Low-Tech Advice

[webber555]

After a couple of years away, I'm settled enough to start up a tank or two again. I have a 2ft 60l/15g and a 4ft 270l.
I'm looking to go planted in the smaller tank, low-tech to begin with (I've never planted seriously before)- if it goes well and keeps my interest I may have a go at co2 and high lighting in the future. Anyway, i'm looking for some advice. A few questions...

1. The plants I want to start with I think are suitable - some Anubias nana on some driftwood, some Java fern, and something to cover the carpet... Any suggestions for low light lawn/low laying cover?

2. I have put in a sand only substrate. Will plants grow in this? Will I need to add ferts/additives? Or is it better to pull it out and put the sand on top of something else?

3. Lighting - I currently have the light that came with the tank - a 15w 'aquarium plant' labelled globe. It's only 1wpg, but the light has a reflector in the casing - doesn't that add more? Will that be enough or is stronger lighting recommended?

thanks in advance...

 

[Katch]

1 wpg is fine for low tech.

Sand is also fine but you may benefit from adding a good quality root tab below any stems or rosette plants (not needed for anubias or ferns really).

Low tech carpet you'll need to look at mosses. Get some small bits of slate and tie moss to them. Then lay them like a mossaic on the substrate to get your lawn effect.

Get a good allinone liquid fert and dose as per instructions.

I'd recommend TPN for both liquid ferts and root tabs.

 

[webber555]

What type of moss?

Fontinalis? Just looking to buy from the same place as the rest of my plants and this stuff is pretty cheap.

 

[Katch]

I'd try something like xmas or flame or peacock.

 

[webber555]

cool, will look out for those listed. thanks for the advice. Any other ideas for low tech plants (noob plants) are welcome...

 

[Katch]

amazon swords
hygrophila
ludwigia

 

[mbriggs84]

I'm wondering a lot of the same questions myself, so I'm gonna jump in this post... Does anyone know anything about dwarf sagittaria subulata? I found it on a website, it says it is a short grasslike plant and it says its fairly easy to keep. I was considering this for my 10g as a lawn.

 

[webber555]

so which is the easier lawn type moss to grow - flame,xmas,java,peacock? Other? and which will spread and take the easiest?

 

[Katch]

java doesn't really grow compact enough. I'd try xmas or flame.