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I just got a wonderful deal on a 125-gallon reef-ready tank. I'm going to set it up as a freshwater tank, and am thinking about planting it.

But I have lots of questions. First, I've read that reef-ready tanks in general aren't great for plants because of the waterfall effect inside the overflow boxes. But does it really matter that much? I'm going to plant only the hardiest of plants -- java moss, java fern, etc.

Second, my only other experience with a reef-ready tank is my marine tank, and that one is equipped with a wet-dry filter. But I'm not sure I should use that type of filter in the new 125, because I've read that it isn't great for a planted tank.

Any opinions? Suggestions for filtration?

Thanks,

Laura

Hi,
There really is not anything to do with plants and a
planted tank that you can't do with that "reef ready" tank.

Some of the negative comments come from folks who inject
CO2. It is true that the water falling over the sides into
the overflow boxes will "liberate" the CO2, but then with
a bottled system, you place the output of the CO2 tank into
the filter return and merely turn up the bubbles per
second a tad or two to compensate. The tank will still
stay at your desired saturation, the water in the overflow
and filter/sump will be oxygen enriched and the CO2 level
will be back at ambient saturation of about 5mg/l.
Than, after filtration, you run the water through a
reactor and bring the CO2 saturation back up to where you
want it and return it to the tank.

If you are not injecting CO2, then the tank would do fine
with low/medimum light demand plants. It's only when you
are "driving" a tank with high light, vast amounts of
plants, and a wide variety of light demand plants, that
one should consider the need rather than an option
for adding CO2.

Wet/dry filters are a little more efficient in the way
they treat nitrate. Plants need the carbon and nitrate
for growth and that demand is based upon the amount of
light. You may find that you will need to add fertilizer
to the tank. BUT, I would set it up, plant it, and then
see what the plants tell you over time.

This is a good site to listen to what your plants are
saying:
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_nutrient.htm

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Do you think I'd be better off with canister filters? I'm not planning on complicated plants, and would prefer not to deal with CO2 unless the plants don't seem to be doing well without it.

Thanks,

Laura

Hi,
Generally speaking, I would use a canister type
filter on a "big water" tank.
In the past these have been defined as tanks over
100 gallons in capacity. HOB filters, while some are
rated that high, just don't seem to have the capacity to
do the job. The newer, larger, more efficient, canisters
would seem the correct choice. In the end, it is of course
up to you and what you can afford.

In your specific case, with the built in overflows
and skimmers, I would use the wet/dry filter in
the compartment below.

The use of CO2 is not necessary, provided you stick with
low/medium light plants and low (1.5wpg) or medium (2wpg)
lights in the hood(s). The fish stock will take care of
the plant nutrients, and you will have a stunning tank.

It's only when you drive the plants with a huge amount of
light (3+wpg or more) that the plants need much larger
amounts of nutrients, especially Carbon. The plants can
extract the Carbon from the organic molecules in the water
but they have to expend energy to break the chemical bonds
and it is not all that efficient a process. Inject CO2, and
the plants go nuts as if you just set out a huge banquet
of Carbon. They can easily break the C/O2 bonds and feast
on the Carbon.

No matter what the size tank, having a truly stunning tank
with plants, it is never mandatory to inject CO2.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--