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Post by billg71 on May 26, 2012 18:15:12 GMT -5
I'm preparing to set up my first aquarium in 15 years, a planted 45-gallon cube. I'm leaning towards an Amazonian biotope with water chemistry to match. It'll be a community tank, featuring a large shoal of Cardinals and possibly another smaller tetra shoal, maybe some juvie Angels or a pair of Dwarf Gouramis(I'm not a purist), 5 or 6 Corys and some Otos. Soft, slightly acidic water chemistry of course. Haven't made a plant selection but there'll be the usual background, mid- and foreground with some kind of showy specimen as a centerpiece. Obviously, they'll be compatible with the water chemistry. I've read Carl's article(thank you very much, Carl, great info), Diana Walstad's book and Matt Owens' An Alternative Aquarium: A Robust Habitat and I'm trying to decide on substrate. I like the idea of the "el natural" tank with it's low maintenance and tech requirements but I don't know if I'm ready to take something like that on as a first tank. So what do you guys use? I have Eco Complete, SeaChem Flourite, SeaChem Flourite Sand, Onyx Sand, dirt, potting soil and building sand all available locally so availability isn't an issue. My guy at the LFS(and a really nice LFS, BTW) recommends an inch of Onyx Sand with whatever I want to top it with, but will that base substrate support an ecology or just more or less fertilize the plants? And do the artificial substrates stimulate the plants enough to require CO2 injection to keep up? I'm all about tech but this is something I want to keep as low-tech as possible, maximize enjoyment and minimize effort. I have enough hobbies already, I just want a pretty, healthy aquarium to sit down in front of and watch the fish in the evenings. So I'm looking for suggestions. What do you guys use, what's your approach, how much maintenance do you do? Do you use CO2? What's your maintenance regime? And anything else I didn't think to ask... Thanks in advance, Bill
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Post by Carl on May 27, 2012 11:28:18 GMT -5
I concur with your LFS guy. I know many use pure plant substrates, but I have seen no difference in using these substrates (regardless of brand) with #3 gravel or sand on top and around. I then supplement with a little more substrate after cleanings (By a little more I mean handfuls at most). I then supplement with Root Tabs such as SeaChems' Root Tabs. As for CO2, this is an area I personally have found not 100% objective determination as I have done well both with and without with many plant types. More lighting will often place more demands upon CO2, but this simply means bio available carbon, not necessarily CO2 form some sort of CO2 system. Natural bio processes can supply this carbon, as can products such as SeaChem Fluorish Excel (although my results with this product are mixed). Use of Alkaline and Acid Buffers produce CO2 by chemical reaction. Then there are the many ways to add CO2 by yeast, Fizz Tabs, and advanced pressurized systems Finally a mix of more than one is often how I have added this bio available carbon What determines this will depend upon many factors that I could write volumes on, which is why I believe there is no exact one way to do this despite some who will state their way is the only way. Carl
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Post by billg71 on May 28, 2012 20:59:15 GMT -5
Thanks Carl, I'm leaning towards the LFS suggestions as well based on the theory that it's good to have easily accessible advice. What do you(or any members) know about the ADA products? I have Takashi's book, his tanks are impressive but are the products equally as impressive, at least as far as substrates are concerned? I can live without the tanks, SS filters and lighting but are his substrates and supplements worth the premium price? I don't mind paying for quality but I'm all about being cost-effective. Thanks for the feedback, Bill
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Post by Carl on May 29, 2012 9:04:53 GMT -5
I am familiar with ADA Substrate only, but even then via my aquarium maintenance and other trusted aquarium keeping friends.
Their views are very good as per this product, but I have never had any feedback on other products (good or bad)
Carl
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Post by parker002 on May 29, 2012 9:22:38 GMT -5
I use a 50/50 mix of Eco Complete/Flourite Black in the 14G tank and only Flourite Black in the 55G. I don't use any sand or other substrate. I have fiddled with CO2 and fertilizer supplements in the past but use neither now. The 14G has 2x26W screw-in compact flourescents. The 55G has 2x30W TMC GroBeam 1000 LEDs. My plants grow at a rate that is just below the "these things need to be pruned every day and I'm sick of it" rate.
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Post by billg71 on May 30, 2012 5:21:08 GMT -5
...................I have fiddled with CO2 and fertilizer supplements in the past but use neither now. ....................... My plants grow at a rate that is just below the "these things need to be pruned every day and I'm sick of it" rate. That's exactly what I'd like to achieve, healthy growth with a minimum of fuss. For lighting I have 2 24" T5 HO fixtures and a couple of Carl's 13-watt T2s on the way, probably too much but I'll play around with them to get a good balance. I've done a lot of reading on the ADA stuff but think I'll pass on it for now, shipping 20-lb bags of gravel from San Fran to Atlanta is just 'way too expensive. I'll try to talk one of the LFS guys into taking it on but don't expect anything. Gotto run, thanks for the info! Best, Bill
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Post by Carl on May 30, 2012 9:33:50 GMT -5
That too is how I have maintained most all my aquariums, in particular those for my clients since I could not profitable constantly "fuss" with these aquariums to the extent many high end planted aquarium keepers would.
I had a couple of clients that used very advanced CO2 injection, but this was always something they opted for on the side, outside my service.
While I may not always have had top notch results, I still had many aquariums that looked quite nice.
Parker, Lori and Babygeige all have very beautiful aquariums with little "fuss" in my opinion.
Carl
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Post by Suzie Q (Lori) on May 30, 2012 9:34:25 GMT -5
I have EC in most of my planted tanks (for the look), and black Fluorite in 1 10g planted tank. I don't so much like that look thought (the fluorite has a white flake look to it...maybe I didn't clean it out enough?) I have used DIY CO2, plants did great, but when the power went off, the water current stopped but the CO2 didn't and I almost lost the fish and shrimp. I just use light, liquid ferts and root tabs (via Carl's suggestions) Good Luck, Lori
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Post by billg71 on Jun 1, 2012 20:10:11 GMT -5
A bag of Onyx mixed with a bag of Flourite Black for the base. The Onyx is pretty course, the FB is about the consistency of play sand so they should make a good mix. I'm hoping... Onyx seems to be in short supply, the LFS says it keeps getting backordered but I got their last bag. The other local shops I've called don't have any. To top it off I've got 3 bags of EcoComplete. I'm hoping that'll give me enough to establish a good slope but it's in stock, I can always pick up another if I need to. Kinda-sorta-really wanted to do real-live dirt but chickened out. The ADA stuff sounds nice but it's unGodly expensive to ship cross-country so here I am. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Bill
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Post by parker002 on Jun 2, 2012 19:56:50 GMT -5
Eco Complete is alot like regular dirt - at least it's more like really hard dirt than it is gravel. I think you'll like it. As a plant substrate, it's pretty good. It's not magic though and the hype is a bit over-served if you ask me...
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Post by Carl on Jun 3, 2012 17:40:18 GMT -5
Eco Complete is alot like regular dirt - at least it's more like really hard dirt than it is gravel. I think you'll like it. As a plant substrate, it's pretty good. It's not magic though and the hype is a bit over-served if you ask me... Then again you can actually use "Real Dirt", I have in the past with good success. In part because I found properly prepared it works as well as many fine plant substrates and mixes well with more coarse substrates like Flourite See Aquarium Plant Care; SubstratesCarl
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