Help Needed Starting Out With Plants

[Bri]

Ok so o haven't cycled my tank yet burt am going to use filter media so that's all good? My question is if I can put the plants in before the fish to get them sorted and stuff so 1 what do I need to buy for them?
2. How can I give them a boost before the fish?
Also I am planning to start with java fern and moss ad amazon sword?
3. Amy other ridicularly easy beginner plants that I've missed.
Advice and tips the general Internet chat is basic at best
Nevre ever tried planta before so I think starting with them is the best way......fish afterwards
Help so app much apreciated and ps I still have no clue what a co2 injection is
Sincerity a complete layman according to plants.

 

[Xraymark]

It's usually best to cycle the filter without plants as you will be adding ammonia to the tank with lights on because of the plants.

Ammonia and light will form algae.
If it was me I would cycle tank and when you do the large water change at end place the plants. Then add the fish.
Check out the tropica web site for plants. It gives layout advice and individual requirements for plants. Ie low maintance. Also the planted section here is good and gives advice on low or high tech planted tanks. Whatever route you want to take.

 

[minnnt]

I think he means he is going to use already cycled media from another filter?

If well stocked with fish then there isn't much you will need to add, although you could add some general fertiliser.

Other plants you should consider are Cryptocorynes, Elodea, Cabomba, Limnophila, Hygrophila and plenty of different kinds of moss.

 

[Bri]

Ya I'm planning on using cycled media I'm just wondering if it's ok to set plants up then in a few days add my first fish?

 

[Bri]

Also what is a good fertilizer!

 

[Ruskull]

I've had good results growing the smaller Bacopa Caroliniana which is also known as "Lemon Bacopa" or "Blue Water Hyssop" and it doesn't require a lot of light. Here's a random pic from the internet:

The easiest plant to grow in my tank is the Wisteria. It's very cheap & it grows like a weed. I think mine would do much better with more light, since the tops grow like crazy but the bottom leaves brown & fall off. Another random internet pic:

The absolute best looking plant in my humble opinion is the Anubias. I bought (2) of these from PetCo, one for $3.99 which was attached to a rock & one for $9.99 that was much bigger & planted in a piece of driftwood. Because they aren't grown in the substrate they are easy to move for cleaning & just to change up the look of the aquarium.

 

[Ruskull]

I only have the 17 watt florescent daylight bulb that came with the tank but I plan to get a Coralife T5 2x31 watt fixture that has the white & pink bulbs intended for use in freshwater aquariums.

I currently use Seachem Flourish Tabs which you stick down into the sand/gravel but I'm going to get the liquid type next time. It costs about $15 for the big bottle.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

+1 anubias and elodea... very easy and don't need much light.

 

[CezzaXV]

Anubias are a great plant, and very hardy. Long story short, I massacred some plants while they were in storage, but the anubias came out smiling! They're also a different type of green than most other aquarium plants, which will make a more pleasing image.

As for ferts, there are so many different types and brands. I personally use Tropica Plant Nutrition +, but unless you're taking the planted tank thing super seriously, any kind of aquarium plant fertiliser should do.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

With the plants mentioned here, ferts probably aren't even necessary.

 

[Bri]

all good news ive ordered some on the internet and i love the look of that Anubias one, lovely green leaves. thanks so much everyone. One last question pretty please. Can i buy all these plants and tied and sort them without any fish in the tank? Will they last a week or two with just the heater water and fertilizer until i get my filter media and fish? I want to stick to one thing at a time if possible to make sure i get it right!

ps can plans survive being bought on the internet, my LFS have so little to choose from? i know moss and stuff will be fine but what about the anubias and elodea??
thanks again

 

[Ruskull]

The plants should be fine without fish. I would try to get the filter going just to circulate the water but it doesn't have to be right away.

What kind of lighting do you have or plan to use?

 

[Rummynose]

I wouldn't add the mature filter media until you're ready to add the fish though! The bacteria in the media will starve and decrease, even die off without the ammonia from the fish!

 

[Bri]

my light is divided into a blue one for half the tank and a 15 watt florescent bulb im sure there is more info on it but its not on the box. Its supposed to be for plant growth. I can also replace the lue bulb with another florescent one maybe at the start to maximize light if needed. its the fish pod intrepet 120 liter tank. So if anyone has used that for plant growth and knows its good. But also im hoping to grow lots of easy peasy plants as i get used to whats needed and maintaining them

http/www.interpet.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Fishpod120-Instructions.pdf

That is the link to the tank if anyone wants to check. thanks guys yippee im off to buy some plants and things.

I was also thinking of making this hanging wall thingy (explain later ) and im looking for a hanging plant to use for it. Kind of like a willow tree leaves but easy and not too fast growing. I'll research it later just wondering if anyone has any experience with one that fits me newbie needs.

 

[Ruskull]

That looks like a very nice tank, good luck. I believe the blue bulb is "actinic" which is great for corals but not so great for a planted freshwater setup. The blue light tends to make the plants look yellow and the extreme lighting they give is known for growing unwanted algae.

The correct bulbs for plants are (1() white & (1) pink with the white one toward the front of the tank. You can start using whatever you have but I'd plan on changing that one bulb for the best results. As many have already said here, the plants you're looking at aren't that demanding.