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i was thinking about setting up communty tank with heap plants. i was thinking of a hang filter ,sand i have a light and heater is that all right and is there eny else i need and do need to gravel clean the sand if i have plants

Sand isn't terribly good for some plants, as the grains can become compacted and prevent the roots from getting nutrients and space to grow. To prevent this, you'd need to stir up the sand occassionally and/or get something like malaysian trumpet snails to stir the sand for you.

On the other hand, I'm setting up a ten gallon with Onyx plant sand. I want the gray/black look and since it's specifically a plant sand and I intend to plant the tank quite thoroughly, I'm willing to pay the extra for it.

How much light do you have? You're looking for flourescent or compact flourescent bulbs in the range of 6500 Kelvin. What size is the tank and how many watts of lighting do you have? You need to figure out how many watts/gallon you have so you can determine what level of lighting you have... low lighting, etc. Some plants do fine in low lighting, but others need medium, high, etc.

For sand, you don't shove the gravel vac into the substrate, because it's just going to go right into your bucket. You can kind of skim the vac a few inches over the substrate to pick up the waste, or apparently if you have a good enough current in your tank, much of the waste should go directly into the filter. Not having set up a sand tank myself as of yet, I can't give you much more on that. However, there's a sand thread going on currently. Let me see if I can link you. [link=http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/53587.html?200501242223]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/53587.html?200501242223" style="COLOR: #202020[/link] Good luck!

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

i have a 20 gallon light is a single reflector light with a hydro light init.and wont snailes eat the plants

Last edited by danny at 24-Jan-2005 23:15

Last edited by danny at 24-Jan-2005 23:16

Malaysian Trumpet snails leave plants alone. They are used because they burrow in the substrate. This helps keep it turned up so it does not become compacted.

If your light is a standard one for a 20 gal then it is probably only 15 watts. That puts you at less than 1 watt per gallon. This means you are restricted to low light plants like hornwort, java moss/fern, and crypts.

If you get more light CO2 injection will help make your plants lush and full.

The only other equipment other than what Kitten suggested is this pruning tool I just got (pic below). I hate pruning because my tank is rather deep, which means I'm in my tank up to my armpits. So I got this thing. It would not be of much use for a low light tank tho. You won't have that much pruning to do.

This thing rocks!

Booger attached this image:


Last edited by Booger at 26-Jan-2005 05:02[/font]

Hi Danny,
Read the exchange of ideas and information in the very
first folder (the one with the pin stuck in it) at the
top of this this forum "new to aquarium plants, how do
I start?"

That should answer many of your initial questions.

Frank


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

Danny

What you will have to do is locate a good Aqu that sells good quality plants and has a good variety.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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