Aquarium Plants

[baby_6882]

I am not good with any type of real plants. Sometimes i think real plants look at me and die so i dont buy them. I dont really like the plastic plants cause tey look to fake. So i was wondering if i could use other fake plants. Like the one from the craft store you would use to make a flower arrangment.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Real plants are not so bad if you follow the rules below:

1. Plant loads, cover 50% of substrate.
2. Unless you are going for CO2 injection and accurate dosing of ferts go for no more than 20w per US gallon of light.
3. Buy some root tabs for root feeders.
4. Get hold of a liquid fertiliser to dose on a weekly basis.
5. Choose the correct plants (this is vital, follow link in my sig.) In my experience fava ferns tied to logs, thai onions and cryptocoryne Wendtii do well.
6. When you get your plants remove weights and foam if present and push into your substrate.

 

[Rob.S]

go for no more than 20w per US gallon of light.

20w ?

 

[Underwurlde]

LOL, decimal place missing. 2.0W/US Gal, not 20

(Unless you plan on give the fish shades. Dude).

 

[backtotropical]

Yeah, i used to be rubbish with plants just like you. After some good advice from the guys on here, upgrading my lights and dosing fertiliser once per week, my plants are growing out the tank!

P.S. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Musho3210]

my plants grow lighting fast without CO2 but with underdosed EI. Light is a 108 watt T5 light over a 75 gallon tank.

 

[Underwurlde]

my plants grow lighting fast without CO2

I wonder how that is possible, what is the alternative source of carbon? Excel or hardwater carbonates....

Andy

 

[mark.w.jones]

sorry, meant 2 watts per gallon unless you want to nuke your tank