low-tech planted tank project

[labnjab]

We are in the process of setting up a low tech planted tank. We are downsizing our current 55 gallon tropical community tank to a 29 gallon.If all goes well it should be running by mid week next week. We will not be using CO2, just a good substrate, good light and the occasional fertilizer and root tabs

Here's what we have so far
Lighting
Odyssea 2x24 watt HO t-5 with 2 24 watt 6500K GE bulbs

Substrate
We will be using a combination of eco-complete plant substrate and black sand

Stocking

The stocking will be what we have in the 55 gallon, plus 1 or 2 more fish once it gets going. This includes 1- 5 inch angel fish, 10 corydoras, 1 german blue ram, and 6 serpa tetras

Filtration
2 aqueon 30 HOB filters loaded with filterfloss and bio-mex, I may eventually switch to a cascade 750 if I can get it to stop leaking

Heater
Jagar 100 watt

Plants

Not quite sure here, we will be saving some annarchis, annubis, crypts, jungle vals and amazon swords from the 55 but after that I'm not sure. All will be hardy low-medium light plants

We got the light in yesterday and will be picking up the tank this weekend and the rest will be here early next week. I will keep you posted as things progress. I all goes well we should be "fragging" the plants weekly after its been running a month

[benboarder]

sounds like what im doing with the 30 breeder. if you have some substrate left over ill be glade to take it.  i will be converting that tank over in mid setptember.

[labnjab]

I don't think we will have any left over, but I'll keep you in mind if we do. I ordered just enough for a 2 inch layer in the 29 gallon .which is a 20lb bag

[Myk]

Sounds great Jason!  Make sure that ou share some pics!

[labnjab]

Thanks Myk. We'll be sure to post pictures. As of now were still waiting on the substrate but once that comes in we can start the set-up

[labnjab]

The substrate should be here this afternoon so hopefully we will have the tank going tonight ;D

[labnjab]

Here are some pictures

Draining the 55 gallon



Here are the plants we saved from the 55, a few amazon swords, several annubis, 1 small crypt and a few annarchis



The 29 gallon filled with eco-complete and sand



The fish awaiting their new home


Added the driftwood and leveled the stand



Filling


Full



The whole process took about 2 hours and surprisingly the tank stayed clear,

Now the fun task of choosing plants and where to put them. For now the plants are in temporary positions, and half the annubis will eventually in up in our goldfish tank

[benboarder]

looking good

[labnjab]

Thank you Ben
Time for some more pictures. Right now were just seeing if the plants from the 55 gallon will recover. Most aren't looking well, they leaves are thin and kind of yellow, but they were under lit in the 55 so hopefully with the better light and good substrate they will color up in a few days.

The amazon sword and java ferns we picked up last night look great.








We've decided on what our final stocking will be. This includes all the current fish in the tank

1 Angel fish
1 German Blue Ram
10 Corries
6 Serpa tetras
6 neon Tetera

We may add more neons if it doesn't seem overstocked

[labnjab]

Today we picked up some flora pride for a liquid fert. We couldn't find any excel locally, which is a liquid co2, so we ordered some from amazon.com and will get it Wednesday.

We also picked up 2 more plants, which will be the last plants for a while until things start to grow in. We got a nice healthy green crypt and a bright green Ludwigia palustris. We know the ludwigia is a moderate light plant, but in researching it found it is highly adaptive and great for beginners so we thought we would give it a try.

We also added 3 serpa tetras, which quickly joined the other 3 in the tank.