New To Plants

[bigoy19706]

hi all i'v been think of getting a plant tank started but after looking on here and other sits i have 1 or 2 thing i wood like to ask about
 
1. lighting i was looking at LED lights as i was told i need high light to keep live plants
2. CO2 i also read that the higher light the more CO2 haw do you add CO2 in to a tank
3. feeding i seen plant food for live tank plants will i need this
4. fish will all fish eat plants i was looking at discus cardinal tetra and small cat fish
5. tank size i have not got a tank what size wood be ok for the fish and plant
6. sand i like sand in my tanks and wood like to have sand in this one will this be ok for plants
 
if you can think of any othe think i need to no that wood be good to thanks

 

[mike455555]

ok, where to start 
1. LEDs are good and recommended but theres 2 types, normal LEDs and high output, if your doing a planted tank you want the high outputs, but these normally cost quite a bit more than T5's 
2. thats correct you'll get carbon deficientces if your lights to higher powered, theres 3 main ways to add carbon to your tank, pressurized this can be a brand name or a fire extinguisher, yeast. and liquid carbon. the best ways are pressurized and liquid because yeast carbon fluxuates and can cause algae problems 
3. if your adding carbon you will need to add fertilizers  theres different types out there, but personally id recommend the dry salt method and mixing your own, its A LOT cheaper and you can control it more. have a look at EI dosing, theres starter kits out there for it as well 
4.discus and cardinals are fine in a planted tank, some cats will eat the plants though, otos will not though and there a cute little fish which will fit in well with the discus and cardinals biotope (im not sure if discus can mix with cards) 
5. well thats to you, you can plant any size tank, starting off though id recommend a 3 or 4 foot tank, as its easyer to maintain levels 
6. if your dosing fertilizers / cap with sand on a substrate then yes, sands fine, i use it in all of my tank 
 
hope this helps, i will add you dont need to go down the high tech co2 root to have a nice planted tank, if you chose your plants right and have a lowish- mid powered light you wont need co2 and you might not even need fertilizers 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Hi... 
 
I'm not a planting expert by any stretch, but I saw your proposed stocking:
 
discus
cardinal tetras
small catfish
 
 
The discus and cardinals work fine together, assuming you have a sufficiently large tank.  And keeping discus, they appreciate the plants.  Cardinals look great with a green background, so that's a great combination.
 
But the issue comes with the catfish.  There are a lot of different catfish.  Choosing them must be done very carefully.  Discus require much higher temps than many catfish can handle.  But, at the same time, there are also a lot of catfish that can.  You just need to be careful to choose the right one!
 
Corydoras are lovely fish and would be nice additions to this stocking, but you'd need to get the proper species.  Some require much lower temp and can't handle the higher temps.  C. sterbai are really the best (and most readily available of them that can handle the temps), IMO.
 
If you are looking for other catfish, otos, plecos, etc... You'll want to pose the question in the catfish section.

 

[bigoy19706]

thank for all replys it has realy helped

 

[bigoy19706]

been looking at co2 on ebay theres lots to look at
 
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Neutro-CO2-liquid-source-of-carbon-for-the-planted-aquarium-Small-/280972416387?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item416b42d583#ht_714wt_1069
 
 
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aquarium-CO2-System-Flora-Grow-Nano-50-Plant-Growing-Kit-/180987596739?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item2a23b38fc3
 
are any of this any good thanks


also what do you think of the plant on ebay has any one had any off there

 

[mike455555]

that nano system will run out quickely but the liquid carbon is fine, there is a cheaper one called easy carbo out there though. 
 
it depends on the ebay shop and what your buying, some are great some are not so good, look at where there sending from, if its UK then generally its good, iv never had a problem buying my plants of ebay