Plant Tank

JordanVandenberg · #1 ,

I have a friend who has a bunch of 25 gallon tanks just sitting in his basement and if willing to give them away. I was thinking of starting a tank were a grow underwater plants. I was just wondering if it would matter if the tank was cycled, or could i just put normal water in it and add fertillizers in place of the nitrates that are in cycled fish tanks?

Dano · #2 ,

I would use a good water conditioner to kill the clorine and or clorimines. Many people use plants to aid in cycling tanks. Nitrates are nutriants for plants. Have you thought about lights for the plants?

JordanVandenberg · #3 ,

not specifically, i know i will need lights and and plan on using an excess of light because this tank is only plants. that tank is about 25 gallons so i plan on getting about 100-150 watts of lighting.

Dano · #4 ,

Wow! That ought to grow some green

You will have to wear a welder's helmet to look in the tank.

alan j t · #5 ,

+1 on that brother

i have 216 watts hanging over my tank, but its a 75 gal

JordanVandenberg · #6 ,

It should be good. Patience is important for fish keeping so hopefully these plants will grow faster then my fish, and it can help me cope with my lack of patience

alan j t · #7 ,

or grow algea reaaaaaaaaally fast

are you going to dose ferts daily and pressureized co2

i've seen it done on a tank that size
but the light was hanging above the tank like 8 inches
and the co2 and ferts regimen was mastered

JordanVandenberg · #8 ,

thats i good point i never thought of algae. what do i have to do to prevent algae from forming?

alan j t · #9 ,

if this is your first tank start with low light plants
maybe like 25- 50 watts over your tank
some good plant substrate and some ferts if you spot nutrient defincencys
if you want to go all the way with high light ferts n co2 then do alot of home work

JordanVandenberg · #10 ,

alright, what are some good fertilizers. i would presume they would be different from those you use in your garden.