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Re: [AGA Member] Aquarium Planning



Remember that there is no true "cycle" for Nitrogen in a planted aquarium. Plants will readily
absorb all NH4 in the water, so you may never actually see an ammonia or nitrite spike. I suggest
adding some hardier fish right by the end of the first month.


Carbon is not recommended for planted aquaria as it absorbs many of the compounds plants need.

According to most hobbyists, substrate heating it a big waste of money. I have personally never used them for any of my planted aquaria (all my planted aquariums are "high tech," btw, with pressurized CO2, intense lighting, etc), so I can't really say if they improve plant growth, etc.

Mayaca, Phylanthus fluitans (floating plant), Alternanthera reineckii, Toninas, and various sword plants (not the cultivars) would be excellent as they are native to the Amazon River Basin like the discus, if you want to recreate a biotope of course. :)

Carlos




From: "Amit Brucker" <amitb@gtek.co.il>
Reply-To: aga-member@thekrib.com
To: <aga-member@thekrib.com>
Subject: Re: [AGA Member] Aquarium Planning
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 22:09:00 +0200

Discus will require high temperature range.... You'll have to find plants
that are suitable for that (Java Ferns/Java Moss etc...).
I would also filter through peat, and just for the beginning filter as well
via Carbon + Bio media and after a while remove the carbon.
Cycling first by fast growing plants is not a bad idea... I would also put a
few guppies in to speed up the process, However I would wait for at least a
month and only than introducing the live stock step by step, not all at one
time, As well as testing the water prior to that.


Amit Brucker
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nathan Freedenberg" <gnatster@comcast.net>
To: <aga-member@thekrib.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 9:38 PM
Subject: [AGA Member] Aquarium Planning


> Howdy,
>
> Just joined this list and I am planning a planted tank. This is my first
> foray into the realm of planted aquaria. I've read tons, talked to some
> folks at the lfs that are successful in keeping planted aquaria and have
> come up with a basic idea and plan. My background is in reef and African
> aquaria.
>
> The Plan:
> Tank: AGA 210 with overflows. 72x24x30. AGA Stand 28" tall
>
> Lighting: AB 72" AquaSpaceLight 3 w/ 3 6500k 250w MH and 2 24w Actinic
> Blue. Hang above open topped tank
>
> Sump: 40 Breeder 36x18x16 Provisions for two tank drains into 100 micron
> filter bag, channel for foam polishing sponge. Sump to include
> Heat 2x200 submersible
> CO2 Diffuser (I'm leaning toward the Aqua Medic Membrane type, unsure of
> size needed)
> Return Pump: 2x 600gph @ 5' external
> All plumbing connections will have true unions w/ gate valves in
> schedule 40 pvc
>
> Substrate Heating: I'm leaning to the 100w from aquariumlandscapes.net
> (Pros/Cons?) I've looked at the Dupla setup and it runs over $1000 for
> this size aquarium, that's a budget buster in a big way.
>
> CO2 System: 5 or 10lb bottle, depends what fits standing up in the
> stand. 2 Stage regulator w/solenoid controlled via CO2 controller from
> aquariumlandscapes.net set on timer not come on when lights are off. Do
> I need a bubble counter with that kind of setup? Recommended ones if
> needed? I'm also not 100% on a diffuser, recommendations please.
>
> Substrate: 3"-3.5" in depth. 1" layer CaribSea Amazon, 1" layer mixed
> 2/3 CaribSea Amazon, 1/3 Laterite , 1" layer CaribSea Amazon to top off.
> Assorted rocks and driftwood to created a visually pleasing (to me)
> display.
>
> What am I missing hardware wise besides the incidentals like a
> thermometer, timers etc?
>
> My plan is to cycle the tank with fast growing plants only, no fish.
> Once cycled some of the fast growers will be removed and I will
> aquascape to a more visually appealing (to me) setup and start adding
> swimming livestock. Ultimately leading to a nice shoal of discus and
> other denizens to form an Amazon biotype.
>
> Thoughts, comments, concerns?
>
> Thanks
>
> Nathan
>
>
> -*-*-*-*-
> gnatster
>
>
>
>
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