good" co2 system.
Not sure of the tank size just yet, but will probably be somewhere in the region of 36"x15"x12".

So, my questions are:

1/ CO2 systems - Fluval, BioPlast, JBL, or maybe another that someone has experience of - pro's and con's. I've seen a few posts on here mentioning using fire extinguishers and I'm guessing a special adapter is going to be required to connect up.

2/ Lighting - LED's, fluorescents, metal halide, sodium - again, pro's and con's. Also, is the "rule of thumb" still used re - Watts per Gallon?

3/ Substrate - strictly necessary?

4/ External filters - I used to use Eheim in the past. Still a good bet or is there now something better?

Thanks in advance for any help
Bill.

 

[Akwaskape]

Hi Bill

just thought I'd check in and say hello being a neighbour in Essex, i'm in Southend.
Welcome to UKAPS, albeit im a noob on here as well

Re the higher tech approach, not my bag. Im more on the 'as low as possible' natural set up

What I do know is that Fire extinguisher CO2 systems work out a lot cheaper and go a lot longer between refils than aquarium manu' ones. Last year I did find a gas supplier in Romford that supplied very cheap beer brewing CO2 cylinders which are even bigger, with regards to the adaptors there is a DIN or a CGA. If im correct the DIN is the fire extinguisher one.

Lighting I think LEDS are taking over now, and are prob the way to go. Although im still a big fan of the T8 flourescent. With CO2 injection your prob better off with either T5HO or a good quality LED. I've tried Beamswork LED and they are potent.

Substrate, hopefully someone else will chip in. B'cos I use garden centre top soil for my low tech set ups.

And imho Eheim is still he way to go, for a mid priced great quality bit of kit.

Good luck.
Regards
Nathan

 

[BDB]

Hi Nathan.
Many thanks for your input
I used to live not far from you up until November last year (Canvey Island).
I'm not particularly aiming for "high tech", but I certainly want to do better at it than my previous pathetic attempts!!
And it just seemed that, if I wanted a good planted tank with a few fish, then I should invest in a pressurised co2 system with good lighting and ferts.
Definitely being drawn to both the extinguisher and LED routes.....watch this space!!!
Bill.

 

[naughtymoose]

Hi Bill

I'm from Basildon, so am another neighbour. Where are you from?

Colin

 

[Akwaskape]

Np Bill
With co2 and led your going to want ferts heavy doses are best bought in powder form it's a lot cheaper. But for the not so price concious you can get tropicas premium or specialised nice and easy couple of squirts a day. And there is also an option to dose liquid carbon as well. Called EasyCarbo it works as an algaecide and just helps that bit more to keep things under control.