Recommissioning an aquarium

[sickpup]

I have a 4x1x1.5foot tropical fish tank that I need to recommission.

Can anyone suggest a substrate fertiliser to mix with the gravel for plant growth?

The filter is a massive old Eheim 2028, it already has ceramic rings in the bottom basket and Ehfi substrate in the other two baskets, can anyone recommend any thing different that is better?

As I live in a hard water area can anyone suggest an RO unit that can be switched on and off without damaging the membrane? Possibly one that also has a tap for drinking water as well.

Thanks all.

[CaNsA]

I would start by collecting this 500L tank that is sat in my garage.

[sickpup]

[CaNsA]

Cant remember mate, but here is the thread from a couple of years ago when i got the tank.

It's been cleaned and the stand has been built.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=2381823

[SimonB]

I use this substrate in my tank

https://www.swallowaquatics.co.uk/jbl-manado-10l.html?utm_source=googlebase&gclid=CN791LaFqb0CFazHtAodYQIARQ

I'm sure if you hunt around you can get it cheaper than that.

You could also put a layer of soil underneath the gravel as well but I decided against doing this as I have a catfish that likes to dig. I wouldn't do what my brother did which was put in a fine sand in his tank as the dirt just sits on top and then it looks dirty quite quickly.
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[sickpup]

[Recluso]

I used this site a lot when I was researching how to plant up my tanks:

https://www.plantedtank.net/articles/Basics-to-starting-a-Planted-Tank/4/

Not sure if they're any use to you but they've got some interesting articles in there.
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[GhostRider]

Set up my tank couple of weeks ago using this:

https://www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/aquatics/gravel-substrates-and-rock/tetraplant-complete-substrate-5-8kg.html

Did as it stated - placed a layer of that as the first thing in the tank, stuck the gravel on top, filled with water.

Got about 8 plants in at the moment, did a water change yesterday and disturbed one or two of the plants whilst using the gravel cleaner/syphon and could clearly see the plants had grown roots into the substrate so seems to be working rather well.

GhostRider
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[SimonB]

[Riejufixing]

[bhinso]

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[Nudi652]

My catfish would be glad to read it, with its little wiggling tendrils she tries to detect soil, but there is no soil I did not put it. But right now I'm interested in installing a reef tank at my home, somewhere in the living room where could be enough place for the capacity of it around from 50 up to 100 halons, with corals and various marine life there like helix coralline algae, live rocks, reef dry rocks, live sand consisting nitrifying bacteria, I am thinking of getting sea worms, they are predators, it is can be an interesting experience, recently I read about the Bobbit worm https://arcreef.com/bristle-worms/bobbit-worm-eunice-aphroditois/ also I need to get different stuff to service such a coral aquarium