Just Want A Few Plants

[KingOfTheSea]

Hi, rather than having a planted tank, I was wondering how i would care for a few plants.

Like this

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Could some fertaliser tablets that go in the sand next to them, and maybe some CO2 tablets and normal lights be enough or will I have to go "all the way" so to speak

 

[fifefish]

you shouldn't have to add anything to your aquarium if its a well stocked one with lots of fish providing nutrients.
i've bought one of those packs before it includes various crypts, elodea densa, amazon sword. so as long as you have enough light and water movement they should do fine,

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Thanks for the fast reply, and sounds cool.

What sort of lighting would i need, I think I only have 1WPG at the moment. But i could easily add more.

 

[fifefish]

what size of tank do you have?,
what fish do you have in it?
what temperature is it?

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Its a 26 UK, 30 US gallons. Its unstocked at the moment due to it cycling. Temp is settled at about 78F (i think that is the measurement).

Should i wait until I stock the tank before adding the plants?

thanks

 

[Jallen]

Woah that's a good deal...
Might have to take advantage of that.


This ebay shop is awesome...

Its a 26 UK, 30 US gallons. Its unstocked at the moment due to it cycling. Temp is settled at about 78F (i think that is the measurement).

Should i wait until I stock the tank before adding the plants?

thanks

Upping that temp will make it cycle faster.

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Really? D.A.M.N! LOL i spent a while getting it down from 82.

 

[Jallen]

Really? D.A.M.N! LOL i spent a while getting it down from 82.

86 is a common temperature.

 

[fifefish]

try get it to about 80 ..
you can add the plants during the cycle but you will have to provide either plant tabs or liquid fertiliser, if you are going for the liquid use Hagen Plant Gro it works like a charm.. keep dosing your tank ever week, even once you have added fish until your tank has colonised a sustainable amount of nutrients,

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Really? D.A.M.N! LOL i spent a while getting it down from 82.

86 is a common temperature.

really? That seems really hot. I have been away for a while.

try get it to about 80 ..
you can add the plants during the cycle but you will have to provide either plant tabs or liquid fertiliser, if you are going for the liquid use Hagen Plant Gro it works like a charm.. keep dosing your tank ever week, even once you have added fish until your tank has colonised a sustainable amount of nutrients,

Cool i will pick some up when I go to my LFS.

thanks for the help

Another question.

Should my filter be disturbing the surface? Wont this get rid of carbon dioxide which the plants could use?

or is that wrong

 

[fifefish]

if you filter is creating a disturbance on the surface of the water that is a good way to provide an exchange of gases which are toxic to fish, it won't effect plant growth..

heres a handy diagram that might help.

 

[KingOfTheSea]

OOOh cool

thanks for being such a big help

 

[fifefish]

No problems
what im here for

 

[KingOfTheSea]

One last question, should I go for the 50 (10 bunches) or the 100 (20 bunches)?

Would 100 need co2 and more lights and stuff?

 

[baron von bubba]

please elaborate on the following???

if you filter is creating a disturbance on the surface of the water that is a good way to provide an exchange of gases which are toxic to fish, it won't effect plant growth..

heres a handy diagram that might help.