First Time Planting A Tank

[Debbie_19]

I have just bought a new tank it is 81 cm long and 41 cm high. It has an 18w bulb in it and 2 reflectors. I have added some plastic plants but would like to add some real plants for my background. I have small black gravel (think it is granulite, or something like that)

My question is would this tank be ok for real plants or would i be better just to put more plastic ones in.

Thanks

 

[dannowittmorris]

I have just bought a new tank it is 81 cm long and 41 cm high. It has an 18w bulb in it and 2 reflectors. I have added some plastic plants but would like to add some real plants for my background. I have small black gravel (think it is granulite, or something like that)

My question is would this tank be ok for real plants or would i be better just to put more plastic ones in.

Thanks

Hello, how awful no ones responded, I am a pretty new member but have the same size tank as yours.

When I went over to real plants I ended up having to put 2 extra 18w lights in (and if your tank is a Fluval/Hagen the 18w is only 15w as they skimped on the controller ).

I also ended up having to add CO2 and a special gravel (ECO Complete), aggro to be sure but worth it, in my standard tank the plants used to turn pale, then yellow and then rot and die.

So in summary, you can add some plants but they will go weedy and die, so it will prove expensive.

I have Really great fakes in my Goldfish tank so if you don't want the hassle I can recomend a guy on E-bay they are very good.


Dan

 

[PortWash]

You can plant anything survival rates for most will be abismal. However there are several plants that could survive(not flourish) java fern in particular. you could look at the pinned post on common plants for ones that require low light. The plants that tend to do best in low light are the ones that are darker green.

 

[aaronc]

Hi Debbie

If you are serious about plants then you will need to add more lights. You will struggle with such low light, ideally you would want to at least double your current lighting to get the most out of your plants

I have 36w in my tank, which is slightly larger than yours and that is nowhere near enough at present

Might be an idea to get some plastic ones for now and give real plants a go once the lighting has been improved and you should have a lot more success

Hope this helps
Aaron