Starting up a planted tank

robertmathern · 10-11-2011, 04:38 PM

I have always done reef tanks and big ones but I have just moved into my new house and dont have room for a huge tank. I got a 25 gal tank for my office and I was going to go reef tank but have decided to do a planted tank instead. Since I already have a light I was hoping to use it. I actually have 2 but the one I am wanting to use is a coralife 1 X 150 watt metal hailide with 2 pc atinincs and led moon lights. Is this going to be to much light for a 25 gal planted tank. What kind of filtration is good I was going to throw a hob filter rated for about a 50 gal on it but want to make sure that is a decent route to go. I am not sure of fish right now for the tank as I will have to do more research on that before I start it all up. The closest thing I got to a planted is my son 3 gal betta tank that has a small plant in it from when I move it came out of my koi pond. That tank has a little LED fixture on it that came with the tank I dont think the LED's are any good really sine the whole setup with filter and all only cost about 60 bucks but the plant seems to be doing ok in there.

susankat · 10-11-2011, 04:52 PM

You would need to switch the bulbs for more plant friendly ones. Halides and actinic aren't good for plants. It would give you an algae garden though.

robertmathern · 10-11-2011, 04:57 PM

lol I figured as much. I have 2 mh bulbs one I know is no good its a 20K the other is a 10K I think would that still be to blue for the tank. As far as attinics I planned on replacing them with something along the 6700 spectrum. Unless you have a better recomendation. Money is not a problem to me as long as it is within reason.

robertmathern · 10-11-2011, 05:32 PM

also this is the fist time (well kinda) I have herd of a co2 setup is there a decent thread on this and do I really need it I was going to just do some plats you can get from walmart and stuff but I also know how that goes in the reef tank hobby thats only the beginning lol. So I may want to look into that aswell.

susankat · 10-11-2011, 05:35 PM

Basically co2 will depend on the lighting you use. 6700 is a good range for plants. If you go with high lights you would need to do co2, but if you stay in the low to medium range of plants and lights it won't need it.

robertmathern · 10-11-2011, 05:47 PM

So what I am getting here is if I want to start small and go from there. I should replace my pc lights in the fixture with 6700 and leave the mh off for the time being and when I decide to step up a notch by then I am sure I will know all about c02 systems since all I ever do is ask and research everything lol. Sounds good to be since I have no idea where to get a mh bulb in that spectrum but honestly I have never looked either.

susankat · 10-11-2011, 06:07 PM

you won't need a halide bulb at all. And yes start low and work from there.

10-11-2011, 04:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
robertmathern Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 119 My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 5 Times Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	Starting up a planted tank I have always done reef tanks and big ones but I have just moved into my new house and dont have room for a huge tank. I got a 25 gal tank for my office and I was going to go reef tank but have decided to do a planted tank instead. Since I already have a light I was hoping to use it. I actually have 2 but the one I am wanting to use is a coralife 1 X 150 watt metal hailide with 2 pc atinincs and led moon lights. Is this going to be to much light for a 25 gal planted tank. What kind of filtration is good I was going to throw a hob filter rated for about a 50 gal on it but want to make sure that is a decent route to go. I am not sure of fish right now for the tank as I will have to do more research on that before I start it all up. The closest thing I got to a planted is my son 3 gal betta tank that has a small plant in it from when I move it came out of my koi pond. That tank has a little LED fixture on it that came with the tank I dont think the LED's are any good really sine the whole setup with filter and all only cost about 60 bucks but the plant seems to be doing ok in there.

10-11-2011, 04:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,413 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,082 Times Said "Thanks" 1,610 Times Was Thanked 1,807 Times in 1,548 Posts	Re: Starting up a planted tank You would need to switch the bulbs for more plant friendly ones. Halides and actinic aren't good for plants. It would give you an algae garden though. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

10-11-2011, 04:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
robertmathern Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 119 My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 5 Times Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Starting up a planted tank lol I figured as much. I have 2 mh bulbs one I know is no good its a 20K the other is a 10K I think would that still be to blue for the tank. As far as attinics I planned on replacing them with something along the 6700 spectrum. Unless you have a better recomendation. Money is not a problem to me as long as it is within reason.

10-11-2011, 05:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
robertmathern Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 119 My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 5 Times Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Starting up a planted tank also this is the fist time (well kinda) I have herd of a co2 setup is there a decent thread on this and do I really need it I was going to just do some plats you can get from walmart and stuff but I also know how that goes in the reef tank hobby thats only the beginning lol. So I may want to look into that aswell.

10-11-2011, 05:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,413 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,082 Times Said "Thanks" 1,610 Times Was Thanked 1,807 Times in 1,548 Posts	Re: Starting up a planted tank Basically co2 will depend on the lighting you use. 6700 is a good range for plants. If you go with high lights you would need to do co2, but if you stay in the low to medium range of plants and lights it won't need it. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

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10-11-2011, 05:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
robertmathern Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 119 My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 5 Times Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Starting up a planted tank So what I am getting here is if I want to start small and go from there. I should replace my pc lights in the fixture with 6700 and leave the mh off for the time being and when I decide to step up a notch by then I am sure I will know all about c02 systems since all I ever do is ask and research everything lol. Sounds good to be since I have no idea where to get a mh bulb in that spectrum but honestly I have never looked either.

10-11-2011, 06:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,413 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,082 Times Said "Thanks" 1,610 Times Was Thanked 1,807 Times in 1,548 Posts	Re: Starting up a planted tank you won't need a halide bulb at all. And yes start low and work from there. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

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