Soon to be South American Tank, hows this all sound.

[critch]

Not too sure where to put this, if its wrong please move it..

I am just setting up my 200ltr.

Was going to go for a jungle theme tank,like George of the jungle,
but Changed my mind after seeing the 750ltr amazon thread on here,
Also I needed to take my fish into account a 136b pleco, Neon teras, Hatchet fish,ottos & Corys..& Pair of Aspos
So as you can see its sort of South American,choice of fish was mainly down to my Natural Soft water.

Tank Hard wear as follows

220ltr tank, Painted black BackGround,
2 x 54w T5s,
Blue Marine bulb for Evening Viewing,
Eheim 2213, with Spray bar,
Tetratec 1200, no spray bar,
Hydor 300w external heater,
Sand substrate,
BogWood, 2 big Pieces,

Plants, this is where i need the help..

Alternathera Liacina, (a single feature plant)
Alternathera Reineckii, (been told to plant in groups not bunches what does this mean)
Cabomba Piauhyensis, (been told this can be difficult, but wanted some diff texture)
Echinodorus Cordifolious Tropica, (Single pot feature plant)
Echinodorus Latifolious,(small foreground plant)
Echinodorus Peruensis,
Echinodorus Quadricostatus, (low plant to sort of carpet,)
Moss (not native to SA but its on the wood)
Salvinia Auriculata, Floating plant..

How does all that sound ???

Now the Questions
Any possible problems, other than me using inert substrate,
I was going to use a planting substrate, but i dont really want the ammonia leaking into the tank, and need something cheap & cory friendly.

on a further note i really would like something on the wood like Anubias Barterii & Congensis,can anybody suggest any South American alternatives..

Now with regards Co2, i Dose this when the lights come on, and have no surface water aggitation, while the lights are on.. is this correct ??

Then at night when the lights go out, i raise the spray bar above the water to increase Oxygen,

Is this a good idea, it seems to have been working on my current tank for the last 6 months,
or am i far from Nail on the head, so to speak..

When is the best time to does Ferts ???

soo as you see i need a little help

 

[ashcarter89]

Sounds good ,how are you going about the co2 (liquid or gas)? as regards to the co2 (gas) you want to make sure that there is a supply ready for the plants when the lights come on so therefore you want to put the co2 on about an hour or 2 before the lights come on and then turn it of about 1-2 hurs before the lights go off therefore meaning that the majority of the co2 will be used up by the time the lights go out , meaning that you therefore dont need to try and raise the o2.and i try and keep it so that i have a little water aggitation , but just means that your use a little more co2. I do my ferts dosing in the morning before i leave for work meaning that its all in the water before the lights come on. But belive its just prefrance really ?