So I have a few questions for my 29 gallon planted tank.
I have the eco complete black substrate
I have an aqua clear HOTB filter- do I need the carbon? Should I be running the filter with the carbon filter media or is it taking out the essential elements from the substrate?
I bought a mega variety pack of plants from drfostersmith.com and planted them today. I have one piece of drift wood in the tank as well.
I have 2- 24" plant bulbs for lighting....is that enough?
These are the plants that I have planted in the tank just yesterday....The tank had been up and running for 2 weeks before I got the plants. I cycled the tank with my betta so there is beneficial bacteria in the filter...what fertilizer do you recommend? I was looking at the Ocean Nutrition brand fertilizer and trace elements because I like the dosing method that their containers have....
Lighting I have 2-24" FloraSun ZooMed T-8 17W so 34W for the whole 29 gallon tank...is that enough light?
Lighting will be sufficient. You may find it a bit purplish though. Zoo Med are good tubes, I prefer their Ultra Sun and Tropic Sun; the latter is a bit more reddish, the former is a good full spectrum tube (I think it's 6700K if memory serves me correctly). You might want to get these and see what you think of the appearance; they will make your plant and fish colours more natural, esp the Ultra Sun.
The Ocean Nutrition products I have not used. I checked the info on their website, it seems you will need both the Trace Elements and the Macro Nutrients to provide a balance (or close to a balance) of what plants need (17 nutrients including nitrogen from ammonium and carbon from CO2). They also suggest daily fertilization. This to me says that either these products are not very strong, or they are intended for high-tech systems where increased nutrients is required. I would hesitate to recommend these frankly. A better option is Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium or the Kent Freshwater Supplement. I have used both of these; once a week would probably be sufficient. I have a 2 litre jug of Flourish that I've been using twice a week for over a year now, with three large tanks, so it does not take much.
That is a good variety of plants. The Anubias is a good plant for the rear corner where it will be shaded; it attaches to rock or wood. Slow growing, but steady. I bought one in 1998 or so, and last year it had rhizomes three feet in length, branched everywhere. I cut it up and used it in various tanks. But it does not like direct light, and brush algae will often form on its leaves.
The larger swords make excellent background and side plants. The chainsword will send out runners all across the substrate with little plants once it is settled, a good front plant. As are the crypts, which will do well under the shade of other plants. Both the swords and crypts will do well with your eco-complete, as they are heavier root feeders.
Personally I would not use carbon in a planted tank. It probably does remove some nutrients from the water, but more than that it is unnecessary. Plants filter better than any mechanical filter. And the flow from the Aqua Clear may be too much. Water movement is best when minimal in a planted tank, as I explained in another thread at length; you might want to have a read of post #4: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/aquarium-plants/waterflow-nutrients-32399/
Byron.
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