A Few Questions.....

[Faythee]

I am so thankful for this forum ! You all gave me good advice on choosing plants for my first planted tank. I searched Ebay and found a seller with 100% positive feedback, nice plants, low shipping. He did not have all of what you suggested so I picked ones that said "easy to grow" and "low light". Here is what I ordered:

All come weighted with weights and are about 6 stems each

-2 Broad Leaf Ludwigia
-1 Golden Lloydelia 6-8"
-1 Cryptocoryne Lutea (potted) 4" tall
-2 Green Lloydelia 6-8"
-1 piece of driftwood with plants attached

Anything special I need to know on these plants ?

I am putting them into a sand substrate. How deep ? Should I leave the weights on ?

The potted one, if my substrate isn't deep enough..can I put rocks around the top or will it suffocate it ?

I am upping my lighting and not using any additives or CO2 thus far. The plants come with some tabs which I will likely try unless you have better suggestions.

Also, I have been using bottled spring water for this tank...is that okay ?

Thank you !

 

[Themuleous]

Plants look good, nothing to tricky there

Take any weights and pots off the plants. Potted plants also need to have the mineral wool removed prior to planting. All these things restrict root growth.

Push each plant into the substrate so the root are covered. For stem plants without roots, just push in enough so it is secure and doesn't float out.

Why the spring water?

Sam

 

[Faythee]

Thank you

I use spring water because of the ammonia in our tap water. On my larger tank I have to use tap as I would have to have a whole garage full of spring water for that one. I get ammonia, nitrite readings for about 24 hrs. every time I do a water change on that one. Since the other tank is smaller....I avoid it by using the spring water.

 

[Themuleous]

Oh right not so good about he NH3. I think you can get dechlorinators that detoxify NH3 as well as chlorine. Might be worth looking into.

I think the issue with mineral water is that its relatively soft, which I guess is OK for soft water fish but not so good for hard water fish.

Sam

 

[Faythee]

Actually the spring water I use is more on the hard side with a ph of around 7.5

Can I use Seachem Flourish Excel with these plants ? Anything else I should use ?

Also....since live planting the tank I am considering putting an Angelfish in the tank.

Here is what I have.... 8 Danios, 3 Corys, 5 Phantom Tetras, 2 Gouramis. I am thinking the Danios would need to be re-homed. Would an Angel be fine with the rest of the fish ?

Thanks !