FishChannel Forums / Freshwater Forums / Plant Particulars

Stocking Help

SKeith — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:17:08 GMT

I'm having alot of trouble getting plants that can survive my tanks conditions. I have very hard water with high PH and ALK and low light. I try to look the species up but most web sites will only state what kind of light it can handle or if they are hard to kill. I have tropical fish, so I keep the tank on the warmer side. Can anyone recommend plants?

Plants For New Aquarium

gaday — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:09:58 GMT

I just set up a 55 gal. tank. I have two 18" 15 watt 7500k T5 flourescents. I'm running a Perfect Flo undergravel filter with four 160 gal/hr powerheads with aeration on each head. I added 3" of concrete gravel mix as a substrate. I added 5 rosy barbs and five bloodfin tetras about a week ago to get my biologicals started. What else do I need to do to get plants started? I'm a beginner with plants, but quite experienced with fish. Check out my 110 gal on my profile page.

Heres a simple question

jasminehill — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:31:24 GMT

Does a tank need to be completely cycled before adding your plants? I dont know is this even has anything to do with it or not. Also what about adding fertilizer is it really necessary?...........I've read or tried to read all the post on all the co2 and diffusions and all that but remember peeps I have ADD and I cant absorb it so please just as simply as possible thanks. Oh and also after getting the tanks lights on I find that one of the bulb strips isnt working it works then flicks off like theres a short or something so anyway I have now just 3 lights (until I save up for another hood) is that enough for plants?

Plant in front of heater

emt49126 — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:51:16 GMT

I was wondering if you guys could suggest a low light moderate live plant that can go in the background. I am wanting to cover the heater. The tank is a 38 gallon if this matters. I have plan gravel for the subtrate. Thanks

1 inch of plant per 1 gallon of water

takhisis — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 10:52:21 GMT

okay, so i was trying to get some research done and find a better hood for my 29 gal tank, currently the hood on it will only hold up to 20 watts and i know that's not enough for the plants i want to keep. so i was asking my sister in law to price out an incandescent hood so i can get the compact fluorescent bulbs. she told me i'm not supposed to put more then 1 inch of plant per 1 gallon of water and that since i already have a "bundle" of filigree that i have at least 15 inchs in there already.

so my questions to yous are, is the 1 inch of plant per 1 gallon of water true?

does one "bundle" of plants count as more then 1 plant

is there such a thing as an over planted tank ?

Flourish Excel

jsmith11618 — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:55:05 GMT

For those who use flourish excel.

How often do you dose, and do you dose the full amount and frequency on the bottle?

If not how much/often do you dose?

I picked up a small bottle today, this is the first time I am using any additives to my aquarium, and I am always wary of using additives for anything.

Planning on Plants

Bob Y — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:50:49 GMT

Hey peoples! I'm planning on making my tank a planted tank soon and I need all the help I can get! If anyone has any tips, tricks, or comments to give or products that I should get, please don't hesitate to tell me everything you know! When I get it all set up I'll be sure to take lots of pics to share with you guys and gals!!! Thanks in advance!

I need to find a hood for 29 gal planted

Mindnova — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:24:27 GMT

I have a freshwater 29 gal. that I am going to plant. With the information I have found I need at least 60 watts. I plan on using a glass cover for the tank, and would love to have 10k or what ever is correct and actinic for dusk and possibly some LEDs.

I am hoping someone has found a cheap top similar to this. Are there draw backs to having a light suspended from the edge of the tank. Or would I be better off with a close fitting hood.

This is going to be the first thing you see when you come into my house in the living room so I'm trying to keep it super clean and modern.

Thanks in advance !

Question about light

Rocketman1219 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:22:25 GMT

I am in the process of creating my first aquarium and I was planning on adding some live plants to help control the Nitrate levels and keep the Algae at bay! I have one of PetSmart's TopFin 10 gallon starter kits and it comes with Incandescant lights. I know my choice of plants is therefore limited, but I was considering adding some Java Fern because I've heard that it is very hardy. Will this plant (and any others) grow with Incandescant lights? I don't have the money to upgrade my lights right now, so I'd like to plant something that will work with my lights. (I've added some nice plastic plants, but I'd like to add some live ones to help make my tank healthy.)

plant sickness

JCHAMPAGNE — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:27:11 GMT

Not great pictures, but as you can see I am having some die off on the bottom leaves only of my Carolina Bacopa. Has any one experienced this? From what I understand this is indicative of a some sort of major deficiency. When leaves on the bottom die but leaves on the top don't it is usually a mobile nutrient diffientcy. A mobile nutrient is one that leaves older leaves to support new growth when a deficiency occurs. Mobile nutrients are Pottasium, Nitrogen, Iron, Phosphorous, and I believe carbon.

