11. The Freshwater Planted Tank Product Selection & How to Guide

Many hobbyists dream of keeping a beautiful, healthy planted tank. There is a daunting array of products on the market boasting to “make your tank thrive.” Which products do you need? How should you use them? When should you use them?

There are a number of ways to create the “ideal” planted tank. The simple guidelines below describe a reliable method and tested products for setting up a planted tank. By following these guidelines and carefully selecting products, from day one, even the beginner can culture a healthy, enchanting planted wonderland. We’ve ranked each category in terms of Good, Better, or Best in regard to brand and quality.

The Equipment

Filtration

Lighting

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

CO2 is the difference between a planted show tank and just a tank with plants.

Fertilization by CO2 is a natural process. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is fundamental for healthy and luxuriant growth of plants in the aquarium. CO2 is a key molecule, though it is lacking in most aquariums. CO2 is critical to photosynthesis, the process by which light energy is converted to chemical energy that is stored as carbohydrate and sugars in plants. Plants require light energy, CO2, and H2O to make sugar. Aquarium plants, unlike terrestrial plants, cannot capture free CO2 from the air. For photosynthesis to proceed, aquarium plants must capture CO2 from water using more complex methods, but the process is the same. Photosynthesis produces a by-product critical to life in both aquatic and terrestrial environments – oxygen.

See All CO2 Products

Video: Part 1 Regulator Overview

Video: Part 2 How Regulators work on an Aquarium for planted tank of calcium reactors

Video: Top 5 The Top five regulators for 2021 for planted Aquariums or calcium reactors

What You need to hookup a CO2 Regulator and best practices

Here are three articles by John Tullock about Carbon Dioxide in the Planted Aquarium that are must reads!
Carbon Dioxide: Part One
Carbon Dioxide Part Two: Estimating Concentration
Carbon Dioxide: Part Three, Installing a System

Check out this interesting article for some quick information about The Planted Freshwater Aquarium
Planted Aquariums: Quick Tips for Success

Gravel and Substrates for the Planted Aquarium

Plant the aquarium with a gravel base of 3-6”. Large gravel is not suitable for planted aquariums. Start with at least 1lb per gallon of tank volume. Add more if needed.

Use substrate additives with a third of the gravel and place as the bottom layer in the aquarium. The rest of the gravel is placed on top of the mixed gravel to a total height of 3-6″. Use small substrate for the base – 2-4 mm diameter particles is best.

• AZOO
• Mr. Aqua
• UP Aqua – Shrimp Sand and Aqua Sand – Black, 12 lbs
• Black Diamond Substrate

The aquarium begins with a gravel base of 3-6”. Large gravel is not suitable for planted aquariums. Start with at least 1lb per gallon of tank volume. Add more if needed. Use substrate additives with a third of the gravel and place as the bottom layer in the aquarium. The rest of the gravel is placed on top of the mixed gravel to a total height of 3-6″. Use small substrate for the base – 2-4 mm diameter particles is best.

To see more information and aquarium substrate see this article on www.sevenports.com

The Importance Of Planted Aquarium Substrate

How to Plant the Aquarium

1. Partially fill the tank. Dechlorinate and plant the aquarium right away with plenty of fast growing oxygenating plants, like Hygrophila, Sagittaria, and Vallisneria. Remember to trim bunch plants approximately 1″ from the bottom and remove all dead material. Avoid leaves in the plug or below the surface of the gravel. See the Freshwater Plant Guide: Solution 11, for more details on oxygenating plants to select. (link to solution 11)

2. To enhance the Nitrogen Cycle, use a good quality bacteria starter like Activate Freshwater.

3. Add very few fish but add Otocinclus Catfish, Amano Shrimp, Mollies and or Flying Fox.

4. Remember, it is normal to lose some of the initial fish and plants. The goal is to establish some healthy, fast growing algae-fighting plants while cycling your aquarium. See the Nitrogen Cycle article for more information on this important process.

