LukeDaly
Member
- Joined
- 3 Jan 2014
- Messages
- 106
Hey Guys, first post on the forum!
Been a long time lurker and finally decided to subscribe!
This will probably be a long boring post for the most of you but all help is appreciated!
First of all I am finally making an upgrade from my Nano tank the ''Fluval Spec III' I bought this tank not expecting to get into planted aquariums as much as I have and finally decided that I should upgrade 2.5 Gallon was getting a little small! I loved this little tank, I upgraded the light to the 'Fluval 11 watt t8 lamp' and had a miracle grow organic potting mix base with a sand topping layer. Plant growth was awesome.
Image below:
But enough about that and onto all of the new stuff:
Tank -
First of all I just ordered myself the Dennerle Scaper's tank (always fancied this tank) and at 45 x 31 x 36cm wide (18 x 12 x 14”) it fits my unit lovely!
Unfortunately I cant post links yet, but a quick Google search will find you a review!
Substrate -
Substrate wise I plan to go dirted, again using Miracle Grow Organic Potting Mix as the base only this time around I got a 10 Liter bag of 'Colombo Flora Grow Base' to use as a middle layer is this worth while? (I want to use sand as the top layer, with possible Flora to help separate parts of the tank).
Lights -
Honestly this is the part that is slowly melting my brain the most.. Everywhere I read has something different about lights.. Is the 1 watt per liter rule something I should go by even with a tank this shallow? The reason I didn't go with the light that came with the kit is because I wasn't to fond of its appearance. The light that comes with the kit option of the tank is a 24w 8,000k bulb suggesting around 1/2 a Watt per liter? This is of course still an option as I want the scape to look as good as possible, is 8,000k more plant friendly? Would I run into any difficulties growing any species with this light?
I am open to all options when it comes to lights as I am completely lost..
Had a look at these not sure what to think tho:
day-time.de/produkte/cluster/
the ultra-white 7,000k Option seems like a decent option again not sure if that is the optimum plant range.
Filter -
For the filter I was going to go with a Fluval 106 recommended for tanks up to 100 liters so I am assuming this will be more than enough for a 50 liter tank and provide me with good flow.
Well for those who made it to the end that's all I can think of at the minute other than c02 which will have to wait to a later date as it can tend to be rather expensive. (Will dosing liquid ferts & c02 be enough for the first month or so?)
I should have the tank on Saturday, and plan to dry start the tank as soon as I can get lights sorted. I intend to keep a log of the build here on the forum for those interested. Probably this thread.
Again all help is very VERY much appreciated and i cant thank anyone who can help me out enough.
Luke.
Been a long time lurker and finally decided to subscribe!
This will probably be a long boring post for the most of you but all help is appreciated!
First of all I am finally making an upgrade from my Nano tank the ''Fluval Spec III' I bought this tank not expecting to get into planted aquariums as much as I have and finally decided that I should upgrade 2.5 Gallon was getting a little small! I loved this little tank, I upgraded the light to the 'Fluval 11 watt t8 lamp' and had a miracle grow organic potting mix base with a sand topping layer. Plant growth was awesome.
Image below:
But enough about that and onto all of the new stuff:
Tank -
First of all I just ordered myself the Dennerle Scaper's tank (always fancied this tank) and at 45 x 31 x 36cm wide (18 x 12 x 14”) it fits my unit lovely!
Unfortunately I cant post links yet, but a quick Google search will find you a review!
Substrate -
Substrate wise I plan to go dirted, again using Miracle Grow Organic Potting Mix as the base only this time around I got a 10 Liter bag of 'Colombo Flora Grow Base' to use as a middle layer is this worth while? (I want to use sand as the top layer, with possible Flora to help separate parts of the tank).
Lights -
Honestly this is the part that is slowly melting my brain the most.. Everywhere I read has something different about lights.. Is the 1 watt per liter rule something I should go by even with a tank this shallow? The reason I didn't go with the light that came with the kit is because I wasn't to fond of its appearance. The light that comes with the kit option of the tank is a 24w 8,000k bulb suggesting around 1/2 a Watt per liter? This is of course still an option as I want the scape to look as good as possible, is 8,000k more plant friendly? Would I run into any difficulties growing any species with this light?
I am open to all options when it comes to lights as I am completely lost..
Had a look at these not sure what to think tho:
day-time.de/produkte/cluster/
the ultra-white 7,000k Option seems like a decent option again not sure if that is the optimum plant range.
Filter -
For the filter I was going to go with a Fluval 106 recommended for tanks up to 100 liters so I am assuming this will be more than enough for a 50 liter tank and provide me with good flow.
Well for those who made it to the end that's all I can think of at the minute other than c02 which will have to wait to a later date as it can tend to be rather expensive. (Will dosing liquid ferts & c02 be enough for the first month or so?)
I should have the tank on Saturday, and plan to dry start the tank as soon as I can get lights sorted. I intend to keep a log of the build here on the forum for those interested. Probably this thread.
Again all help is very VERY much appreciated and i cant thank anyone who can help me out enough.
Luke.