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Okay.... I've changed my mind. I can't spend that much money... I just cant't. I'm just a 14 year old kid and I can't afford something like that. Buying a 90 gallon was a mistake. I'm so mad at myself. I wasn't ready for it. I'm either going to use just plastic plants(ugh or change it to an african cichlid tank. I'm not really enthusiastic about either one of them, but maybe I'll be happy with the end result. Thanks for all your time and I'm sorry that your efforts went to waste.

-Daniel

Fixed

http://www.plantedtank.net/substratecalculator.html

The Amazon Nut...

To calculate how many bags you need go here

http://www.plantedtank.net/substratecalculator.html


I recommend Eco-complete as it looks better to me (all black) or a mix of Eco-complete with Flourite.


Good luck

Somewhere between 90 and 100 lbs would be a safe bet - but you can of course (if that's out of the question) go with laterite balls tucked at the roots of plants. Even if you skip the Fluorite, I'd build up your substrate - another 50 lbs of something or other would be a good idea, a bit more if it's possible.

For CO2, you might try [link=Dave Gomberg's CO2 units]http://www.wcf.com/" style="COLOR: #4040FF[/link], I've heard very good things about them. At worst his site should help you out on the CO2 issue.

-Molly
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Wow thank you soooo much for the good long reply. I really appreciate it.

Okay I'll definately get a Co2 system. Probably get flourite too. How many pounds do you think I would need? I have 100lbs of gravel right now.

With that much light, I would definitely use CO2 if the option is available to you. However, DIY probably won't cut it on a tank that big. If you just can't stomach cannister CO2, that's fine - but remember it's easier than it seems. You can still have a forest of healthy plants without it. The starting ost of cannister CO2 is a bit high, as much as $100, but the mainenance is practically nothing and you'll have it forever, so ...

Good plants: swords, vals, crypts, maybe a nice red lotus, something grassy for the foreground, some stem plants as hints of color (Alternanthera reinekii, Tropical Sunset hygro, etc). Of course lots of others would work, those just strike me as a good basis for a "jungle." Remember the bigger your groups of a species (within reason) the better it looks - having one stem of cabomba next to one sten of B. monnieri next to etc not only is jarring but mostly looks messy, not jungle-like.

Fluorite: it's always a good idea, but, as the manufacturers say, if the substrate isn't at least half Fluorite, there's not much point having it. Luckily, you probably need a substrate twice as deep as what you've got now to have a good jungle! Add 2-3 inches of Fluorite on your existing gravel and you should have a really great substrate - just make sure you keep it heavily planted and perhaps get ahold of some MTS so you know there are no "anaerobic pockets" building up.
Fluorite's not necessary, I should mention - given time, even the worst of substrates becomes a good one for plants. But if you want a good substrate now rather than in a few years, this is a good way to jump ahead - although even Fluorite will get better and better as time goes on. And hey, another investment that will last forever!

-Molly
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