Adding Plants To An Established Tank

[bloatedguppy]

First of all I'm wanting some recommendations on this idea I have an established tank that is 6 years old and I've had many species of fish but suddenly decided to go with a more natural look. All I'm wanting to do is add some driftwood (which is easy) and add some healthy hardy plants. Again I have a 25 gal tank with 2 yo-yo's, 3 pearl gouramis, 2 ottos, 7 new rummy nose, and 2 neons. Now I wanted some Ideas on what and how to start with, driftwood then plants or it really dosent matter. Also I'm wanting to know some plant species that would be suitible especially some of the floating kind also for those who just need to know about my lighting its a 15watt made for plants and fish I forget the brand name right now but I'm happy with it. Also as much as I hate to say this I'm pretty much a noob I know some basics but not everything. please and thanks.

 

[Colin_T]

Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) and Narrow Vallis are good plants to start with. Keep your light on for 16hours a day. If the plants do well and you don't get too much algae then leave it at that. If you start to get lots of algae then reduce the lighting period by a couple of hours.
If you want more plants then you will probably need more light, ie: 3 x 15watt lights, or more.

It doesn't make any difference whether you put wood in before plants or vice versa.

 

[data276]

I found that cabomba work well for me, I don't use CO2 or add any fertilizer and its growing like mad. but your watts per gallon may be a bit low for plants.

 

[aaronnorth]

Keep your light on for 16hours a day

That is far too long, 8-12hours will be fine, plants aswell as fish need a rest.

plants that attach to wood: anubias, bolbitis, java fern, mosses

 

[bloatedguppy]

Thanks for the tips! I know uv light dosn't go through glass to well but my tank is in a mid lit room where it gets some light from the window but I know thats not gonna help to much. The other thing I want to ask is if someone can give me some good links for pics and info on these plants as I am short on time to look everything up at the moment also cause I'm a bit lazy but it would be appreciated! THANX!

 

[aaronnorth]

taken from pinned topic on here:

Anubias - Anubias Angustifolia Beautiful plant with long, narrow leaves. It is not eaten by herbivorous fish. Height 10-15+ cm, Light requirements very low-high, Temperature 20-30 °C, Hardness tolerance very soft-hard, pH tolerance 5,5-8. Growth is slow but easy to grow.

Anubias - Anubias Barteri An undemanding plant. Grows somewhat larger than Anubias barteri var. nana but is grown in the same conditions. It is best planted in a shady spot to restrict algae growth on the leaves. Herbivorous fish do not eat the very tough and robust leaves. Height 25-45 cm, Light requirements very low-medium, Temperature 20-30 °C, Hardness tolerance very soft-very hard, pH tolerance 5,5-9. Growth very slow and grows algae easily, but is a easy plant to grow.

Anubias - Anubias Coffeefolica The leaves arch considerably between the leaf ribs, and the new leaves are red-brown. Flowers frequently under water but does not produce seeds there. Temperature .. 20-30ºC, pH tolerance .. 5.5-9pH, Hardness tolerance … soft-very hard. Very easy plant to grow.

Java Fern - Microsorum Pteropus A water fern that is found attached to roots and rocks in Nature. new plant should be attached to a rock or driftwood with a thin wire or a rubber band or fishing line until new anchor roots have been formed. It accepts very soft water and up to even brackish water. Easily reproduced from small adventitious plants which is formed on the older leaves. When they are large enough they will break off from the mother plant and float or you can cut them from the mother plant yourself and replant as you did the mother plant. Height 20-35cm, Width, 12-18cm, Light low-high, Temperature 22-30ºC, pH tolerance neutral, Hardness tolerance … average-hard. One of the hardest if not the hardest plant to kill.

Java Moss - Versicularia Dubyana Attaches to rocks and roots and to driftwood. A slow starter till it has established it's self. Does not require any special attention. Accepts all kind of waters - even weakly brackish - all kind of light qualities at a wide range of temperature. Height 5cm upwards, Width, 5cm upwards, Light low-high, Temperature .. 15-28ºC, pH tolerance .. acid-basic, Hardness tolerance … soft-hard. Another hard to destroy plant.

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