5. Add a small amount of Phosphate Remover by AquaLife to the filter. Use a high grade activated carbon like AquaLife Activated Carbon. Planted tanks require more carbon than ordinary fish tanks. CarboPhos by AquaLife is a good, convenient mixture of both phosphate remover and carbon. These all should be placed in filter bags and we recommend Filter Media Bags.

6. Begin monitoring pH. Initial pH readings will be high. Lower pH with CO2 doses. See notes below.

7. Maintain water temperature at 72-73°F initially and later at 75-76°F once the tank is established. Allow 6 weeks for the tank to stabilize.

8. Start using Evoke from day one. Do not use other fertilizers if you are using “aquasoil” planted substrate until plants have become established and show signs of root growth.

Important Information about CO2 and pH

If aquarium plants are doing well, small bubbles begin to form along the margins of the leaves within 1-2 hours after the lights and CO2 are started. If no bubbles are observed and CO2 levels have been increased the problem is usually lighting or filtration.

Ideal pH in a planted tank is 6.8. Natural fluctuations of pH occur during the day and values as high as 7.5 do not harm plants. pH levels are lowest in the morning before the lights are turned on, rise throughout the day and are highest level in the evening before the lights go out. The greater the difference between the lowest and highest pH levels the higher the conversion of CO2 and the better the plants are doing. The high range tends to drop as the tank becomes established.

Ideally, adjustments to pH should be made by increasing the amount of CO2 introduced into the system. Chemicals to lower pH should be avoided in the plant tank, however, values above 7.5 may require attention. Should pH adjustment become necessary, use only Acid Buffer by SeaChem. Assuming water changes and water conditions are kept up, Alkaline Buffer by SeaChem can be used to raise pH. Never make drastic changes in pH! Any change in pH should be made gradually over a period of several hours to days.

Other Water Quality Parameters

Algae Problems

Algae in aquariums is unavoidable. An overabundance of algae is unsightly and sometimes unhealthy in the planted tank. Algae control is achieved by proper filtration, water movement, live load balance, and water chemistry. The main cause for algae growth is almost always phosphorus. Phosphorus is often found in tap water and, like nitrate, is also a by-product of the fish load. Natural balance in the plant tank is achieved by the ratio of algae eating animals and fast growing vascular plants that compete with algae for nutrients. Here are some tips:

• use Phosphate Remover if you are using tap water
• use R/O water
• keep Otocinclus catfish
• keep Siamese Flying Fox
• keep Algae Eating Shrimp (tiny ones may be eaten by aggressive fish)
• keep them from Day 1
• To help with algae problems, use Algone Nutrient & Algae Control and AquaLife EVOKE.

Once the tank is set up, plant the tank right away to get oxygenating and rooted plants established as quickly as possible. Once nitrate and phosphate are in check reduce fertilizer and/or iron supplements until algae is in check.

Snails and Other Pests

Clown Loaches and Dwarf Cichlids can do some serious damage to a nuisance snail or leech population.

Supplement Schedule

Between 3-6 weeks:
Good: use sera Flore
Better: use Aquavitro line sold at authorized dealers
Best: use Evoke and Lush or Phyto-Tone by aquaLife

After 1 month:
Use Purigen by Seachem to polish water and reduce organics. Use as necessary.

After 2 months:
Begin using less carbon. Reduce to small quantities and replace it every other month. If iron levels are hard to maintain, discontinue carbon unless water is yellow or has an odor. Purigen also helps and does not affect valuable trace elements. These elements are replaced with products like Lush or Phyto-Tone by aquaLife

After 3 months:
If iron levels are hard to maintain use Flourish Iron to raise levels

After 6 months:
Start using 1/4 doses of Flourish Potassium by Seachem. If better growth is noticed continue. Potassium can be a problem if everything else is in check and plants are not thriving. Use Azoo or Tropica tabs every 6 to 12 months for large specimen plants.

For more in depth aquascaping information and technique see www.sevenports.com and the blogs their. Also subscribe to aquamanknox on youtube.