The tips of the older leaves turn white at first and then the rest of the leaf eventually turns clear and dies.

10mth old tank

ph 7.8

ammonia 0

nitrite 0

nitrate 0

temp 78

4wpg at a 10 hr duration with a 1.5 hr break in the middle (for algea control)

15-20percent water changes a week.

Filigree and my ph levels

takhisis — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 10:11:56 GMT

I am fairly new to the fish scene. I have tried to do all my research. I wanted to do my cycle the way i have read on here, but i live with my sister in law and had fish within 24 hours. However they were 8 feeder guppies, then about 24 hours later she brought home 3 bleeding heart tetras who proceded to eat 7 of the 8 guppies. My NH, NO, PH levels were fairly stable the last few days. i had a spike in NH and NO so i did a partial water change, my levels evened out. I had been over feeding and since corrected my habits, one feeding a day now, only what can be eaten in under 3 mins. I put in a filigree plant and 4 gold snails, 1 pleco, 1 red tailed shark. i retested my water today and my ph has dropped from 7 - 7.5 to 5, my NH and NO are slightly high.

My main question is will the Filigree effect my PH level and should i be concerned at this point?

I have a 29 gal tank.

6 Glofish

1 feeder guppy

1 common pleco

1 red tailed shark

3 bleeding heart tetras

4 gold snails

1 filigree

1 devil's ivy

maintain the tanks water about 78 degrees

have a whisper 100 air pump, and whatever came with my tank for filtration and lighting. i bought the tetra 29 tank from walmart if that helps.

Planted Aquarium

dmannshow — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:17:15 GMT

Hello all, first time EVER posting or topicing or blogging or whatever it is I am doing here, at any site, for anything, EVER. I am Dennis and I currently have a beautiful 125gl. freshwater tank. I have numerous tropical community fish happily swimming within its contents. I do have some questions as I just recently purchased the lights and the plants for my tank. I went to A. Botanic and purchased the "Hard to kill" package (cause I'm scared lol) and they honestly have been doing well for a week now. Here are my questions:

1) I've been told that once you add plants you can get rid of or remove your bubblers as the plants will now provide oxygen. Is this true or since I have a 125 and only the "hard to kill" package, do I not have enough plants yet?

2) only have gravel in the tank. Many "experts" have told me I'll be fine as long as I use the supplements, Fl Excel, etc.. is this true?

3) Brown Algae. Have had it before, have it now. Not worry because plants will take care of it?

For now, that's all I can think of, though I know I'll have more. If you have any advice, expert analysis, etc.. please feel free to post. I'm very excited to hear all of your thoughts and concerns as I just want my plants to not die and my fish to be happy. Now, for the tech: I have 257W at 6700K comp flour going on the tank, that is approximately 2W/gl for my 125 tank. I have a Fluval 405 Filtering it and my Marineland C-360 just started leaking after a week, so I am waiting for Marineland to send me a new one once I contact them on Mon. (Closed today). I have Neons, Red Minor, and Black Skirt Tetras, 2 Dw. Gouramis, 3 Siam. Alg. Eaters, 6 Peppered Cory's, 4 Harlequin Rasbora's (which apparently aren't Rasboras anymore), 2 Ghost Catfish and one German Blue Ram. I believe those are all the specs. I have added Seachem Plant Tabs to the gravel. One for about every 3 plants. So, out of the pack of 10 I've used 7. I've been adding Seachem Fl. Excel and the Iron. Um... 2 heaters for the tank maintaining a temp. of 78F.

So, I hope this isn't too long. I so am not good a this obviously. Any helpful suggestions etc.. please let me know. Again, I'm Dennis, 35/M, from VA. Thanks in advance for all your help.

Incredible blue-green algae

JCHAMPAGNE — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:17:43 GMT

Fact: blue green algae is not an algae, but a bacteria known as cyanobacteria.

