Starting 55 Gallon Planted Tank

As said above, I am starting a 55 gallon planted tank. It will be pretty low-tech. I have done research but there is much more for me to learn. I will be buying a nice fixture from Big Al's:
(Depending on wattage of bulbs I may just keep one light on)

I will be using Flourite substrate, Pea gravel and a bag of API First Layer.
The depth of the substrate will be around 1.5 inches. The main substrate will be Flourite at around a 1.2 inch depth. the other .3 will be from API First Layer Pure Laterite and pea gravel thanks to the Gravel Calc:


(I have a large piece of driftwood as my centerpiece)
This is my plant list so far:
Background:
Cabomba on the far back side
Anacharis in the middle as well as
Wisteria
Midground:
Amazon Sword and Foxtail to the sides of the driftwood
Foreground:
Stargrass and Water Sprite to the sides of the driftwood
Java fern in front and to the sides

What do you guys think?

 

I think go for it!

 

sounds interesting, ill follow =]

also, think about eco complete from caribsea, great gravel to start a planted tank of

 

sounds interesting, ill follow =]

also, think about eco complete from caribsea, great gravel to start a planted tank of

I'll look into it, if its cheaper I'll use it for sure!

 

Why so many layers? Flourite alone should be fine or the API on the glass w/ Flourite on top. Gravel really isn't needed with flourite. If you want the look of gravel then go with the API capped with pea gravel. Make sure to let the tank sit a good week or two with the plants so it's nice and ready for fish.

 

Why so many layers? Flourite alone should be fine or the API on the glass w/ Flourite on top. Gravel really isn't needed with flourite. If you want the look of gravel then go with the API capped with pea gravel. Make sure to let the tank sit a good week or two with the plants so it's nice and ready for fish.

At first I thought it would be cheaper that way, but I just redid my calculations, and I was far off. It would be much cheaper with just Flourite.
Also, I will definitely let the plants settle as I will have to save up some more cash in order to buy the fish. (unless my 29 gallon sells on CL soon)

Thanks for the tip!

 

Sounds good to me. Maybe put the sword a little further back they can get pretty big. It's probably fine in the foreground too though lol.

 

I don't know if you are dead set on your lighting fixture or not but when I ordered my new one I used Aquatraders and they are a lot cheaper and mine works well.

 

Sounds good to me. Maybe put the sword a little further back they can get pretty big. It's probably fine in the foreground too though lol.

You may be right, I may have too put it closer to the back of the driftwood. As when I order I want a decent sized one that is pretty hardy.

 

You should definitely post some pics after you get it set up and cycling. I love planted aquariums!

 

I don't know if you are dead set on your lighting fixture or not but when I ordered my new one I used Aquatraders and they are a lot cheaper and mine works well.

I am definitely not set on the price.... I'd love to spend less and I have found this one for $59!

This has two 5 star reviews and looks nice and I am now leaning towards it now. I would love to see some pics of your light. Also, do you think I should keep both lights on or just keep 1 on?

 

Here is a link to a thread that has pics of my upgraded lighting. It's basically a smaller version of the one you are looking at for your 55. As a general rule of thumb try to keep around 1.5 - 2 watts per gallon for a low tech planted aquarium. That lighting fixture on aquatraders has two 54 watt high output bulbs so that puts you right where you should be with both bulbs in the 1 fixture.

 

I would definitely put the swords in the back. I have swords in my 55gal and they are getting HUGE!

 

Here is a link to a thread that has pics of my upgraded lighting. It's basically a smaller version of the one you are looking at for your 55. As a general rule of thumb try to keep around 1.5 - 2 watts per gallon for a low tech planted aquarium. That lighting fixture on aquatraders has two 54 watt high output bulbs so that puts you right where you should be with both bulbs in the 1 fixture.

Sweet! Love the tank, great layout also. This has reassured me about the light and I will be glad to save a great deal of money on this light instead of paying $135 for something that does the exact same thing!

 

I would definitely put the swords in the back. I have swords in my 55gal and they are getting HUGE!

Haha yeah, I have changed my mind on where to place the swords as from what I have heard and seen. I have this amazing layout in my mind... I wish I could draw well enough to show you my idea! Do you have any pictures of your Swords?

 

I was looking over your plant list as well and most look like they should do well with the type of lighting you are looking at putting in. I would maybe reconsider the Cabomba and the Anacharis otherwise you will have to bump up your lighting considerably. All the research I've done on those plants points to a moderately lighted tank being the best environment where yours is looking more like a low light tank. Cabomba should probably have about 3 watts per gallon and the Anacharis should have over 2 watts per gallon or it can die pretty quickly. The Wisteria will probably grow pretty fast as long at it has proper nutrients and can grow out of the tank water and develop different leaves. If you don't want that you can keep it trimmed down that's really personal preference though.

