Sorry

[shrimply]

My dad is driving me mad he fails to see what is so good about a planted tank. As long as there are fish he is happy. He believes changing it is a waste of time and money

He has just told me
"if you want to do some gardening go outside"

I turned down my air pump so that it creates much less bubbles in the centre of the aquarium and he says there is no need and it will harm the fish. Explaining that putting in loads of oxygen completely takes the point out of adding extra CO2 did not seem to make him see sense.

I explained that no planted tank has hundreds of bubbles in it (unless they are CO2) and he retaliated that at the fish shop there are tanks with plants in and large airstones.

He does not understand the important difference between "a tank with plants in" and a "planted aquarium"

Why he takes this view I just can't get around. It is rather disheartening to put in loads of time researching and spend ages saving up to buy equipment to get such a negative response.

Sorry I had to tell someone it is just really getting me down at the moment.

 

[simonbrown403]

oUCh!!! you could try writeing it on a peice of paper and hitting with, maybe that would make you feel better only joking.

I had the same problem with mum and step kids, my step kids now see sence and love looking at my tanks, and my mum has three ponds of here own, just keep going you'll get there in the end.

 

[anvil63]

Start with some low maintenance plants that will do fine with the airstone like watersprite. Keep them well trimmed so they always look nice and just give it a bit of time. I've never met anyone that I wasn't able to convert evenyually.

Good Luck

Carl

 

[kenneth_kpe]

my dad was the same before, when the tank evnetually looked better he converted

 

[Incitic]

My dads the same. Its even worse because hes a science teacher and believes he already knows everything about the planted tank.

He sees the light after doing some research though.

 

[IovaykInD]

My dad is so stubborn as to tell me I can't do water changes cause the tank is crystal clear.

Eventually, I just did it without him knowing.

Now he knows I do it, and the fish are still doing great, so he didn't care anymore.
Go step by step, one thing at a time. Eventually, your dad will just let you do whatever and if anything bad happens, he'll say it's your fault. Don't worry, and just restart

 

[Krib Crazy]

You can do what I did keep adding real plants real slow maybe like a plant every 2 weeks.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

did you pay for this tank? and are you going to pay for these plants with your own money? if yes why would he care?

 

[George Farmer]

Sorry about your Dad's attitude. It sounds like you may just have to wait until you have your own tank set up with your own cash, then you can show him the "light" by producing a stunning aquascape.

Have you shown him any photos of decent planted tanks?

http/www.plantella.com/ is one of many good sites.

 

[oldwhitewood]

he he I like your dads quote about the gardening thing

Rest assured as a planted tank fan you have joined an exclusive club of forward thinkers, in time everyone else will come round to our way of thinking.

 

[jimbooo]

on the airstone point. have you explained that adding co2 allows the plants to respire so fast that natural oxygen is released into the water. bearing in mind that an airstone adds air (not pure oxygen) to the water once your plants are pearling you have total oxygen saturation. the pure fact that your plants pearl proves that the water is saturated with as much oxygen as it will hold.

here's some pics to illustrate the point.

good luck, dont give up

 

[shrimply]

I am saving up and will pay completely for the change. He just thinks I am wasting my money.

I have tried yo make him look at pictures of amazing tanks but he just doesn't believe that I will be able to create something that beautiful and it will end up looking like the tank that the aquatic shop sell it's plants out of.

I went through the whole CO2 and oxygen thing today pointing out that some of my plants, in particular vallis, are already pearling because of the added CO2.

I doubt he will change his mind but he can't stop me spending my money so on with the planted tank. I know that I can achieve an underwater paradise, especially with the help of all you experts, so that is all that matters. I will prove him wrong.

 

[George Farmer]

I will prove him wrong.

Go for it.

 

[Jen]

I have always been a good advocate of the parents side of things here. I don't know if it's because of how my parents brought me up, or if it's just the way I see things. My parents were very fair with my brother and I and always made sure to explain everything to us so that we knew their reasoning, even if we didn't like the outcome. We always knew there was a good reason, and never questioned it again.

The way I see it, is if it's your tank, and your money, then you should be able to do whatever you want, so long as your dad is comfortable with the fact that you will do all the work to it ie. maintenace and actually paying for it.

If it is your dad's tank and his money that provides everything for the tank, then you should respect his wishes. If he isn't understanding of why you want to do it, and you have tried to explain the benefits of doing things in that way, then unfortunately, I think you need to wait until you have a tank of your own before you can do what you want.

That being said, I love planted tanks. I love how natural they look (because they are!) and how much more my fish interact with it than with plastic. I would try to sit down with him one on one, in a professional mannor. Not a 'pretty pleeeaaase' conversation, but a well thought out presentation with all the costs and equipment listed. This way you can make an intelligent arguement (not saying you haven't done this already). If you act like an adult towards the situation, then hopefully he will understand that you do know what you are doing and that you only want to look out for the fish and go the very best for them.

 

[shrimply]

The tank is mine. I got money to buy it with for my birthday 2 1/2 years ago. It isn't the nicest tank in the world and my Dad doesn't think it is worth spending the money on. I know all the equipment would be able to be switched over if I bought another tank but he thinks the whole idea is a big waste of time. Since I have had the tank, apart from gifts, I have paid 100% for it's maintanence and intend to continue doing so.
Really it is my decision but then again I need his credit card details to purchess the equipment I need online so if he really puts his foot down there is nothing I can do.