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Wanting low tech, low cost, planted tank

10K views 40 replies 5 participants last post by  Snype2live 
#1 ·
Okay I am wanting to start a cheap low tech planted tank. I need some advice and help on how to start it. If any of you remember me I was the one that started my 29 gallon community tank here. Well it's doing great and well nothing to do with it except enjoy it. So i went out and purchased a used 10 gallon tank. Well out of all the stuff I had laying around because I am a collector of junk, I managed to find a Aquaclear 50 filter, a Tetra 5-15 gallon heater, and some sand substrate that will later cap whatever I decided to use as plant substrate. As far as lighting, I have 2 10 watt, 6500k aquarium plant bulbs from lights of america. SO thats where I am at. I need help and direction I am wanting to do a nice shrimp tank with 3 rocks with some sort of carpet and smaller swords or grass.
 

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#2 ·
Btw the back ground is a homemade blue painters tape background lol. Do any of you remember me from my problems with 29gallon community tank btw its doing great I only lost like 4 fish to old age/ injuries from swimming into siphon during water changes
 
#3 ·
CaribSea® FloraMax™ Planted Aquarium Substrate would this substrate be complete for plants and would it be ok to use with a sand cap. I'm not looking to use liquid ferts right of the top i know ill have to later or something to put nutrients back in substrate
 
#4 ·
If you plan on planting heavy from day 1 (I'd go with a small swordplant in each back corner, 5-10 crypts/aponogetons/other rooted plants, plus your foreground plants, and some mosses for good measure) then I'd reccomend soil.

Basically, follow the guide in my signature, but with real soil (from somewhere away from fertilisers). I have several identical setups.

Liquid fertilisers help, but the plants I mentioned dont really need them.

Btw, because I bet it will come up, I wouldn't use peat or any "airy" or "fluffy" soil mix. Just dirt is best.
 
#5 ·
I am impressed with your setup especially the lights.

Anyrate I use 1" canadian sphagum peat moss (1'x1'x3' plastic bale $11), 1" play sand (50# bag $3), and 1" pro choice select (50# bag $8). Put in one layer, wet, clean and level, the do next layer.


Before filling the tank I add plants. 4 bunches of anacharis, 4 vals, 4 small potted types, 1 amazon sword.

Then fill the tank with water poured over a dish.

wait one week.

add 1 fish

wait 1 week with no food added.

Stock up

Start feeding 1 flake per day.

For reference: Pro's Choice Products

As a reminder: no water changes just top off, no chemicals, no mechanical filtration/circulation, no chemicals. Literally just the tank, substrate, fish, and water.

just what I do and worth at most

,02
 
#7 ·
I don't recommend a filter with the idea that the stuff (food) the goes into the tank feeds the plants.

But I guess you could.

With other substrates I would still wet, level, clean, plant, then fill the tank.

my .02
 
#10 ·
Understand completely.

I used to just put sand in fill the tank then plant. with or without peat moss the tank was extremely cloudy at first. Like you could only see 1" into the water. then two days later it was almost totally clear as all that stuff had settled down. I also don't have circulation and mechanical filters which undoubtly helps the things settle down.


By putting sand over the peat moss or soil you trap that under the sand. And that tank is almost totally clear immediately. And totally clear in a few hours.

The red baked clay (pc select) I use has some iron but basically it looks like red aquarium gravel which I like.

my .02
 
#13 ·
good luck and keep us posted.

I did use a small bag of peat moss potting soil once. With fertz added. While it did work I was fighting algae and cloudiness a lot. Had to kill the lights the first week to clearup the water for instance. That's the reason I recommend the $12 "cube" of canadian sphagum peat moss with no fertz.

for the pc select if you use that I had to contact this site:


Pro's Choice Products

to get a local supplier. Usually landscapers who do golf courses, baseball fields and so on.

From that site contact information is:

Pro's Choice Sports Field Products
410 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400
Chicago, Illinois 60611

p: 800.648.1166
e:proschoice@oildri.com
 
#23 ·
Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix:

For container vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs
Made from natural and organic ingredients
Continuously feeds for up to 2 months
IMHO Hint hint it has added fertz. probably time released
 
#18 ·
Dont use what I used in the guide- use soil you dig up instead. You only need less than an inch- a half inch in the front sloping up in the back is plenty.

If you use sand, you can mix cleaned sand in the soil and top with at least an inch of xleaned sand.
 
#20 ·
I would stay with plain sand. Much simpler.;-)
 
#22 ·
Byron would i be able to grow plants in just plain sand and redchigh i actually remember that i have some oak trees out back where my dad never goes (i live in the country in deep south mississippi) that has some really dark black soil (i guess from degrading oak leaves and stuff what would i need to do to that
 
#25 ·
Your black soil might be very good, let redchigh comment.

My comment on sand was because of all the problems being mentioned, from toxins being dumped in your yard to buying plant soil that should not be used in a fish tank. Yes, plants will grow in plain sand and plain gravel (the finer gravel is better than larger gravel), they will grow in almost any substrate, perhaps with varying rates of growth. I have used plain gravel and now plain sand in my tanks for over 20 years and I have no problems growing plants. Check the photos under the "Aquariums" tab below my name on the left for the proof.

Byron.
 
#28 ·
Walstad recommends "ordinary potting soil or garden soil" and warns of any that contain fertilizers or perlite.

Liquid fertilzer depends upon what nutrients exist in the aquarium. Some occur in the tap water, all via fish food though the level may not be sufficient depending upon the plants, and from decomposing organics. Some aquarists have nice planted tanks with plain gravel and no fertilization; others find they must dose fertilizers in varying degrees.

Byron.
 
#29 ·
oh well how do i tell if it is ordinary potting soil can you please look up that stuff and help me cause in varying places I have heard that the Organic Mirical Grow Potting mix is the best to use if buying soil instead of digging it up .... being organic isnt it the same as mineralizing the soil yourself.. sorry don't mean to argue Im just doing the research and asking questions to learn about this.... I am just questioning what i have heard else where (i.e youtube, reading thro other forums, books, etc.)
 
#31 ·
I will leave this for those like redchigh who have experience. I have never bothered with soil substrates as to be honest I cannot see any benefit and there can be detrimental issues. I've had no problems growing plants in my plain sand or gravel tanks.
 
#33 ·
I don't know what the "America" lights are, but I do know the GE Daylight bulbs you got are very good. I use these (only in 10w) over my 10g and 20g tanks, and the plants are thriving.
 
#35 ·
Yes. I use Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement.
 
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