Substrate

[Robertb1979]

I am about to start up a planted tank, I have the tank, lights (about 3 watts per gallon uk) filter etc already and have dreams of owning a tank like those produced by Takashi Amano (obviously not going to happen anytime soon :cry: ). I would like to keep soft water fish in this tank.

Please could people give me advice on the best substrate to use and possible planting arrangements for someone who has only ever dabbled with java fern with any success.
What fluorescent bulbs do you recommend, I know I am looking for high red and blue output and good lux and CRI, are there any brands that are better than others.

I know there is no definitive answers to these questions but I would like some advice as many of the books on the subject contradict each other. :?
Thanks for your help

 

[aspen]

>>'...I would like some advice as many of the books on the subject contradict each other.'

yes that is a problem. everyone finds ways that work for them, and often stick to them till they want to try another approach because of situations which are too tough to figure out. i personally use plain sand or sand mixed with small gravel. i then use tropica master grow, and some small amounts of plant spikes under the sand.

there are many choices to make, when you don't like what you picked, try something else. the only advice i would make is, to use tanks small enough to male changes without breaking the bank or wasting too much time.

i like phillips 850 lamps, they are full spectrum and can be purchased at electrical suppliers for a little dough. i cannot bring myself to pay 25 bucks for any lamp at a fish store.

rick

 

[tjnelson44]

I have had very good results with flourite from seachem. The plants grow great and it doesn't buffer the water like some other plant substrates but it does have a down side. It will cloud your tank when you move it around a lot.
Trevor

 

[laetacara1]

I have had very good results with flourite from seachem. The plants grow great and it doesn't buffer the water like some other plant substrates but it does have a down side. It will cloud your tank when you move it around a lot.
Trevor

We use flourite as well and our plants seem to really thrive in it. The one thing I'd mention that contradicts the manufacturer's information concerns the effect of the substrate on pH. It is said to be have no notable effect on pH, but I suspect this is in waters that have some degree of hardness, but I don't think it applies to super soft water as per our experience. We have tested this pretty thoroughly in our super soft water (kH <<1) and we find that it does lower our pH significantly. Our tap pH is about 9 (it is made more alkaline by the water utility to protect pipes from corrosion) and it equilibrates in mature planted tanks w/o fluorite, added CO2, or peat filtration at about 7.4-7.8. In planted tanks with the same set up and fluorite substrate (ie no other pH altering components), the pH can be depressed into the mid 4's or lower when the substrate is new. There does seem to be a "decay time" of this pH depression. For our 10 gal tank the pH initially dropped to about 5, and eventually came back to "equilibrium" (say 7.4-7.8) in about 8 months or so. In our 55 gal, the pH started out at about 3.8 or something like that and has very slowly risen, so that it is about 6.5 after 3 years. Of course, this pH drop is not so much of a problem for most of us dwarf cichlid keepers given that we are commonly trying to achieve acidic, soft water.

 

[LyreTail]

I have never had any problems with the pH using Flourite or noticed any significant effects. My GH < 20 and my KH <10 mg/l My pH runs 7.0 from the tap and 6.0 with CO2 injection and 7.2 without CO2 . I usually add a little washing soda or baking soda in order to boost the KH slightly in order to stabilize the pH especially in CO2 tanks. I should also say that I have 8 tanks running and 3 planted with CO2 - 2 planted without CO2 - rest have floating plants

Chemistry wise, I would suspect a different reason why you are having problems with pH in tanks with Flourite as Flourite is mostly Aluminum, iron clay
http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Flourite.html

Being as the person asking the question is from the UK, I doubt they can get Flourite there. They seem to not have all the options for stuff in the UK and everything is very expensive . For a generic answer smaller substrates like micro gravel work the best. You can season them with sphagnum peat moss and detritus from another tank. An iron rich clay gravel additive like flourite will greatly reduce the need to supply Iron in the water column