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44g Corner Pentagon With Plants (Advice Wanted)

Discussion in 'Aquatic Plants & Planted Tanks' started by CichlidStorm, Mar 25, 2009.

  1. CichlidStorm

    CichlidStorm Thread Starter Member

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    time for something new

    okay, im an extremely advanced breeder in the cichlid scene, but can't keep an aquarium plant alive to save me..lol I am debating on a 44 corner pentagon planted habitat. How about some pointers?
     
    CichlidStorm, Mar 25, 2009
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  2. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: time for something new

    Lighting to fit the plants you want.... Water parameters to match.... Good substrate (Eco-Complete is one of the best), CO2 if you are more than 3 WPG, good quality fertilizers both root tabs and water column ferts...

    Plants, your choice but remember your equipment needs to support the plants of your choice.

    Fish, I would stay away from many of the common plecos as they may decide if hungry to chew up the plants. Also dont put most Cichlids in the tank as about 80% of the dig up plants and shred them.... There are some that dont such as Angelfish, Discus and many of the Dwarf Cichlids but DO RESEARCH before adding the livestock.
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 25, 2009
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  3. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: time for something new

    Yeppers....this is the critical point for Cichlid tanks. Know what stock you want first and go from there.
     
    James0816, Mar 25, 2009
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  4. CichlidStorm

    CichlidStorm Thread Starter Member

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    Re: time for something new

    as far as fish stock, its going to be just a few rams. Tank I am set on is actually turned into a pair of matching planted 44 gal pentagon tanks for either side of the tv. I figure 5-6 rams, and possibly a couple cardinal tetras possibly.


    proper bulb recommendations for lighting? I prefer the Actnic look personally, and alot of plants thrive under the 10k actnic, but the nicer swards and grasses die off quickly.
     
    CichlidStorm, Mar 26, 2009
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  5. CichlidStorm

    CichlidStorm Thread Starter Member

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    Re: time for something new

    ok so here is the goal:

    Lighting - 36" fixture, 24w CL 50/50, 10k 24w actnic
    Plants-
    Echinodorus amazonicus (3) per tank
    Anubias barteri (2) per tank
    Anubias hastifolia (2) per tank
    Cryptocoryne crispatula (3) per tank
    Eleocharis acicularis (1) per tank
    Hemianthus callitrichoides (4) per tank
    Marsilea drummondii (2) per tank

    co2: Aqua Euro Diffuser

    Eco Complete (natural, 20lbs) per tank
    Flourish Plant Vitamin Pack
    Seachem Plant root tabs
    Seachem Flourish Tabs
    Florabase (natural, 15lbs) per tank
    Duetto Multi Filter Canister filter (100gph)

    Fish - Tank 1
    Dario dario - 4
    Jordanella floridae - 3
    Melanotaenia boesemani - 6
    Fish - Tank 2
    Papiliochromis ramirezi - 4
    Apistogramma cacatuoides - 2
    Corydoras paleatus - 3
    Corydoras aeneus - 3

    this is the plan so far.
     
    CichlidStorm, Mar 26, 2009
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  6. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: time for something new

    Ryan covered this really well!
    6700k full spectrum bulbs work best (11-12 hours on a timer for consisten.)
    Actinic will do nothing for a planted tank

    Fertilzers such as Seachem Flourish excel (warn some plants like vals and crypts are sensitive)...Seachem flourish 1x week....and Iron if your keeping anything in the red colors (also be aware reds need higher end lighting)..and root tabs for anything with roots (placed 2" away ...roots will grow towards tab)...root tabs are esp benefical for crypts
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 26, 2009
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  7. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: time for something new

    Actnics...while nice to look at don't provide the plants with the proper lighting they need.

    The rams and cardinals will do nicely in a planted tank. Have a nice branchy piece of driftwood with one or two Ceratopteris thalictroides right up against it so the fronds will flow over it. In the midground, some swords, rotola for color. Throw in a couple crypts. And depending on your lighting...some dwarf hairgrass for the middle front. Work in some Ranunculus Inundatus.
     
    James0816, Mar 26, 2009
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