Double Check

[StarOrbs]

I'm going to be buying these plants tommorow at aquariumplants.com and they were all under the low lighting section and I just wanted to double check that there are truely low lighting plants.

Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri) Pot (medium size 8"-9")
Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus)(LARGE size 5"-7",3-4 stems per order)
Crinum, "Onion Plant" (Crinum thaianum)(large)
Pennywort, Brazilian (Hydrocotyle Leucocephala)(size: 7-9", 5-6 stems)
Nana (Anubias barteri v. ‘Nana’) (medium size)(also available in "pots")
Subulata, Dwarf (Sagittaria subulata)(medium size 6"-8") 10 Plants
Wendtii, Green (Cryptocoryne wendtii)(medium size 5"-6")
Hygrophilia Polysperma (LARGE 8"-10" bunch 6-8 stems)
Green Temple (Hygrophilia corymbosa)(LARGE size 9"-10", 6-8 stems)
Caladiifolia (Anubias barteri v Caladiifolia)6"-7")(rare...just came in from West Africa!)

 

[Tempestuousfury]

I suggest you get a couple of plants and see if your tank can accomodate them well. It would be horrible to spend lots of money and see all the plants shrivel away.

Test out the CO2 and mineral levels first, IMO, with weak plants to see if they do poorly in the tank. Tweak conditions to see if they get better.

Have you pictures or plans on where to put the plants? Got all the nutrition and compatible fish and whatnot down?

 

[StarOrbs]

I'll just grab a sword from the other tank and see if it can live in my tank which is a good idea anyway. I believe all the plants I picked were hardy and required low light except the sword anyway.

Alright I'll try and figure out how to do the CO2 test heh.
As for plans of where I'm going to put them I'll figure that out once I get my driftwood which I should be getting this week.

Well the fish I'll be getting are probally:
3 Angelfish
4 Pearl Gouramis
1 Bris. plec or 5-6 cories
6-7 black phantom tetras or 6-7 rasboras
I know angelfish like to nibble on plants so I don't see any problem with that.

 

[guppygirl]

First of all, how much lighting do you have? Yes, most of those plants will survive in really low light, but the question is will they thrive.
I agree it would be better to try two or three species of plants to see if they survive and are happy.
HTH!
Robin

 

[StarOrbs]

Well I have a sword in the tank right now and I'll see if that will be alright in my tank.. I can always add another 60w with another shoplight but I would prefer not too if I can avoid it. I currently have 60W of 5000K Sunlight bulbs I can add another shoplight to get another 60W for 120 Watts which would give me 2.1 WPG. Which would probally be better. If I do that would that make it better for the plants I'm planning on getting?

 

[guppygirl]

OH yes! 2.1 wpg is definitely better for all of those plants. BUT, if you add that much light, you have to add co2. Which means you'll be at the same stage as me!!!
I'm going to try DIY co2, you could research a little more about it.
Plus it's not like shoplights are extremely expensive! I went with compact flourescents, and I almost did shoplights.
Good luck, and keep me posted!!!
HTH!
Robin

 

[StarOrbs]

Will do, once I get my plants and my driftwood I'm going to post some pics.

 

[StarOrbs]

Okay I just did some tests so i could get Co2 levels, my PH is 8.0 and my Carbonate hardness is 5, so according to the chart my CO2 concentration is 1.6.

 

[guppygirl]

whoa, 8.0? That's a little high. What is your tap pH?

 

[StarOrbs]

My tap PH is also 8.0. I've been told ph doesn't really matter as long as its constant and not too high or low.

 

[Yenko]

8.0 is a little extreme for some fish, but most won't care. Kribensis would love it; I'd get some of those. Belive me, those fish (And their offspring) grow on you after a while.

 

[StarOrbs]

So would all those plants be alright with 2.1 WPG and pehaps some DIY CO2 which I'm thinking about doing today?

 

[guppygirl]

yup. I'm sure they'd LOVE some co2.
which reminds me, I gotta start mine soon.
well good luck and happy fishkeeping!
Robin

 

[StarOrbs]

Good thing I tested the CO2 levels I'm going to need it heh.