Plants

[markandhisfish]

i currently have artificial plants but want a more natural look so am going to try some real plants out. do i have to get a co2 pump or could i do without 1 ??

 

[waterdrop]

High tech planted tanks are a whole hobby unto themselves, but you don't have to get into all that to have some plants in your fish tank. You want to do searches for "easy plants" and "low-light techniques" and there are wonderful planted hobbyists here on TFF who will take time off from trimming their beautiful aquascapes to give a little help to us newbies with our struggling first plants! You'll want to decide on the right "low-light" energy, often a little over 1 watt/gallon. Often as beginners we strart with one light, which, when we read the wattage, turns out to put us at less than one watt per gallon, which is too little light for all but the darkest green, easiest plants.

Then you'll want to consider, possibly, a substrate additive like eco-complete or flourite or any of many others. Finally, you'll want to consider feeding your plants with a liquid fert. and/or tablets or other for certain rooted plants. Another thing to keep in mind when beginning is that trying a number of plants and being aware that some won't work helps to reduce frustration - plan to go through a number of types and see what works for your particular tank.

Research the types here and check how they look at Tropica and other sites. Take pen and paper to the LFS if you buy them there and carefully record all the naming info you can get when you buy them - it will help you with questions later.

~~waterdrop~~
ps. No, you don't need to worry about CO2 right away as a beginner, just consider it to be something to read up on and learn more about.

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Mark,

Some plants do require high CO2 levels, but it isn't usually required until you have at least 50% of the substrate covered with plants. If you introduce CO2 too early and don't have enough plants to use it, algae will use it instead!!

You will certainly be ok to introduce a few plants without investing in CO2 at the moment.

Cheers

BTT

 

[markandhisfish]

Hi Mark,

Some plants do require high CO2 levels, but it isn't usually required until you have at least 50% of the substrate covered with plants. If you introduce CO2 too early and don't have enough plants to use it, algae will use it instead!!

You will certainly be ok to introduce a few plants without investing in CO2 at the moment.

Cheers

BTT

ok cheers

 

[Dave Spencer]

Some plants do require high CO2 levels, but it isn't usually required until you have at least 50% of the substrate covered with plants. If you introduce CO2 too early and don't have enough plants to use it, algae will use it instead!!

You will certainly be ok to introduce a few plants without investing in CO2 at the moment.

Cheers

BTT

Strictly speaking, this isn`t quite true. Light levels determine whether CO2 is needed in the first place, not plant biomass.

In a planted tank with high enough light levels to demand CO2 injection, it is fair to say that CO2 injection may need to be increased as plant biomass increases and, therefore, carbon uptake.

The relationship between light and CO2 is that at certain light levels, naturally occurring CO2 will become depleted in the water column. The deficiency of carbon from CO2 for the plants will result, ultimately, in their leaching ammonia across their cell walls and triggering algae (BBA and staghorn being closely associated with this scenario).

Mark, if you are using just the stock lighting that came with your tank, then it is unlikely you will need CO2 injection.

Dave.

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks for the correction, Dave. I keep meaning to spend more time in the 'Planted' section.

 

[loachman]

Easiest way to go with a planted tank is to get about 1 Watt/gal and stock with elodea (personally I don't like this one as it gets stringy in lower lighting), hornwort, amazon swords, crypts, vals, java ferns or java moss. They'll grow in most any lighting condition. For amazon swords and crypts you should get some root tablets (fertilizer basically) and place near their roots.

Java ferns should not be planted in the substrate. Get some fishing line or thread and tie them to a rock or other tank decoration.

You may find some species just won't grow well b/c of your water condition. Just rotate them out in favor of more easy species.

Be ware of most stem plants and most of the species with red leaves. They tend to need more light if one could make a general rule of thumb.