Our past is cool:
I ran across this interesting tidbit of information on blue green algae in a book about dinosuars (my son is a dino-nut).

Quote: The earliest traces of life have been found in Australia, in rocks that are 3,500 million years old. They are the fossilized remains of stromatolites - colonies of single celled cyanobacteria. These are bacteria that make food from water and co2 by photosynthesis; just as green plants do. They (cyanobacteria) were the only form of life on earth for nearly 3 billion years, and the ancestors of all living things.

When I read this, I thought no wonder this stuff is so hard to get rid of. It has been around forever and is some tough..... And by the quoted last sentence is my great (to the power of infinity) grand pappy. Hope you enjoyed a little dose of our past.

Source of quote: Dinosaur Atlas; an amazing journey through a lost world.

moss wall material

54321 — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:23:24 GMT

So I go to the local pet stores and hardware stores and I cannot find any plastic meshing for my moss wall. I purchased some plastic meshing from a craft store that is used for yarn stitching or whatever it is, http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2504884775_7907ae9442_o.jpg (this picture will be better than my description). But I truly think that the holes in the mesh i got are three times to small. I have searched high and low for plastic mesh big enough but no luck. the only stuff i could find would be a perfect size would be metal but im not sure if it would be galvanized or not or if it would even be safe. any other ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

opinion please!!!!

teamtetra — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:57:02 GMT

After alot of reaserch i think i can substain live plants.The plants i have chosen are 2 Camboda plants and 2 Java ferns, the fern should substain itself but i would like a bit more help on my Camboda question.

My tank is usally around 80 degrees with a good amount of lighting.My tank has been operating since July 9th.

Baby tears, hornwort, and wisteria, OH MY!

Conner — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:21:29 GMT

Check out the surface growth of hornwort, baby tears, and wisteria on my 125g tank. The wisteria is actually growing up out of the water, while the hornwort is staying completely submerged.

Iron

SKeith — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:03:04 GMT

I know that fishes don't like iron in the water but plants do. I've seen in my LFS there are iron removers and iron supplements. I showed him my plant and he told me that it need iron. How much iron should be in the water?

CO2 setup for 125g tank.

Conner — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:10:57 GMT

So I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to set up the co2 system for my 125g tank once I get all the hardware (I loooove ebay!). I've noticed that most of the largest diffusers available out there say that they're only for aquariums up to 75g. Are there any that are good for larger tanks? Otherwise, I was thinking I could just get two, one for either end of the tank, and split the co2 between them. That way the co2 would spread more evenly over the tank as well, rather than having very high co2 at one end and very low co2 at the other.

The other thing I want to ask about is what kind of diffuser you think is best. The glass tube with a frit at the end that the bubbles get pushed through, one of those tubes with bioballs inside that require a pump, or simply running the end of the co2 tubing into the intake of a small in-tank pump. Which is likely to give me the best diffusion? And won't break my pocketbook either...

Thanks!

Plants for Nitrates

debbie02civiclx — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:40:20 GMT

What are good plants that eat nitrate? I have 5 sticks of bamboo, and two smaller plants that apparently don't eat it. Any suggestions?

Deciding on plants

ozo — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:45:17 GMT

I need help deciding which plant are good for a 29 gallon tank. Here are the plant I like.

amazon sword
ambulia
bamboo plant
carolina fanwort
coffee leaf anobias
common milfoil
contortionistval
creeping rush
cutleaf watermilfoil
dwarf hairgrass
dwarf onion plant
dwarf sag
egeria naja
giant hairgrass
golden nana
guppy plant
hydrotriche hottoniiflora
java fern
java moss
limnophila aquatica
microsword
myriophyllum mattogrossence
najas indica
narrow leaf chain sword
pearlweed
red foxtail
wisteria

Plants need _ _ _ _ in their water?

nagadragon — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:21:32 GMT

So I'm thinking I'll go with the play sand from home depot. I want to get my plants, and start up the planted tank. I just had goldfish in the tank, so the ammonia content may be a little higher. I did 2 50% water changes since then, and the tank is till a bit foggy.

My current levels are:
Nitrate- 40ppm (higher end of safe zone)
Nitrite- 3.0ppm (being corrected as you read)
Hardness- 75 (soft)
Chlorine- 0ppm
Alkilinity- ~40ppm
pH- 6.5

My ammonia test strips disappeared in my tank stand somewhere.

