Re: [Killietalk] planted tanks - off-topic, but need some input

[<augustand at sbcglobal_net>]

One pair of gold Australes and A clump of Java moss. Turn off the filters 
run the lights for 8 hours a day .:>}


One person one paper ballot
Al Anderson
6246 N Rural Street
Indianapolis IN 46229
317 253 2170
augustand at sbcglobal_net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ed_dantes at linkline_com>
To: <killietalk at aka_org>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 9:06 AM
Subject: [Killietalk] planted tanks - off-topic, but need some input


> Off-Topic Planted Tank Question
>
> Things seem to be a little slow around here so how about help me out with 
> a
> new tank set-up.
>
> I have a 180 gallon tank 72x24x24 that has the following equipment;
> canister type filter with integrated uv
> pump
> 2 in-line 300 watt heaters
> 4 VHO 36 inch light bulbs
> Automatic R/O auto water changing built in.
>
>
> Here is the rub, I would like to set this up as a plant tank.
>
> I do not know what type of filtration to put into the tank and what type 
> of
> substrate to place in the tank.
>
> 1st the substrate; I would like to put something like lateralite into the
> tank so that the plants can have it to sustain them.....are there any 
> cheap
> sources for this stuff?  3 to 4 inches across the bottom would be really
> expensive.
>
> 2nd the filtration.  I have been paranoid over the years about dead spots
> and ammonia buildup so I have used under-gravel filters with very good
> success.
>
> Here is what I was thinking of doing.  Since I already have the water pump 
> I
> was going to pump water into the tank and run a grid-work of pvc around 
> the
> outer edge and make a sort of lattice of pvc every 6 inches or so through
> the tank.  I would drill this lattice with holes on the bottom so as to 
> let
> the water out and let it peculate up through the gravel lateralite 
> mixture.
> My calculations would suggest that I would have about 24 feet of pvc (3/4
> inch btw) to take the pressure off of my pump.  The water would peculate
> through fairly slowly (I think, I hope).
>
> I would then plant the tank with crypts, and vals, and anubias as well as
> anything else that wants to try and live in there.
>
> What do you think?  Will this reverse flow under-gravel filter work?  Or 
> is
> there a better idea for getting rich plant growth?
>
> Sure would appreciate some input.
>
> Allan
> AKA 00122, SCKC
>
>
>
> killie content - you know how many killies I could put into this tank -
> awesome.....
>
> I could probably grow diapterons up to be the size of.........They would
> need a lot of fertilizer  ;o)>
>
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