 

Haha yeah, I have changed my mind on where to place the swords as from what I have heard and seen. I have this amazing layout in my mind... I wish I could draw well enough to show you my idea! Do you have any pictures of your Swords?

I could get a pic of my Amazon it is doing okay but growing kinda slow. I have Argentine swords that have adapted to being fully submerged. They shed their non aquatic leaves and grow true aquatic ones in their place. Crypts are also very good looking plants.

 

I have a variety of swords including queen radican, red ocelot, amazon, and argentine, in my 55gal.

 

I was looking over your plant list as well and most look like they should do well with the type of lighting you are looking at putting in. I would maybe reconsider the Cabomba and the Anacharis otherwise you will have to bump up your lighting considerably. All the research I've done on those plants points to a moderately lighted tank being the best environment where yours is looking more like a low light tank. Cabomba should probably have about 3 watts per gallon and the Anacharis should have over 2 watts per gallon or it can die pretty quickly. The Wisteria will probably grow pretty fast as long at it has proper nutrients and can grow out of the tank water and develop different leaves. If you don't want that you can keep it trimmed down that's really personal preference though.

I think I could live with Anacharis being cut out of the tank, and is there any way for me to keep the Cabomba in without having to up the lighting? If not, I'll find another plant.
But besides that I think it sounds like a good low tech, low light tank, don't you?

 

I have a variety of swords including queen radican, red ocelot, amazon, and argentine, in my 55gal.

Beautiful tank! It's stunning, I love Sword plants.

 

I have cabomba and anacharis in some of my low-light tanks and they do fine.

As for my 55...thanks. That picture is a few weeks old...that jungle val in the front is now the height of the tank plus a few inches.

 

With your high output t5's they may do okay it can really depend. I've seen people have no trouble while others can't get them to live. Plants can adapt to different conditions so it could be worth trying especially if you really like them. Otherwise plants like cryptocorynes especially the WendtiI variety should work nicely.

 

With your high output t5's they may do okay it can really depend. I've seen people have no trouble while others can't get them to live. Plants can adapt to different conditions so it could be worth trying especially if you really like them. Otherwise plants like cryptocorynes especially the WendtiI variety should work nicely.

I'm thinking i'm gonna go ahead and give them a try Hope it works!

 

I was given a piece of information the other day that I was unaware of. T5 High Output bulbs I was told by a member of the forum basically double what your watt per gallon is. So in my 29 gallon tank I run two 24 watt T5 HO bulbs which is almost equivalent to 2 watts per gallon. Since they are classified as high output it bumps my watts per gallon to almost 4 making it a high light tank and explaining why my algae is going nuts at the moment.

With the lighting you are looking at using in your tank you would fall under this same category. You could either:

Remove one bulb from the fixture making it 2 wpg.
Or...
Since higher light tanks require more CO2 you could try doing a CO2 system in your tank.

Sorry about the misunderstanding as I am learning as I go as well.

 

Thanks for clearing that up, that is what I originally thought and was thinking. I will go ahead and just use one light as I do want this to be a relatively inexpensive and a low tech tank. By the way, just got an email from my LFS and they are giving a 50% off coupon for live plants and fish if you bring in paper towels and such as they are low on supplies.

 

The only thing I could add to this thread is the depth of your substrate for the plant roots. You are only planning on a 1.5 inch depth total. This will not be enough for swords. I have mine in 2-4 inch sand/fluorite mix. And, the 2 inch areas all have exposed roots.

 

The only thing I could add to this thread is the depth of your substrate for the plant roots. You are only planning on a 1.5 inch depth total. This will not be enough for swords. I have mine in 2-4 inch sand/fluorite mix. And, the 2 inch areas all have exposed roots.[/QUO

Ok, dang... Could I get away with 3 bags and around 15 pounds of pea gravel?

 

Considering I have 4 bags of fluorite plus another one of play sand in my 90G, I'd say 3 bags should be enough for your 55G. You may be able to get away with 2.5 bags. Just make sure the thinnest area is at least 2 inches where you plan on adding your plants.

I have the back center area the thickest and the front the thinest.

 

Considering I have 4 bags of fluorite plus another one of play sand in my 90G, I'd say 3 bags should be enough for your 55G. You may be able to get away with 2.5 bags. Just make sure the thinnest area is at least 2 inches where you plan on adding your plants.

I have the back center area the thickest and the front the thinest.

