New To Planted Tanks...looking For Advice

[mtv8dmarine]

Before I start really putting plants into my tank I wanted to the some experienced advice.

I have a 55 gal cycled freshwater tank. I am running a 58W bulb so my WPG I guess as you guys call it is 1. It's a single Life-Glo T5 bulb. I actually just made the upgrade in lighting yesterday and the fish (Platies, Corys (which like darker atmospheres anyway), & swordtails seem to be seeking shelter. The angels are about the only fish that don't seem to even care.

So, with the fish seeking shaded shelter it tells me having something tall to break up the light is a good idea. I know there is a variety of anubias that can cover everything from foreground to back. However I'm not sure what to look for really for the background. How would Vals do in the background given my lighting if left to drape across the top of the water?

I don't plan on going CO2 but have read that there are additive alternatives out there which makes me feel better about the adventure into planted aquariums. Would the additives give me a better selection in plants?

I'm looking for advice on where I should start considering the low wattage and necessity for easy plants so that I can research further about these plants. That way I'm making more informed decisions about what is good for my tank and what not to listen to at the LFS if I'm fed BS.

My water stats as of this morning have a high PH level of 7.6 but of course I can work this down to a maintainable level if it gives me better plant options. The GH read at 8 and KH was 5.

Thanks in advance!!!

EDIT: Found the pinned reference list of plants.

 

[RadaR]

Before I start really putting plants into my tank I wanted to the some experienced advice.

How would Vals do in the background given my lighting if left to drape across the top of the water?

I don't plan on going CO2 but have read that there are additive alternatives out there which makes me feel better about the adventure into planted aquariums. Would the additives give me a better selection in plants?

Vallis would do well. To keep the plants at their best, you could dose liquid carbon. It might not be needed but it gives them a boost. Unfortunatly, some Vallis doesn't take kindly to liquid carbon products, so an alternative might be better if you wish to dose Excel or Easycarbo. Instead you could try Crypt Balansae.

I'm looking for advice on where I should start considering the low wattage and necessity for easy plants so that I can research further about these plants. That way I'm making more informed decisions about what is good for my tank and what not to listen to at the LFS if I'm fed BS.

The LFS might not necessarily be lieing....they just don't know the correct advise and are trusting what some suppliers tell them, which could be 50+years of false accosiations.
Less light means the plants grow slower, therefore they don't need as much CO2 or nutrients. That's why some tanks with low light will only be given micro nutrients every 2 weeks or so because the natural CO2 and N+P produced by the fish is enough. Low light is so much more managable. You're less likely to run into problems.

My water stats as of this morning have a high PH level of 7.6 but of course I can work this down to a maintainable level if it gives me better plant options. The GH read at 8 and KH was 5.

Plants don't care about pH etc. So need to worry about adjusting. Even plants that "need soft water" can thrive in hard water if appropriate nutrients/CO2 are given.
I definetly reccomend reading some of the pinned topics.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Given my soon to be arriving plants I have been wondering about proper plant spacing for each species. Obviously, the anubias nana will be tied down in various areas so that's not an issue there but what about the other plants like the vals, swords, and java ferns? I want to make sure that I'm not cutting planting them too close where they fight each other for resources.

(2) Sword, Green Melon (Echinodorus Osiris)
(1) Vals, Jungle (Vallisneria gigantea)(sold 10 plants per order)
(2) Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus)
(1) Sword, Broad Leaf Chain (Echinodorus quadricostatus) (sold 10 per order)
(3) Wendtii, Green (Cryptocoryne wendtii)
(1) Tiger Lotus, Red (Nymphaea zenkeri)
(2) Anubus Nana


Thanks!

 

[RadaR]

I want to make sure that I'm not cutting planting them too close where they fight each other for resources.

That's more of a marine coral thing but instead of resources, it's aggression.
For us, it should never ever be an issue as long as you provide good flow/circulation. On average we want 10x the volume of the tank, pumped round every hour. E.g. 100litre tank needs a total of 1000litres of flow.

(2) Sword, Green Melon (Echinodorus Osiris)
(1) Vals, Jungle (Vallisneria gigantea)(sold 10 plants per order)
(2) Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus)
(1) Sword, Broad Leaf Chain (Echinodorus quadricostatus) (sold 10 per order)
(3) Wendtii, Green (Cryptocoryne wendtii)
(1) Tiger Lotus, Red (Nymphaea zenkeri)
(2) Anubus Nana

Echinodorus Osiris and Vallis should be at the back.
The java fern, wendtii green and tiger lotus should be miground.
The anubias nana can be anyway really.
The chain swords at the front.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

(2)
Echinodorus Osiris and Vallis should be at the back.
The java fern, wendtii green and tiger lotus should be miground.
The anubias nana can be anyway really.
The chain swords at the front.