I have a Jungle Labs water conditioner for plants. Would that work?

What else should I correct, if anything, for plants? Do they like higher amounts of fish poo (ammonia, etc.)?

actinic in a planted aquuarium?

54321 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:25:48 GMT

I was talking to the owner of a lfs about lighting for my aquarium(in hopes to have it moderatly planted), and he said t5ho were the way to go and we started to talk more he said that. He stated that two bulbs would come in it and they were a actinic bulb and 10,000k light bulb(added together would give me around 2wpg), and from my research (doesn't really mean it is the most credible) plants like color temps lower, near 65000. also would it be better to try to find lighting that doesnt come with actinic lighting?

36 gallon

2 gouramis

8 platies 1 guppy

3 cories

1 blue ram

29 Gallon Plants

ozo — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:53:13 GMT

I am starting my set up of the 29 gallon. I am looking for soom nice floating top plant and bottom grass like plants? I do not want bananas plants for my floating plant. I do not mind any suggestion of other good plant beside top and bottom plants.

CO2 tanks deal?

Conner — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:51:54 GMT

So I've been talking to a guy on craigslist who has 2 20lb CO2 tanks for sale. They are both partially filled, which isn't a big problem since it doesn't cost very much to fill them.

He offered to sell both of them to me for $100. What do you guys think? I don't know if he'll just sell one of them for like $50 or not, but I'll probably check.

I'm just trying to decide if I really want to start collecting co2 equipment just yet or not.

Would you go for it? One or both?

Need help to ID plants

SKeith — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:56:38 GMT

Plant # 1 - it came from a random bulb package

Plant # 2 - it came from a random bulb package

Plant # 3

Plant #4 - I think is a ruffle plant - came from the random bulbs

T5HO Lighting

Hellcat — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:45:22 GMT

Hi there I am interested in getting a Hagen t5HO light system for my aquarium the size of the tank is 30 x 12 x 22 and is a 37 gal aquarium i currently have 5 java ferns 2 crypts and 1 annubis aswell 4 small corckscrew vals i have been putting flourish iron fert in the tank once a week the lighting i have right now is a single bulb 20 watt light i do however have a coralife twin bulb that is 36 watts that was set aside. Now if i get the Hagen T5HO dual light system which sizes would i need to get idont want to go to fancy with plant care i just thought i would start off with low light plants

Thanks

William

Moss Balls

SKeith — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:24:55 GMT

How are you suppose to take care of moss balls? I got mine about 6 months ago and it hasn't grown very much and they shed very easily if you touch them. Are they slow growers or do they prefer certain conditions?

My current tank stats are:

29 Tank - been in here for 2 weeks

Light: I don't know the current wattage for the light bulb, but it's the florescent light bulb that came with the tank (unmarked). I'm willing to buy another one (what would be a good wattage?)

Temp: Range: 76-72 F

NO3: 20 - it's the highest I have ever seen usually it is zero

NO2:3

PH:8.5

ALK:120

Hardness: 180

Hardy Plants

smelsfyshy — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:31:14 GMT

I have never had a planted tank...How do you go about cleaning the tank and not harming the plants? :unsure:

co2 basics

bettasrcool — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:08:02 GMT

Right now I am in the learning stage of keeping live plants and have a few anubias and java ferns currently. I have been reading up on DIY co2 and might want to try it later on when I get some more plant species.
Regarding the diy co2, with the diffuser does it need to be as deep in the tank as possible or can it be right under the water surface?
Also do you absolutely need some type of diffuser or can you just place an open airline hose into the water? Thanks.:)

Sand for plants

nagadragon — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:26:51 GMT

I want to convert my normal gravel tank to sand. I saw some riverbed sand at Petco. Is that waht I need, or can I use marine sand(not live)?

Gravel with plants

emt49126 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:42:46 GMT

I just got a plant from my uncle today. He puts his plants in gravel only. Is this ok to do it? He has had fish tanks for as long as I can remember. In fact, I am 30 and all I can remember about his room growing up is a room full of fish tanks. What is you'lls take on it and what kind can I get. I would like to get some bamboos also. Thanks

Bamboo Plant

SKeith — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:14:17 GMT

Are there certain types of bamboo plants that prefer to be totally covered in water? I was told to take it out the my tank and I did but now it seems like the leaves are turing yellow and wilting. I bought the stalks from Petco b/c I thought that the bamboo shrimp would like them. Please help.