Sounds good. I think I'll go ahead with the 45 pounds of Flourite along with the 10-15 pounds of gravel.

 

Thanks for clearing that up, that is what I originally thought and was thinking. I will go ahead and just use one light as I do want this to be a relatively inexpensive and a low tech tank. By the way, just got an email from my LFS and they are giving a 50% off coupon for live plants and fish if you bring in paper towels and such as they are low on supplies.

Sounds good, you should be able to do that no problem. If in the future you feel like putting in the second bulb and getting high light plants I could probably help you with a decent DIY CO2 system. After about a week of trial and error and A LOT of research I think I have a good grasp on it. Just something to keep in mind in the future.

 

I did DIY CO2 for over a year. It can get tricky when dealing with a larger tank as I did. Most do not recommend DIY for tank larger than 70G. I did it on my 90G with 8 generators. In the end I switched to injected (thanks largely to my parents) because I was tired of all the algae due to CO2 fluctuations.

If you decide to add DIY CO2 to your tank, be prepared to deal with it and not let it go.

 

I did DIY CO2 for over a year. It can get tricky when dealing with a larger tank as I did. Most do not recommend DIY for tank larger than 70G. I did it on my 90G with 8 generators. In the end I switched to injected (thanks largely to my parents) because I was tired of all the algae due to CO2 fluctuations.

If you decide to add DIY CO2 to your tank, be prepared to deal with it and not let it go.

I don't think i'm going to take the route of CO2 right now, at least not on my first planted tank
I may try it later on, when I'm ready to take on the challenge.

 

I don't think i'm going to take the route of CO2 right now, at least not on my first planted tank
I may try it later on, when I'm ready to take on the challenge.

While I can understand your hesitation, you will have issues eventually with your HO light. It puts you in the moderate range which is the point that CO2 and plant ferts are required to keep algae away.

If you do not want to deal with the CO2 gas, then I'd recommend looking at a product like Seachem Excel.

 

While I can understand your hesitation, you will have issues eventually with your HO light. It puts you in the moderate range which is the point that CO2 and plant ferts are required to keep algae away.

If you do not want to deal with the CO2 gas, then I'd recommend looking at a product like Seachem Excel.

I have heard great things about Excel, and I plan on using a fert. once my Flourite substrate stops working. There is still one thing I am confused about; I am getting mixed messages from people about my lighting... Will I have bad algae or not? Even with only one 54W T5 HO 6700K bulb running?

 

With a single T5HO bulb on your 55G tank, you have enough light to grow most plants. And, you have enough light to need plant ferts and CO2/Excel....otherwise, you will end up with an algae issue.

What is confusing with lighting is all the variations. I am in no means an expert with lighting, but all the lighting formulas are based on T8 tubes. T5HO produces a lot more light in comparison watt for watt as they are more efficient. I have seen others state that a rough estimate is to double the wattage to estimate the T8 equivalent. So, for your light, that would put you around 108 watts over a 55G, or roughly 2 WPG.

 

With a single T5HO bulb on your 55G tank, you have enough light to grow most plants. And, you have enough light to need plant ferts and CO2/Excel....otherwise, you will end up with an algae issue.

What is confusing with lighting is all the variations. I am in no means an expert with lighting, but all the lighting formulas are based on T8 tubes. T5HO produces a lot more light in comparison watt for watt as they are more efficient. I have seen others state that a rough estimate is to double the wattage to estimate the T8 equivalent. So, for your light, that would put you around 108 watts over a 55G, or roughly 2 WPG.

100% agree. No matter how much research I do on this topic I feel that I am still just scratching the surface.

 

I still feel that way after 15 years!

 

Put the substrate in and the driftwood then put some plants in the wood, getting ready to half fill the tank!

 

That's a great looking piece of driftwood. Will be watching for updated photos are you put your tank together.

Have fun!

 

Love the centerpiece can't wait to see it with all the plants!

 

Tank has been up for 2 days now, still a bit cloudy due to the Flourite (even though I washed it!) Here it is

 

Yeah, I remember those days! You may want to drain the tank and add fresh water to help clear up that dust.

 

Light came in too!

 

Perfect timing!

 

Yeah, I remember those days! You may want to drain the tank and add fresh water to help clear up that dust.

It's clearing more and more every day, luckily I think i'm good. It would be a hassle. I may drain part if it doesn't clear by the end of the weekend.

 

Perfect timing!

Some plants also came in the mail today, so I was pretty happy!

 

Looking really good!

 

Looking really good!

Thanks! Sorry I haven't been on in a while... I'm about to post some pictures. It looks even better now!

 

Here ya go! I have 6 Giant Dianos in there so far!