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First time - appreciate recommendations

Kenji

Seedling
Joined
31 Oct 2017
Messages
1
Location
London
Hi,

Went for it and purchased a tank. It’s 100cm W, 40cm D and 50cm H.

I would like to end up with real plants but need to walk before I can run. Would appreciate recommendations for beginners on:

Substrate
Filter
Heater
Lighting
Thermometer

Many thanks

Kenj
 
Hi, you have lots of options but my first consideration is either what fish I want to keep, and therefore what plants etc suit them best or what plants I'm going for and fish that go with them.
Do you know what your tap water is like? If it's hard or soft it opens up different options. Then there is low energy systems which take less care and equipment versus a high maintenance high energy system which is the opposite. You could do a low tech system with pretty standard equipment.
 
Welcome, I think the low-energy way (soil substrate or dirted tank) is perhaps a good way to cut your aquascaping teeth, like Ed mentions check out the tutorials.
 
And more importantly.....

gremlin.jpg


Don't think that having excessive light will solve any problems, excessive light brings excessive problems a bit like Gremlins :D If you go down the route of having a bright light setup make sure you buy one which has dimmable options.

Substrate
Filter
Heater
Lighting
Thermometer

As mentioned read the articles linked. Depends which route you are going down, if you want a high energy system (basically high lighting) you may need to add co2 or liquid carbon. General rule of thumb in high energy tank for filtration is a filter or combination of filters that will turn over your water volume 10x per hour (filters get tested without media in so what the manufacturer says it will turnover is less when filled)

Substrates, regardless of what type of tank you choose one's that specialise in plants are recommended over plain old gravel or sand and as for the other heating, thermometer whatever you fancy as long as it does its job.
 
Hi,

Went for it and purchased a tank. It’s 100cm W, 40cm D and 50cm H.

I would like to end up with real plants but need to walk before I can run. Would appreciate recommendations for beginners on:

Substrate
Filter
Heater
Lighting
Thermometer

Many thanks
Welcome to the forum try tutorials and Journals is good place to start
Kenj
 
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