[Psittac]

I've been looking into doing my first truly planted tank and I've been collecting all of the equipment. The tank is a decently stocked 130g (72x18x23) with angelfish and some others mixed in. Lighting is PC 4x65w (2x6500 2x10k) + 1 96w PC 6700k and I will eventually add two 96w PC bulbs. Substrate is undecided but I'm leaning towards a fired clay. CO2 will be DIY until I can get pressurized in a few months. Plants will be a couple swords, vals, anachris, ground cover and what ever else catches my fancy.

Why am I posting? Because I want general info or things to keep in mind, after posting alot in another forum I found that my information was lacking considerably after talking to my friend and his wife who have a planted aquarium.

Anything I should look into? Stocking level, spectrum, substrate etc?

 

[Bert H]

Let me refer you to some references you might find helpful:

http://www.aquatic-plants.org/articles/basics/pages/index.html
http://www.rexgrigg.com/
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/new-planted-aquariums/14684-new-tank-setup-guide-parts-1-a.html

Large tanks can have issues of their own as well, and you might want to go through the 'large aquarium' sub-forum on the aquascaping forum.

A couple of comments on your set up - I would stick with the 4x65 for lighting. That's 2 wpg, keeping in mind that on large tanks, that's moderately high lighting already. If you really, really want that extra 2 x 96W in the future, then do it, but your tank should be mature, and your ferts in tip top shape or you'll have a massive algae farm. Secondly is that diy CO2 in that is going to be either incredibly difficult to maintain or a major disappointment. You would need several 2 liter sugar yeast bottles to give you sufficient CO2 for a tank that size, and you'll soon be pulling your hair out trying to maintain them. Save your money on the extra lighting and go with the pressurized, you won't regret it. My 2 cents.

Hope that helps.