Planted Tank Readiness Checklist Guide: 30 Items Before Day One
Roughly 70 per cent of first-tank disasters trace back to something missing on day one — no dechlorinator on hand, the wrong scissors, a substrate quantity short by two litres. A proper planted tank checklist walked through 24 hours before flooding the tank prevents the panic Lazada orders that arrive after the aquasoil has already been wetted. This guide from Gensou Aquascaping at 5 Everton Park groups 30 verified items into four categories so you can audit your readiness before water hits substrate.
Tank, Stand and Structural Items
Item one: tank inspected for chips and seal integrity, sat empty on the cabinet for 24 hours to confirm fit. Two: cabinet levelled with a spirit level both axes — a 2mm tilt over 90cm causes long-term seal stress. Three: foam levelling mat under the tank for rimless setups. Four: floor load checked for tanks above 200 litres in HDB units. Five: power sockets within 1.5m of the cabinet, rated for the combined load of light, filter, heater if any. Six: drip loops planned for every cable.
Lighting and Timer
Item seven: light fixture mounted or suspended with the correct working distance — typically 15-25cm above the rim for LEDs. Eight: dimmer or controller programmed with starting photoperiod (5-6 hours for week one). Nine: timer or smart plug verified working. Ten: backup light schedule written down in case the timer fails. Eleven: PAR estimate or product specification confirmed against the chosen plant list. The aquarium tanks and cabinets bundles often include matched lighting which simplifies this.
Filtration and Flow
Item twelve: filter primed and tested for water tightness in a bucket before installation. Thirteen: filter media loaded — mechanical floss top, ceramic biomedia middle, sponge or carbon bottom. Fourteen: lily pipes or outflow positioned for full-tank flow. Fifteen: bypass for first-week debris confirmed (filter floss layer that can be discarded). Sixteen: spare impeller or seal in storage.
CO2 System if High-Tech
Item seventeen: cylinder weighed and noted to track consumption. Eighteen: regulator solenoid wired to the light timer plug so CO2 ramps with light. Nineteen: drop checker filled with 4dKH solution and pre-stained green for quick reference. Twenty: bubble counter filled with glycerin or distilled water. Twenty-one: night-time aeration plan — air stone on a separate timer running while CO2 is off.
Substrate and Hardscape
Item twenty-two: aquasoil quantity calculated at 1 litre per 100 cm² footprint at the back, sloping to half at front. Buy 20 per cent extra. Twenty-three: hardscape rinsed in tap water and dry-fitted in the empty tank. Photograph the layout from front and side angles before adding water. Twenty-four: power sand or root tab placement marked on a paper sketch. Twenty-five: hardscape weighed if using soft substrate to prevent slumping. Browse stones and substrates in the decoration and substrate range.
Plants Sourced and Quarantined
Item twenty-six: plant list ordered or sourced, factoring in 10-15 per cent loss in transit. Twenty-seven: plants quarantined for 24 hours in dechlorinated water with a drop of liquid carbon to kill hitchhiker snails and algae spores. Twenty-eight: tissue-culture cups separated from rockwool-grown stems in storage trays. Tissue-culture plants need rinsing of agar before planting; rockwool plants need wool removed to bare roots.
Water Treatment and Testing
Item twenty-nine: dechlorinator on hand at the correct dose for the tank volume, factoring in chloramine treatment. Use enough for two full water changes in week one. Thirty: test kit assembled — ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, GH, KH. Liquid kits are accurate; strips are not. Singapore PUB water at GH 2-4, KH 1-2 generally arrives soft and acidic, but spot-check the first batch before flooding the tank.
Tools and Accessories
Beyond the 30 numbered items, three tool categories must be on hand: aquascaping scissors at three lengths (25cm, 35cm, 45cm), pinsette tongs at 27cm and 35cm, and a substrate spatula or flattener. Curved scissors for carpet plants are optional in tier one and essential in tier two. The aquascaping tools range covers each length.
Pre-Flood Walkthrough
The night before flooding, lay every item from the checklist on a tray beside the tank. Walk through the planting sequence verbally — back wall first, midground architecture, foreground last. Confirm the water source is at room temperature (28-29°C in Singapore tap is fine for most species). Mix dechlorinator into the first 10 litres before pouring onto a saucer to prevent substrate disturbance.
The First-Week Top-Up Buffer
Aquasoil compresses by 5-10 per cent during the first week. Keep half a litre of dry soil aside for spot top-ups. Plants will rearrange themselves in the first 48 hours — the first replant adjustment is on day three, not day one. Photograph the scape immediately after flooding to compare against the day-three layout.
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emilynakatani
Still Have Questions About Your Tank?
Drop by Gensou Aquascaping — most walk-in questions get answered in under 10 minutes by someone who has set up hundreds of tanks.
5 Everton Park #01-34B, Singapore 080005 · Open daily 11am – 8pm