Yeah, believe it or not I spent about 5 hours planning it all out with what I wanted where. I started with a layout from Tropica and then changed some placements and plants to better suit my tastes, tank setup, and the fact I'm a novice.

Getting the plants in soon will be nice. They were supposed to be here today but aquariumplants.com had their delivery delayed due to the holiday...thus delaying my shipment. I know my platies would certainly appreciate having more shade in the tank since I went to the single high output glo light from old 2nd hand florescent bulbs. Right now they just hide until I turn the light off.

 

[sampster5000]

I am starting up my own planted tank too and I see that you said your pH was 7.6. Mine is the same but I was so sure I needed to lower it to atleast 7? I guess I will be fine with my 7.6 pH?

 

[RadaR]

I am starting up my own planted tank too and I see that you said your pH was 7.6. Mine is the same but I was so sure I needed to lower it to atleast 7? I guess I will be fine with my 7.6 pH?

Why would you need a pH of 7?
7.6 will be fine.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

I have been told that Ph is not an issue with plants. Plants learn to adapt to this. What is important is that they have the proper amounts of micro and macro nutrients and the right lighting for the right type of plant.

 

[RadaR]

I have been told that Ph is not an issue with plants. Plants learn to adapt to this. What is important is that they have the proper amounts of micro and macro nutrients and the right lighting for the right type of plant.

Yep. And CO2 if the plants require it (due to lighting threshold). Even lighting isn't that much of a problem. Pretty much any bulb you can buy for aquariums will be fine for plants.

 

[sampster5000]

Well that is good to know! Now I don't have to fix my pH and worry about big jumps. What would you say are the most important macro nutrients then? I see so many and do not know which to get. I was just going to use flourish and excel and maybe the flourish tabs.

 

[RadaR]

The macro nutrients we want for planted tanks is NPK. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. They are essential for plant growth and sustainability. Tropica Plant Nutrition+ is the best "all in one" solution on the market in my eyes. It contain micro and macro nutrients. Dose at 1ml per 20litres. If you are dosing Excel then I do reccomend you dose the TPN+. This is because carbon addition increases the plant's demand for nutrients.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Well that is good to know! Now I don't have to fix my pH and worry about big jumps. What would you say are the most important macro nutrients then? I see so many and do not know which to get. I was just going to use flourish and excel and maybe the flourish tabs.

I personally will be using aquariumplants.com fertilizer tabs since I cannot get anything in tab form locally. To me, it makes more sense to have what the plant needs at the root base, not floating around in the water where it's much more circulation dependant. If I need to supplement with liquid carbon or increase a specific nutrient such as iron than I will at that point in time but I'll still try to keep things down at the root base as much as possible since that's where plants essentially take in everything. My reasons for this? Well, think of a normal garden, you fertilize the soil right?...not the leaves. To me, this is no different except we're dealing with plants in the water with fish. Perhaps by not adding liquids to the water when possible it will keep the fish a little happier too. =)

 

[RadaR]

My reasons for this? Well, think of a normal garden, you fertilize the soil right?...not the leaves. To me, this is no different except we're dealing with plants in the water with fish. Perhaps by not adding liquids to the water when possible it will keep the fish a little happier too. =)

Aquatic plants are different im afriad. They are just as good at absorbing nutrients through their leaves as they are through their roots. Fish don't mind the nutrients in the water column either. Tom Barr who came up with EI, has never ever known anyone to kill or harm their fish due to nutrient dosing. Neither have I. Most fish deaths in planted tanks are due to high levels of CO2.

 

[sampster5000]

The macro nutrients we want for planted tanks is NPK. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. They are essential for plant growth and sustainability. Tropica Plant Nutrition+ is the best "all in one" solution on the market in my eyes. It contain micro and macro nutrients. Dose at 1ml per 20litres. If you are dosing Excel then I do reccomend you dose the TPN+. This is because carbon addition increases the plant's demand for nutrients.

Thanks for your quick reply! I was trying to get all of my answers from the thread I started called "10 Gallon Planted Tank" but I did not have much help. Are you saying I need to use Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, AND flourish and excel? Or what would you recommend? Do I even need the tabs?

 

[RadaR]

The TPN+ contains micro nutrients and macro nutrients. This coupled with Excel is all you need. You dont need tabs but they do offer you a greater margain of error.