varven Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Ive got a 600x300x300 tank sitting around that Ive decided I want to convert to a 'mini planted tank'. What are youre reccommended substrate beds ? Im thinking along the lines off 1cm depth sand followed by gravel >? Similarly I dont want too strong filtration or something that would oxygenate the water too much as I want it to retain co2 for the plants. Is the smallest model available internal cannister ( more like powerhead attached to a sponge filter ) a viable option ? cheers, V.V. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Some of the best planted tanks i have seen had NO filtration at all. I personally use a gravel from the shores of Lake Rotoma, Rotorua. ( no fore-shore consent for me either). I boil the gravel first after it has been hose washed in a bucket. It is a mixtute of obsidium, pomice, and volcanic black and white scoria. From sand size to 10mm chunks. I also sometimes put it thru a sieve to take out the biggest or smallest grade, depends what I'm after. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 I would use lots of plants, few fish, no filter. Can't comment on substrates as I have only ever used gravel. If you want filtration there are some very compact internal units available out there. Most have adjustable flow too, or perhaps you could use a sponge filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish_Tank Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 you could look into the "king mini" for filteration. It is a really tiny filter but seams to do a good job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 How about something like a small powerhead? Most of them have a small sponge which should do for mechanical filtration and give you a bit of current. You shouldn't need much as far as biological filtration, in fact, I think you might do a little better without it because the plants eat ammonia and would have to compete with your filter for it if you had one. Something like a fluval 1 or 2 would also be good, like you said, it's basically just a powerhead with a filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varven Posted March 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 Im going to go with a no filtration/ barely any fish setup... if it doesnt seem good ill add a wee lil powerhead with a prefilter or whatever.. so not really filtration. I was thinking abt a C02 setup but rejected the tank/home brewed versions because of cost and secondly even if theres a tiny lil 'bang' from a home made unit I get the tank booted out of home :lol: . Besides Ive seen crap go wrong with dive tanks and I dont like anything near high pressure around the home. Any reccommended fertilizers.. I was going to go for the generic 'fetilizer tablets' u stick under the plants but wondering if theres something I can more freely mix into the substrate . cheers, V.V. ps: in terms of fish I was really keen to have an algae gobbling Chinese algea eater but not sure if he will like a tank with no fast flowing water ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 I think you should start off with the small powerhead. You're still going to need a bit of circulation for the plants. And, imo, planted tanks look nicer with the plants gently waving as opposed to basically just sitting stagnant looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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