Can you have too many plants?

[NuggetChops]

Hi all
I have a 120l tropical fully planted tank. Co2 injection and use root tabs. Plant growth has really increased. Hubby thinks we've too many plants now so that's my question do you think I need to remove some?

Moss attached to coconut shell and lava rock.

 

[GaryE]

There's no one answer. I'd grow twice as many as you have now, but I'm a man of questionable taste in these things. It depends on on what you are doing, really. Every tank's a project, both for the creatures within, and the eye.

So what are you trying to set up? Whats your goal?

 

[NuggetChops]

I actually don't know i mean im happy with how it looks now. I do want to add some monte carlo in the front to carpet. I just love the jungle look i suppose. But OH has put me off worrying it'll be too much.

 

[GaryE]

I think it was the actress Mae West who said "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful".

 

[Colin_T]

You can have too many plants in an aquarium but I don't think you have. If there are so many plants the fish have trouble swimming, then you have too many. If no light gets to the bottom of the tank because the plants cover the surface, you have too many on the surface. If you can't clean the bottom of the tank because it's covered in plants, you have too many.

You have fish that swim in the open water so you can have a lot of plants along the back half of the tank and leave the front part open for them to move around in.

 

[Archerfish]

I think your tank is beautiful! For sure, your fish love it. Sounds like you went high tech with a 'let's see' approach. Nothing wrong with that. At some point, you will realize that you are a 'victim' of your success and will have to make a decision. You could agree with your husband and offer to get an additional tank to rehome the excess! Enjoy your planted tank!

 

[WhistlingBadger]

There are two situations that qualify for too many plants: If your fish don't have enough room to swim (I achieve this with my 150g angelfish occasionally), or you don't like how it looks. As long as your fish can navigate freely and you like the way it looks? Tell those plants to go crazy!

 

[Jinx_]

Never enough. You either want more tanks, more stock, or more plants

 

[anewbie]

If you wait a year or two you will definitely either have less or more plants

You are no where near saturation; so you might ask your husband why he thinks there are too many plants; it might simply be a matter of taste. What i can tell you is some fishes love open space and others love very dense plants and without knowing your stocking it is impossible to tell. Most tetras i have known absolute love hiding in very dense foilage

 

[fishorama]

I like your tank, very pretty! Not too many plants by my standards either. It may need some TLC if some plants get too happy, but that's part of the fun/work. I have had plants I no longer keep (mostly easy stems) & a couple I wish I could get rid of (some mosses), but they always reappear no matter how hard I try. I don't use co2 (yet?), I always chicken out, lol.

You should think about entering your tank in an appropriate monthly contest here. Some are based on tank size, fish or plants, I don't know the rules. But it could be fun! & if you win you can have an "I told you so" to show your husband

Tell us what fish you have in there please. I see some schoolers I can't easily ID & someone peeking out a cave.

 

[Fishmanic]

@NuggetChops
You should enter that beautiful tank in the August Tank of the Month contest which will start accepting entries toward the end of this month.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

You could easily double your plant mass and be fine.