New To Plants

[karawr]

I've been trying to read through all the guides that are up in one of the stickies but it's just so confusing. So I thought I'd just post and get some personal help. Hope that's okay.

I am somewhat new to fish keeping. I have a 75G tank with 5 fish (3 bala, 2 CAE) and a turtle... and that's the extent of my fish history. My 20G is almost done cycling and I want to challenge myself a little with a planted tank.

I want low tech... easy plants, no CO2, simple light... and I don't know where to start!!

I think I will need a T5HO light... correct me if I'm wrong. As for nutrients I don't know what I need. I will be having sand in my tank.

Thanks for the help..

 

[Caprichoso]

With low tech, you don't need much light so don't worry about it too much. Just don't over-do it on the light. You just need one bulb. This is what I had in my 30g low-tech to give you an idea.

Anubias(gets attached to wood or a rock)
Java Fern
Java Moss
Amazon Swords( I have 2 Melon swords and a Rubin Sword)
Hygrophilia Polysperma (I have the regular one and the one with pink, varigated leaves)
Hornwort
Cryptocoryne Wendtii
Marimo Moss Ball
Vallisneria (corkscrew)

I don't fertilize this tank anymore. I did in the beginning. I bought Seachem Flourish and dosed less than what it recommended on the bottle. I always under dose and have never had any issues and with low-tech, you don't need much, trust me. You will be very happy with the low maintenance of your tank. Don't expect the plants to grow fast, patience is a virtue in this instance. Well, Hornwort and Hygro will grow fast but the others won't.

Have fun!

 

[r.w.girard]

I want low tech... easy plants, no CO2, simple light... and I don't know where to start!!

Hi. I am pretty new to this too, so take this with a grain of salt: just go for it. Get some easy maintenance plants and throw them in the tank. Give it a week or two, then tinker. Give it a week, get more plants. Let it settle, then tinker. If you have a problem, try and get answers. But as is said above, things are going to go slow in a low-tech tank. All the more reason not to worry.

And I don't know what you are planning on stocking, but get some shrimp and otocinclus to keep the house clean once the tank is pretty stable. Besides, they are a blast. When I feed my betta, the shrimp come flying out of the vegetation to steal his blood worms.

So, good luck.

 

[karawr]

Thanks for the posts you two. I guess it's mostly a learning experience!

I'll just get some easy plants then go from there. Thanks for the plant list. And I think I'll get some shrimp. I was thinking of getting otos but I don't think they'll fit with my current stock ideas. Bummer though, they seem really cute!! Maybe when I upgrade.

 

[BPB]

I've pretty much done the same thing. I knew I wanted low tech, so I researched and stressed for months about what I can and can't do. Ultimately, start with plants that would take an open flame to kill (java fern, anubias, hornwort, anarchis, wisteria, watersprite) and put as many in as you can afford. They will grow very very slow. I've had java fern in my 75 gallon for a month now, and have noticed only a few small new sprouting leaves coming off the rhizomes. My wisteria has grown noticeably every day, and the amazon sword is growing slowly as well. Non-co2 tanks are gonna be slow as was stated earlier. Be happy with a couple millimeters of growth a day. Ultimately this will be a good thing by my preferences, because I don't want to have to trim and re-scape every couple weeks. Don't overdo it on lights either. I would actually avoid high output T5's unless you plan to suspend them a couple feet over your tank. You will have algae out of control and will torch your leaves if you try high lighting and no co2. Just some food for thought. Simple light, easy plants, plant densely, and enjoy.

edit...if you're using sand, you should probably use root tabs where you have rooted plants. Java fern, crypts, anubias, anarchis, and hornwort all grow by either rhizome or are floating, so they take their nutrients through the water directly. Plants like swords, hygro, vals, and other rooted plants will need some sort of nutrients in the substrate though. For sand, a root tab under each plant should fit the bill. Replace every 4 months or so as directed.

 

[karawr]

Should I just get a normal bulb then? I've never bought bulbs before for my tanks (my other tank is used and it just came with a light) so I don't know much about them.

 

[BPB]

Should I just get a normal bulb then? I've never bought bulbs before for my tanks (my other tank is used and it just came with a light) so I don't know much about them.

What kind of light fixture do you currently have? While you are going for low light, you don't want useless light. Useless would be incandescent light bulbs, most T12 lights under 1 wpg. You want your bulbs to have a kelvin rating of 6500k-10000k. Somewhere in that area is generally acceptable, but all bulbs are different (one bulb's 6700k does not equal another bulb's 6700k), and what we "see" isn't always what the plants see. Unfortunately I cannot give an overall rundown of lighting in one simple thread as it will take several days of solid research starting with the basics (boring I know, but it will make the decision on what lighting to use much easier). Most stock tank lighting isn't sufficient for even low light tanks though. I purchased one of the last Coralife Freshwater Aqualight T5 normal output units. These are discontinued, but were SUPER cheap before they went off the market. You might be able to find one that fits your tank if you look hard enough. Since it is T5 lighting you can get away with 1wpg or even less. The reflectors aren't the best but if you place the lights directly on the glass they do the job. I've kept java fern alive with them. Haven't tried anything else.

 

[karawr]

I don't have any fixtures yet. I still have to go out and buy the light stuff.