Just bought 2 ferns

SKeith — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:17:40 GMT

I just bought two ferns from Petco. A Egeria Densa and a Trichomones Javanicum. Is the Javanicum suppose to be brown? How do you plant them in the tank, I don't see any roots starting. Do they need any special care?

PLANT CARE TIP

JCHAMPAGNE — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:07:49 GMT

I just thought that I would share a little updated news on my battle with crynobacteria. I kept having reoccuring BGA in a large clump of java moss even with repeted water changes and adding activated carbon to my filters.

It is so simple that I should have known. I was always afraid to vacuum the java moss directly for fear of crushing it. I finally got so frustrated with the BGA that I decided it was either leaving or I was getting rid of the java moss.

I firmly pressed down on the java moss with the end of the siphon and watched the organic material lift out of the java moss. This was sucked out of the tank. These organics are one of the typical culprits. I cut out the infected java moss and it hasn't returned since. That was about 3-4 weeks ago.

I do it to both of my clumps of java moss during every water change and they have never looked better.

Fyi

Did you know?

JCHAMPAGNE — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:34:19 GMT

Many scavaging fish help to free trapped debris from the leaves of plants. Their movement through the plants helps to send this debris toward the filter where it can be captured. The removal of debris from the plant also allows more light to reach the leaves and reduces the odds that algae will be an issues.

carbon and fertilizer

54321 — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:34:24 GMT

does carbon in your filter take the important stuff out of plant fertilizers?

Need suggestions for growing Java Moss fast.

Mindnova — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:04:36 GMT

I noticed my Gouramis grazing on Java moss or the algae on them.

Pretty sure it was the tender ends of the moss, so if anyone has tried to speed grow it. Could you let me know how.

Was kinda wondering about putting it in weak solution of miracle grow. This would then require very good rinsing and maybe a week or two in water from my water changes to make it safe.

Also wonder if it would be a good food for my pond goldies.

Plants turing brown

SKeith — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:50:55 GMT

I have a 20 gal tank with

3-Banana plant(Nymphoide- s aquatica),

2 Moss bolls(Chladopho- ra aegagropila),

1-Ruffle Plant(Echinodor- us martii)(I think),

3 - bamboo stalks,

1- Moneywort (Bac- opa monnieri),

1- ivy,

1- Aponogeton capuronii (not sure).

I bought one of those packages with the random bulbs and so I'm not sure about the ruffle and aponogeton plants.

My banana and aponogeton plant leafs are turing brown with some holes. The rest of the plants are looking ok but the Ivy and the ruffle plants roots are starting to look brown and mushy. - What can I do to correct this or is this the natural process?

The test strip (petco 5 way test strips) states:

Fresh TH (Hardness)- 240, ALK Fresh & Salt- 240, PH Fresh- 8.5, NO2-0, NO3-20

Fish & Others:
1 - Dragon Fish- Violet Goby or Gobioides broussonetti
1 - Pleco - Pterygoplichthy- s (Liposarcus) multuradiatus
1 - Chinese Algae eater
1 - Male (Red) Betta
3 - Neon Tetra

I also have a couple of snails- they are large ( 1/2 in maybe less in length?)

To pot or not to pot

Mindnova — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:56:45 GMT

I have planted most of my plants in the substrate, but I just received hygropblia corymbosa 'Kompakt' and Cryptocoryne wendtii v. 'tropica' in little pots.

The Hygropbila will go in my bio-cube with eco-complete and coarse gravel. The Cryptocoryne will go in a marineland 5 gallon hex with plain gravel. This is my wifes betta tank with two salt and pepper corys.

Are there plants that require pots in an aquarium enviroment and is there anyplace to increase my research of my plants.

Thanks in advance

What plants are these

jasminehill — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:43:02 GMT

Hey guys just got these plants at the lfs and put them in with the guppies in the nursery they all immediately loved them and started eating at them Im hoping this is ok for them to eat? Anyway I forgot but I think he said they were something that starts with an A?....anyway and special care for them ? Thanks oh and my frog sure loves his tank with the hornwort too lol the little fatty is smashing it with his large heiney ha