FishProfiles.com Message Forums |
| faq | etiquette | register | my account | search | mailbox |
 | New Planted Tank Advise |
hembo666  Big Fish Posts: 350 Kudos: 288 Votes: 3 Registered: 01-Apr-2005   |  Edited by hembo666180l tank with 2 30w tubes and reflectors and possibly a yeast/sugar ba what subsrate is reccommended? im thinking between a la and should i bother with a substrate heating cable? and should i remove the carbon from the filter and replace with sponge or alfagrog? thanks in advance for any replies |
 Posted 16-Jan-2008 00:14 |     |
FishKeeperJim  Big Fish Member MTS Anonymous Posts: 348 Kudos: 208 Votes: 186 Registered: 09-Jan-2007  | What type of plants are you thinking about as that will also help you decide on the other items. But here is my 2 cents ba I am not sure on the Litter to gallon conversion, but it seems to me that the lighting is very low. Eco complete is a great all purpose, and the Laterite is pretty much the same thing, IMO, So I would just go with the Eco sandwiched between the gravel. Substrata Heating cable. I have never used one and IME they are really only needed in houses that are extremely cold to start with. But I would wait and see if anyone else has used one and let them weigh in on that. ummmmm Alfagrog? I have never even heard of that one. I have several tanks running both with and without Carbon and the plants dont seem to notice either way, same as the sponge. No real difference in it. Hope this helps.  My Tanks at Photobucket |
| Posted 16-Jan-2008 23:55 |  |
FRANK       Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002  | Edited by FRANK You have the option of using a la That is, a la capped by similiarly thick la The heating cables were all the fad a couple of decades ago. The logic is that with a la on top of the heating cables, the warmed water around the cables would rise to the surface of the gravel and into the tank. This would pull cooler water down into the clay la low voltage A/C and high current. Dupla is the only current manufacturer that I'm aware of. Several DIY articles have been written about this sysetm using an regular doorbell transformer and some over the counter wire. A la have to put the system together VERY carefully to avoid getting the clay into the water. You have to plant the plants in the gravel la down into the clay. Every time you or a fish uproot a the plants roots will bring clay from the clay la into the water and turn it a muddy brown color. The only filter that will remove the clay particles is a Diatom filter. Generally folks who mix substrates are folks who should have had less impatience, saved their money another pay check or two, and purchased straight... something. You can use 50% gravel and something else, but the results will not be as good as straight flourite, or Eco-Complete or one of the timed release substrates. As far as the use of carbon in a filter is concerned, it is a complete waste of money. After about two weeks the carbon gets loaded up and ceases to absorb anything out of the water and has to be discarded. Today, with our technology, about the only time one needs carbon in a filter is after the tank has been medicated, and a large water change has been done. Then, the carbon will help remove the last remains of the medication. Frank  -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<-- |
| Posted 17-Jan-2008 01:49 | |
| hembo666 Big Fish Posts: 350 Kudos: 288 Votes: 3 Registered: 01-Apr-2005 | ok, so heres my thinking so far from advice here and other reading. substrate heating cable goes in as the lfs have some on offer at the moment, covered with a la on top of this a 1-1.5 inch la does that sound ok? plants will be picked to match the water and light enviroment of the tank. |
| Posted 17-Jan-2008 18:32 | |
| FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002 | Edited by FRANK Actually,, No. Unless you are using a bottom la could eliminate the heating cables altogether. They are normally only used in tanks with a Laterite la because clay is composed of particles so small that water does not naturally percolate through it. Here are some interesting links to help you decide if you want to go to that expense, or not. http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.200108/msg00570.html http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/plant-cables.html http://www.dupla.com.au/pages/heating.php http://aquaticconcepts.thekrib.com/Articles/PAM_Substrate.htm http://www.floridadriftwood.com/substrate_heating_cables.htm Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<-- |
| Posted 18-Jan-2008 00:20 | |
  | |
| Jump to: |
The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.
FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies