First planted tank... My plan and questions/comments

[asmackay]

I kept aquariums for years and built ponds this year so I have lot's of experience but not much with plants.  I have a 220G with Anubius and java fern which have done well.

I have an empty 75G, I thought I might try a planted tank low tech to start off.  After doing a lot of reading on the topic I came up with these plan.  Wanted to get advice on feedback.

1.  I'm aiming for 2 watts per G but found 130W ($189) or 260W ($350) lights.  I thought I would start with 130W (2x65Watt) keep cost down a bit but not quite 2WPG
2.  I have either Fluval 305 or Eheim 2028 I can use (I plan on adding fish but not for several months until I get the plants going first
3.  Substrate -  Eco-complete or Laterite or top Soil plus gravel.  Not sure which way to go but laterite seems simple and less likely to cause grief for a first time planted tank
4.  CO2,  I have used Hagen system before which worked great and plants grew really well and was cheap BUT since it's not regulated I had PH swings and found my fish sucking air at the surface so I decided to stop using CO2 in a mostly fish tank.   

My assumption is without fish PH swings etc won't matter much and I can get the plants started for several months without worrying about PH, O2 for fish and an unregulated solution will work well without a monitor or regulator.

Will my plan work well to grow most plants?  I want to try low growth ground cover with this setup.

Do I need to add fertilizer?  Never used anybefore.

[zima]

It sounds like you're on the right track with starting as a low-tech and the trying to increase the lights, etc.

1) I would start with T5HO (3x54 watts) lights instead of the CF (2x65 watts). 162 watts over 75 gallons will give you a ratio of just above 2 watts/gallon, and I would say it it the borderline of lower-tech tank where you would not require CO2. You would need to add an additional 54 watts bulb to grow more light-demanding plants.

2) I am a fan of over-filtration, so I have 2 canisters running over my 75g planted. But mine are both smaller than the two you've mentioned.

3) I have never used laterite or top soil, but I know Eco very well and swear by it. Probably other members can comment on that.

4) CO2 - I am not sure what Hagen CO2 you're referring to... If you are referring to yeast-generated CO2, then you would have to have a lot of those to have any substantial impact (last experiment I heard of was 6 2L Pepsi bottles running over a 55 gallon tank). You would absolutely have to have a CO2 setup running when you go over 2 watts/gallon of lighting. Don't worry about PH swings - PH swings occur in nature all the time, and it is not a concern in a planted tank (in my 75 gallon tank, where I have pressurised CO2 on during the day and off during the night, the pH swings 1 full point. Not a problem at all for me of the fish).

[Jeff1192]

I have to completely agree with Zima, especially on the CO2 subject. Yeast CO2 on a 75 gallon will be really tough to keep steady CO2 levels in and then you're asking for an algae outbreak. I would keep the lights below 2wpg and no CO2 or go above 2 and go pressurized CO2.

As for substrate I have black flourite in my 90 gallon and I love it.

Jeff

[exv152]

For a planted tank, basically three elements need to be balanced:

1- Lighting - appropriate to plant types
2- Nutrients - trace, iron and potassium all necessary on a weekly basis
3- CO2

Not enough, or too much of one of these elements will lead to trouble, usually algae problems.

[asmackay]

thanks for the feedback everyone.

I have decided on the following:
1. lighting T5HO x 4 54W bulbs (can turn off 2 bulbs at first but decided spend the money now on a ballast with all 4 bulbs.  After tons of reading on planted tanks it's intensity, intensity, intensity matters to grow what ever you want.  I kinda figured why bother with a planted tank if you don't want to spend on enough lighting. 

Any suggestions on which?  I've been looking on line and see that US to CDN plus shipping doesn't mean it's cheaper to go online then buy local.

2.  substrate - decided on ECO-Complete - many posts that it works very well and I like that's it's black. 

3.  Filter I have many choices and extra filters so this should not going to be an issue

4.  CO2 - utlimately I want pressurized and regulator and maybe controller to turn off at night.  Given the $$$ I need to spend on the above just to get it going, and that I have a yeast solution with diffuser already I though I would use it and add another since they are cheap to buy or build.  No fish yet so getting things going and get the plants estabilished.  Then look at presurrized and fish solution.

I see may CO2 pressured solutions out there.  Red Sea has  kit.  I like the idea of buying a kit with everything I need.

Where can I get CO2 canistors in Ottawa and refills?

What CO2 systems have you used or recommend?

[cichlidicted]

well am kinda new to planted tanks and CO2 as well, so verify whatever i say lol .
I also use eco-complete and love its black color .... however dirt can be easily seen, but still i love the green on black.

what i know is that if you go for kits such as the Red sea, it needs special canisters, and am not sure if you can refill those (its much cheaper if you can refill compared to buying a new one). personally i go for Milwaukee MA957 regulators, just cause i've heard its a better quality and will fit on any tanks.

There are two places in the are where you can get the tanks and also get them refilled. check out this link
http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=30441.0

Goodluck

[Jeff1192]

For a pressurized CO2 system definitely check out these guys:

sumoregulator.com

I got my system from them and it's fantastic. Their customer service is excellent too.

For CO2 refills in Ottawa you can go to Davidson Fire Extinguishers.

Jeff

[zima]

A cheaper solution for lights is to go local, either the DIY way, or the single strips from a hydroponic store way (look up B&B Hydroponics and give them a shout). It is also cheap to buy t5HO bulbs from an electrical appliance store in Ottawa (look up litemor on Innes); you just have to make sure to get the bulbs in the right colour range - between 5,000K and 10,000K.

My advice to you is to stay at or below 2 watts/gallon until you set up a pressurised CO2 system to get adequate levels of CO2 in your water column. Without it and with higher lights you are asking for algae to take over, and I can guarantee you will battle algae blooms until you balance all the nutrients (see exv152 's post, except that he forgot phosphate and nitrate in point 2 - the nutrients. But the dosing of nutrients is another topic for another thread ). The yeast generator(s) are good and cheap, but only for small tanks. Also, the CO2 level is always fluctuating with yeast generators, which you definitely don't want in your tank. Finally, you will need to run much more than 2 generators to get at adequate levels on a 75g, and you will have to stay on top of yeast brew changes all the time.

[asmackay]

Thanks I forgot about B&B. 

I do plan on adding pressurized CO2 so I want to buy the lighting I need upfront rather than fix the lighting later.  Can also use 2 bulbs until I get more CO2 into the tank.

B&B was good price 4x T5HO and bulbs for $264