Some advice from you guys please....

[keane]

Hey all,

Am very often lurking in this section, checking out everyone's planted tanks with envy, but don't often find the need to post.

Anyways, I recently had a bit of a travesty in my community tank (lost about five fish in the space of two days) and as a result I totally gutted my tank and have gotten rid of all of the plants I had in there.

To be honest, I had no idea what plants they were and simply bought them when I first started out becase "they looked nice"!!

I want to replant my tank but properly this time.

The tank is a 30UK gallon (4 x 1 x 1.25) with quite a fine gravel substrate. So far as lighting goes, I have one 42", 40w light tube, so calculate that I have only got about 1.3 watts per gallon.

With this mininal lighting am I able to actually keep a fully planted tank?

To be honest I am not too keen on going down the CO2 route at this stage and would rather stick to the easier stuff at first if possible. If it is totally necessary though, to have a successful planted tank, then I will seriously consider it.

With this in mind, what plants could you folks recommend that would do well under this lighting? A list to pick from would be great, along with pics or a website where I could have a look at the plants. (Sorry, cheeky I know but I am totally clueless when it comes to plants).

If I would be better adding additional lighting to increase my options then I can.

Finally, can you guys also recommend any online UK suppliers for your "nominated" plants as all of the LFS's in my area suck when it comes to plants.

Thanks all for your anticipated help.

steve

 

[nodding_dino]

Hey thebaldranger, I'm not going to jump in way above my head here, as I've only just setup my first planted tank...but just wanted to say not to be afraid of the CO2 units. On everyones suggestion here I plumped for two of the Nutrafin ones and can honestly say that they take 3 minutes to set up...plonk some sugar, yeast and bicarb in the canister, add warm water, stir and put the lid on...simple as that!

I bought a selection of plants from Greenline, *very* resonable, but I think there are several other retailers too...I will dig out the URLS for you shortly.

I'll leave the proper advice to the pro's

 

[nodding_dino]

Greenline

and

Java

HTH!

 

[keane]

cheers nodding dino .

Looks like i will have a go with CO2 then if it is as easy as you say .

Where's the best place to get one of these units?

Thanks for the links as well. Greenline looks the best out of the two.

Now all I have to do is wait for some of the experts to tell me what plants will be best.....

steve

 

[nodding_dino]

take a read through this thread as there is LOT'S of useful advice. I bought the Nutrafin CO2 units from the place that gf255 suggested - theres a link in there too!

 

[paulioo]

You only need to go down the Co2 route if your lighting in above 2.5 wpg or there abouts.

Greenline is the best in my opinion for price and quantity. I ordered from them on tueday night and got the delivery on thursday morning

I'll let someone who knows more about plants to make plant suggestions, but i think you'd need to up your lighting if you want a reasonable planted tank.

Paul

 

[keane]

cheers Paul and thanks again dino .

Just had alook through Greenline and might go for one of their "collection" packages. (I assume the plants are labelled individually when they arrive so I can do some research on them )

Will wait for a day or so just to see if anyone else (gf225....jimbooo....etc etc...... ) can point me in a more specific plant direction.

cheers guys/gals

steve

 

[nodding_dino]

as far as the plants being labelled, I think it depends on which package you go for...I ordered the wrong one ) and ended up getting the non-labelled set...but to be honest, most of them seem to be run of the mill, and with a bit of patience can be ID'd...maybe we could help each other ID them

I'm sure some of the others will be able to make some specific plant suggestions for you.

 

[houndour]

hiya,

with 1.3 watts per gallon you're quite limited to what plants you can get...java fern, moss and anubias (sp). But thats not to say you cant grow anything else in low light conditions (I managed with vallis and swords back in my early days when I knew nothing about fishkeeping, let alone plant keeping...that said I think they did all eventually die ).

If you get more light, it just increases your choice of plant.

I would recommend Andy at Greenline too. I got the 30" bunch from there and it's a good starting point if you dont have a clue what to get...and its a really good price.

Sam

 

[houndour]

Just had alook through Greenline and might go for one of their "collection" packages. (I assume the plants are labelled individually when they arrive so I can do some research on them

I think there are 2 sets of bunches. There is a labelled bunch (think this is the beginners one). I didn't get the labelled one. I don't think it matters too much as if you post a pic on here people will help you identify it.

 

[keane]

excellent .

cheers Sam

steve.

 

[keane]

Sorry, just another quickie....

what the plant/grass stuff that I have seen people growing in clumps over slate or bogwood?

Looks great.

Will have a search on here and try and find a pic with some in and get back to y'all.

EDIT..here is one of jimbooo's tanks. The stuff I am on about is growing on his bogwood....

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=99940

Does this stuff have any special requirements? How do you fix it to slate?

cheers

steve

 

[houndour]

its riccia. isn't it great? use a hair net to hold it down. I didn't get any of this in my collection at greenline. Had to get it separate.

 

[keane]

its riccia. isn't it great? use a hair net to hold it down.

[snapback]850152[/snapback]​

Thats the stuff. Cheers.

A hair net eh? interesting. How do you secure it?

Think I will go and have a look at this on Greenline.

cheers again everyone.

steve.

 

[houndour]

well I'm using bits of flat rock, so I just twist the net so it's pulled tight and then the rock effectively holds it down.