Chasing Sanity Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 I've got my first ever 4 foot tank on laybuy I'm planning a Walstad style tank (natural, soil based) but not sure what plants are best? The light I'll be getting is a twin reflector with one 40W T8 sunlight and one 40W T8 tropical tube. Most of my plants will be from Livefish.com.au purely because I can't get much here in my part of NSW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrefly Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 For a naturally planted Walstad style tank, rooted plants should be your priority at first. Swords, Crypts and Valisnera varieties do well in my experience. Tenellus or the smaller Chain Swords can make a nice forground even in a low/medium lighting setup. Sure Matt will weigh in soon enough with other options Also, check out some of these sites for aquatic plants. Much better range and value IMO. www.aquaria.com.au www.liverpoolcreekaquariums.com www.aquagreen.com.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Have you ordered the light yet? I would ditch the T8 tube and go for T5HO fitting from guppies. Cheap as chips will get you a link later. Plant wise, I use plants like broadleaf chainsword, vesuvious sword, pretty much any sword, lotus, crypts, blyxa, aponageton and Val. I don't like E. Tennulus (sorry Sarah) i use staurogyne repens (tropica) instread. Keep it trimmed and it will stay low. One of my favourite plants is blyxa for these tanks, lovely deep rooted stem. Start with 1 or 2 and you can divide it every few weeks. During start up you need fast growing stems, ambulia and milfoil work great. Hope I was off some help, please ask if you want to know anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Here is the light, if you only have 2 tubes it would only be low light and you couldn't grow as many plants. I have the 3 foot one over my 4 foot and it works great http://www.guppysaquariumproducts.com.au/florescent-light-fittings-and-accessories/t5-florescent-light-fittings-supreme-aqua/t5-aquarium-overhead-light-4x54w-hi-output-120cm-long/prod_229.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasing Sanity Posted July 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Thanks Matt and Sarah. Have looked at Guppies (have it bookamrked ) and there is the perfect light there, for cheaper. My only other questions are: 1) is a filter needed? Will a sponge suffice? 2) I'm looking at a pair of kissing gourami and some smaller schooling fish (probably danios) + shrimp, are these guys ok in this kind of setup? I forgot how different fishkeeping is to chicken or axolotl keeping!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 A filter isn't needed but I would recomemnd one in the first few months while the tank is establishing. You need at least a powerhead to move the water around, otherwise it will go stagnant, A sponge filter is no good. They de-gas all the co2 the plants need. FIlters compete with plants for amonia so I don't cycle my filters before hand. I'm not familiar with kissing gouramis, as long as they don't get to big, eat plants or dig your fine :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Gee haven't seen kissing gouramis around for ages.... they won't dig or chew plants so should be fine..... I echo the plants options mentioned by Pyrefly..... very good quality plants supplied by Jeff at liverpool creek and Dave at Aquagreen - haven't used the other place though.... and don't forget someone probably stocks some nice plants there as well as some fish that would be great for a planted tank and she ships anywhere.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Liverpool Creek and aquagreen are great! Jeff (liverpoolcreek) seems to have the more high end high tech plants and Dave (aquagreen) has something for everyone. Jeff has some crypts and swords I beleive but he is still low on some stock from Cyclone Yazi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasing Sanity Posted July 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 I can't believe I forgot about Aquagreen! He just shipped my brother's purple spooted gudgeon here to us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasing Sanity Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 a 4 foot Walstad livebarer tank is something i'd like i think, a mix of guppies, platies and swordtails. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGirl13 Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Can you knit me one too? And extend the lounge so I have somewhere to keep it!! And find me a job so I can pay the power bill!! And buy more fish... Is that asking too much? :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasing Sanity Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Will sand work as a top layer? I'm seriously considering turning my future tank into an axolotl tank and gravel can be fatal to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 I depends how fine it is, pool filter sand would be the finest you could go. Axies won't work in a tank like this though, they have no eyelids do the light will be to bright, when they snap at food they disturb the substrate heaps which would bring up the soil, I wouldn't recomend it sorry :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasing Sanity Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Nevermind, Axies for my 4-foot, Walstad for my 2-foot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasing Sanity Posted August 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 How do I know if potting mix has all the added things? Like water savers and fertilisers? do they also state it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 They should state it on the packet, if you could get top soil that would work better. The cheapest is usually the best for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun85 Posted August 21, 2011 Report Share Posted August 21, 2011 As Matt would be aware i am in process of setting up a walstad tank too for cherry shrimp. I really struggled to get soil which didnt have added fertilizer or the water stuff. Ended up getting a basic one from flower power which is believed to have no added stuff . As soon as i get plants i will be putting the soil in the tank as its currently holding my kuhli loach since i intended on my shrimp tank being normal cycled with gravel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasing Sanity Posted August 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Getting my 4 foot tank tomorrow and cheating a litte, adding a huge layer of Dino Dung under a layer of gravel. I just can't find any potting soil that's suitable here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhysmachine101 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Hey guys and girls I was wondering how fine you sifted your soil before chucking it in the tank? I think my colander was too fine and hence the soil never settles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch33 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Hey guys and girls I was wondering how fine you sifted your soil before chucking it in the tank? I think my colander was too fine and hence the soil never settles? Hi Rhys Sorry but I have not used the walstad method but I dont understand why there would be a need to run soil through a colander? I use good ol werribee soil substarte in my tank and in the pots I use for growing out plants and have never done anything more than crumble it up a little for an even level of substrate From my experience it all turns to much once it is wet? Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhysmachine101 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Huh! Ok then! I was somehow under the impression that you needed to sift out all the large stuff like twigs and clumps of dirt stones and bark and things. LOL, my bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch33 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Huh! Ok then! I was somehow under the impression that you needed to sift out all the large stuff like twigs and clumps of dirt stones and bark and things. LOL, my bad! You have done nothing wrong As i said I just dont understand the reason for doing it and if thats the way it should be done then do it the right way. Perhaps some others can comment on what they do? It is just me being slack maybe the problem? but when ever I use soil I just pull out any rocks or anything else I feel or see in it. I guess it will come down to the source of the substrate and what is in it that will detrmine how much work is required. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrefly Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 (edited) The first NPT I did, I used soil straight from the bag. I found over time, tannins from the bits of wood chip and twig leached into the water but also, the twiggy bits would end up above the gravel cap after planting, since they were lighter than the stone and soil. Nothing bad about either result, just unappealing aesthetically for many setups, and something I try to avoid in general. Hence I put the soil through a strainer (Its actually a seed tray base, wide holes but perfect for my needs). Edited September 1, 2011 by Pyrefly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 I sift mine so that I remove the wood which causes tannins and when I pull out plants the bark looks messy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch33 Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Ok so you are all using a pre packed soil like something you buy from bunnings? I collect my soil and it can have a little crap but generally I have found it good. Rhys if you travel to Melbourne stop of through werribie and collect some soil, the more red it is the the better also generally the higher the clay content It is reffered to as laterite but from what I have read laterite only comes from tropical areas but it does have the same propertities? It has been used in many DIY substrates for years by people growing plants in aquaria and the reason for the area being market gardens in it day is because of the nutrients and high iron content in the soil. something to try your next time around Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts