First Planted Tank

[Bojangles]

Looking at buying a 3ft tank for £25 and was maybe looking at planting it out but not sure what i would need to start.

Do i need a special gravel or something for the plants to grow in?

What kind of light will i need in the tank ?

Do i need to add something to the water to help the plants grow?

What are the best plants to go for ?



Thnx in advance for any advice giving

 

[aaronnorth]

how much time are you willing to spend on maintaining the tank and do you have a budget?

 

[Bojangles]

how much time are you willing to spend on maintaining the tank and do you have a budget?

I can always find a spare few hours a day to do stuff that needs doing in the tank and budget wise would like to keep it under £100 but i could always go over if needed to

 

[aaronnorth]

I think low tech would be the best option.

Substrate, i would use a tub of this: http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/tetrap...58kg-1055-p.asp then cap it with sand or gravel.

what size tank is it (gallons)? I can then comment on the light.

Adding tropica plant nutrition+ or seachem flourish will help the plants.

plants:
anubias
java fern
cryptocorynes
hygrophillia
mosses
echindorous.

 

[Bojangles]

I think low tech would be the best option.

Substrate, i would use a tub of this: [URL="http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/tetrap...58kg-1055-p.asp"]http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/tetrap...58kg-1055-p.asp[/URL] then cap it with sand or gravel.

what size tank is it (gallons)? I can then comment on the light.

Adding tropica plant nutrition+ or seachem flourish will help the plants.

plants:
anubias
java fern
cryptocorynes
hygrophillia
mosses
echindorous.

I think its about 20 gallons

 

[aaronnorth]

20g seems a bit small to me with a 3ft tank but if so i would have a 24w T8.

You can then dose one of the above fertilisers weekly. With the low light, no CO2, and low fertilisers you will just have to cut a few leaves off every few weeks.

 

[keenonfish]

Hope OP doesn't mind if I jump in and ask a couple of related q's...

@aaronnorth how long does that substrate stuff work for are we talking months / year? Also would it be messy to change?
Regards additives I got a bottle of Tetra plant Plantamin is this stuff any good?

Olly.

 

[aaronnorth]

the substrate should last you at least a couple of years, it would be messy to change, you would have to drain the whole tank, otherwise it will just cloud up the water,

The 2 options of ferts that i posted are generally regarded as the best 2 on the market, so i usually only list those 2 rather than a long list, if the plantamin is giving you good results (ie, no signs of nutrient defficiencies) then carry on using it.

 

[keenonfish]

the substrate should last you at least a couple of years, it would be messy to change, you would have to drain the whole tank, otherwise it will just cloud up the water,

The 2 options of ferts that i posted are generally regarded as the best 2 on the market, so i usually only list those 2 rather than a long list, if the plantamin is giving you good results (ie, no signs of nutrient defficiencies) then carry on using it.

Unfortunately I am getting dreadful results in my current setup plants last about 2 months before falling apart it is a hex with UGF which I really don't think helps. I have just acquired a Vision 180 so I will be trying my luck with that hopefully soonish

Thanks for the info!