If You Want A Planted Aquarium, Do It Right!

[dluttinger]

hello everybody, if you want to have a planted tank, these are required:
-moolah$$$ for this can cost you between 100 and 300 dollars
-high output lamp fixture that takes 2 lights
-aquarium soil (ecocomplete works)
-good filter (canisters are good)
-the right plants and arrangement, use easy plants at first when you are on your first aquarium, and place tall plants in back short broad leaf in front, slope gravel, simple stuff. Do nt use bamboo or any decorative plants that aren't meant for submersable use in your aquarium for they will deteriorate and cause issues later.
-cycle your aquarium for a few weeks (3) and allow your plants to root into you substrate.
-the right fish: do NOT use lobster(big crays) for they will chop your plants up like a salad, pacus and other vegetarian fish, not many cichlids work well in planted tanks, no plecos. Small schooling fish are good if you have a small tank, and what I recomend for larger planted display tanks are angelfish and discus. If you have a densly planted aquarium, get fish that like that, in visa versa.many snails are very difficult to have for they reproduce and will attempt to eat your plants
-a good heater, preferably with a dial for ease of setting
-thermometer^
-water treatment
-liquid fertilizer
-patience for it takes time to grow out your planted tank.

GOOD LUCK

 

[TropicalLad21]

Random topic... did you know there is a resource centre which would of saved you writing this? kudo's to you for trying to help though

 

[ian]

or you could do everything opposite to what the OP states. In a planted tank there are so many variables, you can't just go with the above.

 

[Primous]

There are so many variables that a person could do the complete opposite all in cat litter and clay and still have an excellent planted aquarium but this

-cycle your aquarium for a few weeks (3)and allow your plants to root into you substrate.

literally made me laugh out loud. In fact I think this may have been posted by some type of tropical bot

 

[CezzaXV]

-cycle your aquarium for a few weeks (3)and allow your plants to root into you substrate.

literally made me laugh out loud. In fact I think this may have been posted by some type of tropical bot

Yeah, me too. My cycle went on for 69 days if memory serves, and I know other people whose cycles have gone on for much longer. Not only that, but I made the mistake of putting some plants in a box of water with ammonia in it, and they practically melted.

Also, my tank doesn't have a fancy substrate, just sand. It also has a single light. Okay, I will admit that I've had the odd few problems with a few plants, but here's the best part - my snails will actually eat the decaying leaves, but leave the healthy ones alone, thus ensuring that the plant is not using up nutrients trying to revive dead leaves and also not rotting and causing ammonia problems in my tank.

Surprised a pair of aquarium scissors and tweezers didn't come up on the list though. Maybe some people just use their hands, but part of my tank is quite densely planted and they help me get to work without my big clumsy hands getting in the way and scaring the fish.