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Okay first, the tank specs: 55 gallon, with a Penguin 350 HOB and an Eheim ECCO 2233 cannister, also, a 300 w All-Glass submersible heater. I just ordered a Coralife Aqualight PC Freshwater series with 2 x 65 w 6700 K bulbs for a total of 130 watts (should put me at 2.36 wpg.) I have 2 inches of Eco Complete substrate and will put on an inch of med. sized black gravel to bring the substrate up to 3 inches. Fish plans (eventually) will be couple of angels, couple of blue rams, school or two of tetras (Cochu's blue and green fire) and possibly the 2 platy males outta my 29. I am planning CO2, I'm just not sure what kind of set-up yet.

This tanks has nothing but the Eco Complete and the filters right now.

I'm planning to transfer some gravel and filter material from my fully cycled 29 to help get the cycle established, but I've read an article that says if I put just enough stem plants in there I won't have to worry about cycling at all. Other than that, I hve no idea what I want in there. In my 29 I have some java ferns, some dwarf harigrass, some nyphaea lillies, some aponogetons, some crypts, some anubias, some bacopa carolinia, some anacharis, a banana plant, and an Amazon sword that is reproducing like crazy!

I would like to do Hemanthius Callitrichoides for a ground cover, but other than that, I'm at a loss as to what plants to pick and where to put them. I was just going to order a 55 gallon plant package from an online plant dealer, but I need to think this out a lot better than I did on my 29.

I know this is so broad it's ridiculous, but can some of the FP plant gurus help me with my selections? My target budget is around $125-150. HELP!!!

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Well I have a 55g planted, but its got alot of different types in it. I have the same light, so I'll just tell you what is working in my tank.

I love Bacopa. It grows so well in my tank. I think if you got 2 bunches of it, you will have double that in a matter of months.
I have E. tennellus as my foreground plant. That's a good option if you can't find the HC (good luck by the way, its hard to find).
Rotala Rotundifolia grows really well. The tops get pinkish-red, so its pretty.
I have alot of crypts. I love them also. I have alot of wendtii reds for color. I have just recently planted some crypt lutea and petchiis. I have crypt retrospiralis as a background plant. It grows slow, but I like the wavy look of it.
I got a new plant recently called Mayaca. Its light green and pretty. I'll have to get a picture of it.
Wisteria will be good for cycling. It grows fast so it will suck up the ammonia. I am fed up with it though and have almost got it out of all my tanks. It tangles itself up and just doesn't look good.

As you probably already know, most crypts, anubias, and java fern will grow nicely.

I hope this helps...seems like I'm just typing away on here.
I would make your own order and not get a package...you may get some plants you don't want. And that would be a waste of money.

I'll get a picture of my tank later. It is not great looking...but its planted! And my fish like it.

*Kristin*

No waste of time there in your typing....that's exactly the ideas I'm looking for. Good to know all that is working in your tank, those are some great ideas. I tried water sprite in my 29, but haven't had any luck with it at all. I don't know if my fish are destroying it or if there's just not enough light in there for it, but I might give the wisteria a try in my 55...at least for cycling.

I am going to order my own plants instead of going with a set package, that's where ya'll come in....helping me figure out what to get...I'm so new at planting tanks. You have given me some valuable info so far...Thank you!!!

Do you have a CO2 set-up? If so, what kind and is it working for you? I'm just so unsure about going this far...I want to stick to my little bottle of Flourish Excel, which is great for my 29, but probably unrealistic for my 55 what with the size of the tank and the amount of light and all.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Sounds like you are off to a pretty good start with things. I would if you have the cash get CO2. You will like it. Use the excel here and there for algae issues.

As for starter plants I would add in as many fast growers as you can. Prety much any of your hygro's will do a nice job. Maybe a hand full of bigger duck weed just to keep things under control. Start with a big plant mass to get things rolling then start adding in different things that you really like.

Give us pictures too!

Edit: Have you read Tom Barr's EI? If not you should. this will give you a good idea of how to run your ferts.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

No, that's another base I need to cover...LOL...so much to think about. Can you link it for me?

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Hi,
Here is the link for Tom's Estimative Index:
http://www.barrreport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1

Frank

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

Do you have a CO2 set-up

No, I don't. I would like to have it on the 55g, but I don't have the money for a pressurized system. I use excel every week. I have algae, but I'm working on getting rid of it. I am slightly overstocked...and need to learn to turn the lights off after 10 hours...but sometimes I forget.
One thing I wish I did was plant heavily from the start. I wanted a heavily planted tank, but added plants a few at a time. I think the algae issue would be better if I had planted alot to begin with.
Be careful with the duckweed though. That stuff multiplies so fast. I got a few pieces of it in with a plant order. Now I can't get rid of it. It is in 2 of my tanks.

I've looked at the EI method before...I didn't understand it though.

My 55g....well the middle part...the picture cut the sides off.


Here is a not so good look at Mayaca. Its kind prickly looking...cool.


*Kristin*

Melissa (that is your name, right? ),

I find that what you are doing right now is the best thing that can be done - investigating all your options . You will see that there are about 100 to 200 questions that will pop up in your mind and some of the answers you find will lead to another 100 questions .

In the end, you will find that some series of Qs and As end up with a circluar reference, meaning you are as smart at the end then you were at the beginning. But that is part of the game. My preparations for setting up my 125 started just like yours, with loads of questions here at FP, reading quite a few books on plants, reading online articles like mad, actually it was a very exciting time. Overall, it took me 3 months from the point I made the decision to have the tank to the moment I filled it up with water.

