Planning For Live Plantation In Tank.

[ninadk]

Hi All,

It's been a month now that I have new tank. This one is my first. The dimensions are 2.5 x 1.25 x 2(LxBxH).
I am planning for live plants inside the tank now. After consulting my aquarium provider, he suggested that the cost of fertilizers, sand, laterite and plants will cost me around Rs. 10K/- (INR) which is roughly $190.

Could anyone please advise if this is alright, what all do I need for a total plantation of the tank?

Thanks,
Ninad

 

[mike455555]

you need sand. play sand is cheap 1-2 bags will do well at least in the uk it is but it needs washing.
it depends on how much light the tank has to weather you need fertlizers or not

 

[ninadk]

Thanks Mike...
The consultant told me that, after the plantations, the need for maintenance would be minimal. I will just need to change 25% of water maybe once/twice a month.
What I am not sure about is that whether whatever he has suggested to me is right.

-Ninad

 

[mike455555]

umm i wouldent say that. especially if ur dosing fertilizer. the theory is that the ammonia gets turned to nitrite which then gets turned to nitrate then the plants take up the nitrate. but id say you would still need to change the water often

 

[ninadk]

hmm...yes I thought so too.
Another thing, I already have fish in the tank. Will I need to keep them out of the tank till the tank is planted? Or is there a time span till I introduce them back to the tank (as suggested in some articles on the web).

-Ninad

 

[mike455555]

unless im changing the whole tank over i dont take my fish out. but when i did they were fine for about 4 hours (i put the heater and filter across as well)

 

[DrRob]

I never tend to trust anyone that tells me that the need for maintenance is minimal on a fish tank.

Planted tanks do need dead leaves sorting out and pruning. Water still needs to be changed. Basically, the more complex you make it, the more work you'll be doing to keep it that way, but the more options open up to you.

To start simply, what do you have in there at the moment, fish, substrate, water conditions etc?

 

[ninadk]

Right now, the fish I have are:

• 2 Rainbow sharks
• 2 Red tail sharks
• 2 Angels
• 1 moontail molly
• 1 tin foil - which I plan to return since they are not great with plants.

I have a 1.5inch layer of small pebbles, an UG filter and some decoratives in the tank. Water is usually at 28degrees C, using a thermostat for that.