This is kind of my 1st planted tank,I started all the plants in a 10 gal. to see if I could get them to grow before I set up the big tank. I did not get pics of the tank empty or as I was setting it up(rookie mistake) So I will start here, the tank is 48"x24"x30" tall 150 gal. It has 40# of Flourite,40# of Floramix,60# of Eco complete, and 120#of black sand. The Manzita wood I got from PC1 and got a great deal. Some of the plants I got from jrman83,some from Aquabid,and some from LFS. So far for filtration I have a Fluval FX-5. Lighting is the 2- 40 watt strip light that came with the tank and I put plant bulbs in it,and 260 watts of 6500K-PC. This is a pic of the 10 gal. I started with,it looks really bare now it was packed with plants.

Here is a fulltank shot

Left end

Right side

Left side front

Telanthera

Riccia

front view

This is what I am trying to resemble, I think it may be close with more plants and growth.

This tank will be 2 weeks old Aug 5th I have 20 Dalmation Mollies, 12 otos, 4-2" plecos, 6 Ghost shrimp,and 2 Mystery snails. I am trying the Silent cycle and it seems to be going well so far.

Nice looking tank! Like the wood placement. Tank just doesn't look that big from the pics. 150g is a nice size? No CO2 plans? I'm sure the cloudiness will clear up before too long. Staurogyne repens would look great as a carpeting plant in that tank or about 100 or so blyxa. Just a thought.

Thanks Ben,I like the taller 150 over the long because it looks more like a picture and does not take up the space of a couch. After the substrate and the wood it took 110 Gal. RO water to fill. I had DIY CO2 on the 10 gal. but from what I read DIY will do no good on a tank this big. I have contacted the guy at Green Leaf Aquariums about a pressurized system. The cloudiness took about 3 weeks to clear on the 10 gal. I have some Hygro Bold,Sunset Bold,and blyxa coming.

Orlando will set you up right at GLA. I have one of their regulators that has a dual manifold and putting CO2 out at both ends of one of my 125g tanks for more even dispersement. Ordering same type of setup soon for my other 125. They do quality work on their regulators. Only thing I have ever heard negative was about a solenoid, but most can fail within 3-4yrs anyway. If it were me, I wouldn't worry about getting a ph controller controlled system. Just run your CO2 when your lights are on and make it simple. I had 2 ph controllers and sold them both. Your choice though. Good and bad about both ways.

I would caution about putting so much RO water in your tank. Tap water has the calcium/magnesium that your fish need and it will also have some carbonate hardness. The carbonate hardness (kh) is what helps to keep your ph stable and safe. Some RO water will completely strip the kh and gh. Okay to do that if you are putting some back. I would recommend doing just 50% RO.

Is it saltwater or fresh water,it looks not great...

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The water is not clear.May be you can choose blue light LED bars.

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It is nfreshwater.

I am not sure why the water is cloudy,the 10 gal. goes threw the same thing. I tested the water today with the API master kit PH-7.6 High range PH-7.4(KIND OF ODD) Ammonia-0.25ppm Nitrite-0ppm Nitrate-5.0ppm

fairly normal parameters. PH will rise to high levels (8.4-8.8 api high range ) in my unfiltered uncirculated planted tanks. The plants consuming the carbon dioxide cause those levels. the ammonia is the lowest of the test kit and I sometimes to measure that for a day on a new tank.

cloudiness will go away by killing the lights for a few days and stop adding food. If it is a new tank with fish you may want to not feed for a few days to a week as the things get settled down anyway.

After the water has cleared then resume with less duration lighting and feeding. The tank should stay clear ofter that.

my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Added some new plants today from member Z400. Blyxa Japonica,Hygro Bold, and Hygro Sunset. The 2 Hygros had all the leaves broken off,will these plants grow again? They had new roots growing out of several places up the stem so I cut the stem off at an angle right below the new roots and planted them. I think they will take off again but I am not sure.

Hard to say.The leaves are how they respire,or so I have been told.You can try them out and see.

Nice looking tank,BTW.

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"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

I talked to the guy I got them from and he says they will,I hope so I really like the pattern on the leaves. If they do come back I will post some pics.

very nicely done, great job, I like the driftwood and rock layout

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Thanks I am trying to make it look similar to the last picture,we will see when the plants fill in.

Well,I am looking forward to your great work.

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Looks great

It has been about 3 weeks since I set up this tank so here are some new pics. The cloudiness has cleared up and I am gradually adding fish.I ordered some micro/macro dry fert and some iron from Aquarium fertilizer and it should be here in a couple of days. Right now I am trying to decide on what plant or plants to put across the back of the tank,it is 30" tall so I plenty of room for tall growing plants. I would like to get some ideas from everyone on here so fire away.

Can't believe that's your first planted tank...

Really amazing... Great work.

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You could get some more Balansae and fill up one small area. Ammannia Gracillis, or Ammannia Senegalensis would look good back there - very tall growing plants.

Thanks,Going well so far I think start alot of the plants in my 10 gal. first really helped. They have been growing for about 4 months then I pulled them and divided and moved them to the big tank.

Thanks for the info I followed your advice and the water is clear.