My advice on order of events:

1) do what you are doing now, ask all kinds of questions, eventually they will become more specialized as other elements of the tank become clearer (like have made the decision to go with regulator injected CO2 will influence the plant options)
2) get all equipment that can be stores (means no fish and plants),and there is loads of equipment, including plant fertilizers.
3) orderand receive the plants and set up the tank right then.
4) start stocking

That is it for now, I cannot way until you are ready to rumble and become one of the Plant Nerds with your own log (but it is too early for that right now).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks, Ingo. Yes, my name is Melissa...I thought I would add that to my siggie so I seem more like a person and less like a red-headed lunatic (which is probably closer to the truth ).

I have nearly all the equipment there is. My lights and ferts should be here in a couple of days, and it's going to take me a little time to put my plant list together and draw up a 'scaping plan. I will not order any plants until I feel like that mission is accomplished to my satisfaction. I'm still on the fence about pressurized CO2. So, this begs the question, would this set-up be okay: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9935&N=2004+113779

It's reasonably affordable, I just need to know if this would work. If not, or if there are any other recommendation or a cheaper set-up available somewhere else y'all need to let me know. Maybe I should check Ebay!! I have no idea how to set-up or monitor something like this. I feel a little overwhelmed by the technicality of it all.

Crap Girlie, your tank looks really good. If you're doing this well with the same lights and no CO2 perhaps I could pull it off. I like that Mayaca plant...where did you get it?

I will be glad to join the Plant-Nerd, ginormous tank-log set as soon as I'm ready. When is that? After the plants and fish are in the tank? My digi sucks, but it will take a pic or two so I can post piccies when y'all are ready.

Someone recommend some more plants.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Melissa ,

As a self-describing lunatic you will fit right into the group .

About this Drs. CO2 system: I don't have it, but it seems fine from the picture. What I don't like about it is that the bubble counter will have to be mounted somewhere rather than being attached to the regulator. Also, if the check valve is built into the Bubble Counter, then what is that little thingy in the upper right corner (which looks like a check valve) ?

The great unknow about this unit is the quality of the regulator. I would try to find out about it before I would purchase this unit. tetratech and I both have This Unit and we both are pretty happy with it. The problem here is that you would have to buy the remaining components (timer - tubing - diffuser) separately and that is a) more hassle and b) more expensive.

as soon as I'm ready. When is that?

I would say check tetratech's and my log to see where we start the log, basically at the moment when we could start setting it up - before plants and water are added. I profited from the advice I got on the positioning of my rocks, if I wold have started later it would have been too late.

Someone recommend some more plants

No - you run along now and peruse the web, read books, go to the tropica website, and do all the fun stuff to find out more about plants. It is too exciting to simply listen to what other people tell you to get

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Would this be a full set-up with the stuff you just mentioned (tubing, timer, diffuser et.al)?

http://search.ebay.com/co2_W0QQcatrefZC6QQfromZR10QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQssPageNameZWLRS


9th one down (couldn't get the item link to post right)

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Melissa,

Items move in that list, what is its name (title)?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

sent ya PM...Top Gun CO2 Regulator for aquariums and aquatic plants

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

It is just the regulator and stuff, you would still need the tubing, diffuser, and timer - the way I interpret the offer.

Also, it is already at $70 and not that much below a brand new unit from that company (see my link above as it points to this unit from its manufacturer).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

True...probably be better to go with new. That's a good deal on that link you posted. Where did you find the other stuff? Same link?

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Where did you find the other stuff? Same link?

- Tubing can be found on the web, I actually bought a full fledged system of which I only use half of now and as such never hunted down CO2 proof tubing. If you have a chance and can find it, go with black CO2 tubing, as it becomes invisible in your tank.

- CO2 diffuser is also from the web, I don't have the link handy but I see an offer on that same e-bay site you linked to.

- timer - Home Depot

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Okay, I think I saw the diffuser....is it a little glass (ceramic) thingamajig? Where does that go? My gawd there is no way I'll be able to set someting like this up....does it come with a diagram? I feel SO stupid! How 'bout if I just purchase Excell in 2 litre bottles?

I saw the tubing...I understand that ...I think. The timer is just a deal you plug the whole thing into so it turns it off at night? I'm so not technical.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Melissa,

there is no way I'll be able to set someting like this up

Sure you can, in the end it is not all that wild.

The diffuser goes in the tank, that is where the bubbles will come out. It attaches to the end of the tubing, while the other end is on top of the bubble counter. Look somewhere around page 75 in my log to see my diffuser and read some info about it.

The timer is so that you can shut down the solenoid (and with it the CO2 output) when the lights go out. If you already have a timer for the lights (and a power strip) then you can plug the solenoid in there and don't need an extra timer.

Ingo

Oh- and you know that you will need a CO2 bottle, right ?

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I like that Mayaca plant...where did you get it?

I got it here. I just placed my first order with them a week ago. The plants were great, they were bigger than other places I've ordered. I chose when I wanted to receive the order and it came that day. I was really pleased with them.

The one thing I didn't like was that my crypts melted (all but a couple plants), but thats just how crypts are i guess.

Good luck with all that CO2 stuff. I don't understand much of it either.

I am hopefully going to set up a 38g planted CO2 tank this summer...so I'll have to read up on pressurized setups.

*Kristin*