87archie

I'm looking to start my first ever planted aquarium. Been reading about and wanting one for years and now I'm actually about to start constructing one. The Tank I have Is 24"Hx36"Wx12"D. Because it is tall and not very wide I'm looking for ideas and suggestions on both plants and substrate. I am going to have a tall stone on the left side, sloping down to a flat bottom on the right side i think. But would like some info from people who have done this before on what you would do in my situation, and knowing what you know now after having done this before, what plants and substrates would you lean towards and stay away from. _ Thanks

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi 87archie,

I see this is your first post, welcome to APC!

Sounds just like my 45 gallon tall. For a substrate I originally started with natural brown gravel but not I am using "Heat Treated Montmorillonite Clay Mineral" products like Turface Pro League Grey or Soilmaster Select Charcoal.

First I suggest that you decide what plants you want to use, then make sure that your light is adequate for those plants. Most of the "standard" aquarium lights that you can purchase at the local fish store (LFS) are woefully inadequate for planted tanks, especially ones 24" tall. I put together an AH Supply 1X96 watt Bright Light Kit in a DIY enclosure for my light and can grow most plant types except the ones that demand very high light.

87archie

Thanks. For plants I was maybe thinking....
Top View----If you can make it out. sry don't have much to work with
________________________________
l-A---______B--------C---------B---l
l-----ltall----l------______----------l
l-----l_stonel------l small-l----------l
l---B---------C----l_stonel-----C----l
l_______________________________l

A-Something 18-24" Tall(Maybe something red)
B-Something 8-12" Tall
C-Grass or Moss

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi 87archie,

I think you may have misunderstood me. What I meant was first pick the plant species that you want to use, then the light fixture. Different species have different lighting requirements. If you need ideas, check out the Aquascaping forum here at APC. There are a lot of excellent 'scapes there with the plants that were utilized listed.

87archie

Ok. I will check it out and figure out my choice of plants then post them, thanx.

87archie

A- Aponogeton Crispus
B- Microsorum Pteropus(Java Fern)
C- Echinodorus Tenellus(Dwarf Chain Sword)

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi 87archie,

Good choices, I grow all three! Although Echinodorus tennellus is relatively easy to grow I find it to be the most difficult of the three in my tank because of the 24" depth. I wouldn't probably buy an aquarium that tall for a planted tank today knowing what I know now, but it was the size I had and I was determined to make it work.

I am glad I did a lot of research when I started this hobby. I determined that sufficient lighting (including bulb spectrum), fertilizer, and to some degree substrate were three of the keys to success. I bought the AH Supply 1X96 watt kit, it comes with an excellent reflector. The reflector really gets the light down to the substrate level and the E. tennellus grows with a little reddish color (due to the light intensity) and puts out runners regularly.

Here is a poor quality (sorry) picture of my tank....hope this helps!

87archie

It does thanks, I'm going for a design similar to yours.