2 quick plant questions

[fish_keeper2]

first of all i got some fertalizer for my 20 gal. its called florapride from tetra, the makers of aqua safe declhorinator. is it safe to use with bamboo shrimp, ghost shrimp and pond snails? if not plz suggest something that is safe(im in the US). also can anyone suggest a good carpet or very low growing plant other than java moss that is commonly available. thanks for all the help ahead of time.

 

[zig]

I dont know the answer to your first question, what makes you think it will not be safe?

How much lighting do you have? as this will determine what plants you can grow successfully.

 

[fish_keeper2]

i didnt think that it would be safe because i know that certian fish meds arent good for inverts but i dont know what chemicles to look for.

the lighting used to 2 25 incandesint bulbs but i recently found some 15 watt florecent bulbs that fit into the socket. they are a lot bitter than the standered T5 lighting in my other tanks.

 

[zig]

I think people most worry about copper with shrimp but you could double check that.

I presume you mean you have 2x15 watts over the tank, if you do this is not a lot of light really for growing plants, this gives you 1.5 watts per gallon or low light, so your choices will be more limited to low light plants, this site i linked below is quite good, you can choose plants by the amount of light you have available, and it will tell you where the best position for the plants are also, it will also show you a picture of the plant so you can see if you like it or not, there are quite a few to browse through in each catagory.

Plantgeek

 

[fish_keeper2]

i know its not alot......for now its the best i can do untill i can get a new hood. i guess ill go ahead and use the fertalizer as im sure that theres no copper in it. the take is already planted. all but 2 plants are live plus some bog wood and river rocks. so far the plants have been doing really well, they are a few java fern, 3 baby(only 3 or so 2 inch leaves each) amazon swords, 3 bunches or red lugwigia, 1 dwarf water lilly, 2 camoboa(SP), 1 large frill plant(no idea what this is exactly, nor do i know the latin name) and this peakock fern thing.


will java moss do ok, this is because when i put in the drift wood(i just did this yeaterday and completely rearanged the tank......the poor fish)i acedentally(SP) left a corner at the bottom kinda bare but there is only room for a low growing or carpet forming type of plant.

 

[zig]

Java Moss should do absolutely fine with the type of light you have, id still have a look at plantgeek for some ideas, its a good site........best of luck with the tank

 

[fish_keeper2]

thanks. its been set up for a few months now. i started with fake plants and river rocks and some of those caves that are made from plastic or what ever made to look like wood. then i got some dwarf water lilly and apponogeten bulbs and they did(and still are) doing great so i started adding more and more reall ones. then the other day i found 2 really good pieces of drift wood and i ended up taking everything but 2 fake plants, the river rocks, and the live plants of course out and added the drift wood along with rearangeing the whole tank. now it looks wonderfull and more natural. now i just have to get used to the look of the tannins.

 

[zig]

Theres no going back when you start useing real plants.....tanks look so much better with them.

The tannins will eventually reduce as you do more water changes i think you can also boil the wood and this will remove the tannins also, so you could always take the wood out and boil it for a while, im nearly sure this works, maybe somebody else can confirm this and then you could have a tannin free tank.

 

[fish_keeper2]

thanks. i dont mind them in there actually im just so used to having a crystal clear tank.