Planted Tank Setup

Everything you need to set up a planted aquarium in India — substrate, light, fertilizer, CO₂, root tabs and water conditioning — in one collection. Whether you're building your first low-tech planted tank or a high-tech aquascape, this is the complete planted tank setup range at Fish Bazaar, delivered across India.

What do you need to set up a planted tank?

A working planted tank needs six things in place before your plants can thrive:

Substrate — nutrient-rich aquarium soil that feeds roots
Light — full-spectrum LED that drives photosynthesis
Liquid fertilizer — water-column nutrients (macros + micros)
Root tabs — targeted feed for heavy root feeders
Carbon — liquid CO₂ or pressurised CO₂ (optional for low-tech)
Water conditioning — dechlorinator + beneficial bacteria to cycle the tank

Every product in this collection covers one of those six jobs. Match your tank size, light budget and plant ambition, and you have a full setup.

Substrate — the foundation of a planted tank

Rooted plants (Amazon sword, Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria) feed through the substrate. Nutrient-rich aquarium soil is the single highest-leverage upgrade for a planted tank — it releases nutrients continuously for months. Browse our Aquarium Soil range including premium ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia and Power Sand.

Light — the energy source for plant growth

Plants photosynthesise with red and blue spectrum. Regular white LEDs won’t grow demanding plants. This collection features planted-tank-specific LEDs from Neo-Helios, Chihiros, Blue Pet, Sobo and more — from budget nano lights under ₹500 to premium WRGB fixtures for high-tech scapes.

Nano tanks (1-2 feet): Bluepet N6 Neo+, Neo-Helios Flat Nano S3
Medium tanks (2-3 feet): Neo-Helios XP-300, Sobo AL-380, Blue Pet Flat Nano S4
Large tanks (3-4+ feet): Neo-Helios XP-600, Chihiros WRGB II

See our full Aquarium Lights collection and the planted aquarium lighting guide.

Fertilizer — feeding your plants

Fish waste covers some nitrogen, but plants also need potassium, phosphorus and micros (iron especially). An all-in-one liquid fertilizer covers the water column; root tabs feed heavy root feeders.

All-in-one liquid: Sunken Garden Vibrance, Sunken Garden Green, Seachem Flourish
Colour boosters: Sunken Garden Red, Seachem Flourish Iron
Root tabs: Sunken Garden Root Tabs, Seachem Flourish Tabs
Trace elements: Seachem Flourish Trace, Seachem Flourish Advance

Full range in our Aquarium Fertilizer collection. Learn how to dose in our aquarium fertilizers explained guide.

CO₂ — the biggest growth lever (optional)

Carbon is the largest single nutrient plants use. Adding CO₂ makes plants grow 3–5× faster, brings out vivid red colour, and reliably out-competes algae. You don’t need pressurised CO₂ for a planted tank — liquid carbon (Sunken Garden Liquid CO₂ Boost, Seachem Flourish Excel) works for most low-tech setups.

Considering pressurised CO₂? See our CO₂ system setup guide, and browse CO₂ & Plant Nutrition.

Filter — keep the water moving

Planted tanks need gentle-to-moderate flow. Canister filters (Fluval 07 series, Aquael Ultra) are the aquascaping standard because they hide neatly under the cabinet and hold lots of biological media. See our Aquarium Filters collection and the best filters for planted tanks guide.

Water conditioning — essential for cycling

Indian tap water contains chlorine that kills beneficial bacteria and stresses plants. A dechlorinator (Sunken Garden Anti Chlorine) is required at every water change. Adding beneficial bacteria (Sunken Garden Good Bacteria, Sunken Garden Bacter Tab) speeds up the nitrogen cycle so you can add fish sooner.

Planted tank setup by tank size

Tank size	Substrate	Light	Filter
Nano (1 ft / 15-30 L)	3-5 kg soil	Bluepet N6 / Neo-Helios Nano S3	Sponge or small internal
Small (2 ft / 60 L)	5-6 kg soil	Neo-Helios XP-300 / Sobo AL-380	HOB (Seachem Tidal 55) or small canister
Medium (3 ft / 100-120 L)	9 L soil bag	Neo-Helios XP-600 / Chihiros WRGB Slim	Canister (Fluval 207 / Aquael Ultra)
Large (4 ft+ / 200 L+)	18-27 L soil	Chihiros WRGB II Pro	Canister (Fluval 407 / Aquael Ultramax)

Low-tech vs high-tech planted tank

Low-tech setup — no pressurised CO₂, modest light (6-7 hours), easy plants (Anubias, Java fern, Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria), all-in-one liquid ferts twice a week. Cheaper, easier, forgiving.

High-tech setup — pressurised CO₂, strong light (7-8 hours), demanding plants (Rotala, HC Cuba, red plants), daily fertilizer dosing. Faster growth, more vivid colour, requires consistent maintenance.

Beginners should start low-tech. Full walkthroughs in our aquascaping guide and beginner aquarium setup guide.

Frequently asked questions

What do you need to set up a planted tank?

Six essentials: nutrient-rich substrate, planted-tank LED light, all-in-one liquid fertilizer, root tabs, dechlorinator, and beneficial bacteria to cycle the tank. CO₂ is optional — low-tech planted tanks work without it.

Is CO₂ really necessary for a planted aquarium?

No. Many easy plants (Anubias, Java fern, Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria, mosses) grow without added CO₂. Adding liquid carbon or pressurised CO₂ speeds up growth and enables demanding species.

How to set up a planted fish tank for beginners?

Add a nutrient-rich substrate (aqua soil), install a planted-tank LED, fill with dechlorinated tap water, add beneficial bacteria, cycle for 2-4 weeks, plant your first easy species (Anubias, Java fern, Vallisneria), then add fish gradually. Full walkthrough in our beginner aquarium setup guide.

How many hours a day should I run a planted tank light?

6-8 hours per day on a timer, in one block. Start conservative (6 hours) in a new tank and extend as it stabilises. Longer photoperiods don’t grow plants faster — they grow algae. Full details in our how many hours to run your aquarium light guide.

How long does a planted tank take to cycle?

2-4 weeks for a stable nitrogen cycle. Adding beneficial bacteria (Sunken Garden Good Bacteria) speeds this up. Test the water for ammonia (should read zero) before adding fish.

Is a heavily planted tank good for fish?

Yes. Dense planting keeps water cleaner (plants absorb ammonia and nitrate), provides shelter and reduces stress. Most fish behave more naturally in planted tanks.

How much maintenance is a planted tank?

~30 minutes per week: 25-30% water change, glass wipe, fertilizer dose, trim fast-growing stems. Full weekly routine in our aquarium plants care & maintenance guide.

What size planted tank is best for beginners?

2 feet (60 L) is the sweet spot — large enough to be stable, small enough to be affordable. Nano tanks (1 ft) are cheaper but need more careful maintenance; larger tanks are more forgiving but cost more upfront.