Plant Life

[Wrams]

How long do plants live for in the tank or what is the recommended time scale? I have heared lots of people say 4 weeks max and then others say 6 weeks but you guys look like you have had your plants in the tank for a few months...
I used to have live plants in my tank but started to get alot of dark brown alge so removed it. I was told by someone that brown algae is dangerous to fish, not sure if its true? I have now got plastic plants in my tank but hate them, you can see there not real and thats not what i want. Also what are the best plants?

 

[Corleone]

Most of my plants have been in there for months. Well cared for, they'll proliferate on their own, as well, so you won't normally have to replace them (I'm at the point where I'm actually selling hornwort and crypts back to the store).

Good beginner plants are crypts, valisneria, horwort (might take over your tank), annubias.

 

[OldMan47]

Most of my plants are only a few months in my tanks. That is because I got them a few months ago. Some of the ones that I have had the longest are java ferns and java moss which I have had for a few years. I also have an anubias nana that is about a year old in my tank and some amazon swords that are about 9 months in my tank. True aquatic plants will live and propogate in your tanks if they get enough light and nutrients. Many of the plants that you see in the local fish store are not aquatic plants. They are at best marsh plants that would normally grow in very wet locations but not under water. Those plants do not last well in fish tanks because they don't belong there. For those, 4 to 6 weeks is probably not a bad estimate. If you take them out of your tank and plant them in pots, some of them do very well as house plants.

 

[g-unit259]

I'm new to the hobby myself and have had my tank for about a month now. I have several plants in mine but I'm not fully clued up on plant names yet. I use a weekly fertilizer which i add to my tank about an hour after completing my weekly water change. I also use a daily fertilizer which is simply so many drops each day. This really does work as all my plants have grown to almost double the size from when i first bought them and i have been told that by doing this my plants could live for years.

Hope this will help

 

[Wrams]

What Substrate would you recommend and how would i put it in a tank thats running? Also what Fertilizers/Nutrients would you recommend? I am off to the LFS this morning so can look about and see what they have.

If im planting plants for the first time what do i need all in all?

Fertilizers
Substrate

What else?

 

[Dave Spencer]

Before I can any give any advice, I will need to now how much light you have over what size tank. Secondly, what are your goals with a planted tank? Do you want a few plants for effect, or, at the other end of the spectrum, a nature aquarium?

Dave.

 

[Wrams]

Before I can any give any advice, I will need to now how much light you have over what size tank. Secondly, what are your goals with a planted tank? Do you want a few plants for effect, or, at the other end of the spectrum, a nature aquarium?

Dave.

Lighting is 50Hz 2x1 15 watt FD G13 if thats what you want to know? Thats over a 24g tank
I would like a nature aquarium in time.

 

[SJ2K]

If i read that correctly you have 1, 15w bulb over your 24g tank? In which case you have well under 1WPG so you wont need to worry about Co2/Fertz etc. Just stick to the basics like java fern and you'll be fine

 

[Wrams]

If i read that correctly you have 1, 15w bulb over your 24g tank? In which case you have well under 1WPG so you wont need to worry about Co2/Fertz etc. Just stick to the basics like java fern and you'll be fine

No i have 2 15 watt bulbs over the tank.

 

[SJ2K]

Ahhh ok, so thats just over 1WPG, same rule applies, its not a high light tank

 

[Wrams]

Ahhh ok, so thats just over 1WPG, same rule applies, its not a high light tank

What does 1WPG mean? Is it 1 watt per gallon?

 

[SJ2K]

Yes So if you had 48w of lighting over your tank, it would be 2WPG.

 

[Wrams]

Yes So if you had 48w of lighting over your tank, it would be 2WPG.

You learn something new everyday

 

[SJ2K]

George Farmers Basic Guide To Lighting

 

[Wrams]

George Farmers Basic Guide To Lighting

Thanks Buddy. So what will i need apart from the plants? I have NO substrate under my gravel and last time i purchased plants they sold me marsh plants that lasted about 4 weeks.