starting a planted aquarium

spAcE mOnkEy

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hi I have a 20 gallon tank and some random plants in it. there is NO fertilizer in it and they seem to be thriving. i am going to make it a planted tank so i am getting fertilizer. i think the plants were doing well because all the fish crap was used as fertilizer. i have a flourescent 40watt life glow light bulb. this seems to work well when growing plants. i would like to know if there are any plants that are grass like and take over the bottom of the tank. and would fish crap be good fertilizer for the plants? can anyone make some suggestions on what kind of undamanding plants could i get for it that arent expensive? i have some driftwood that is not being used, i heard that that was good fertilizer but i cant get it to sink. can anyone give me some advice for a planted aquarium?
thanks
 
Java ferns are undemanding, but they aren't cheap. However, you could propogate them and gte a lot more.

As for grass, you could get acorus and other plants (there are some that have the word "grass" in the name so I'm guessing they'd be similar to grass).
 
Grass-like plants usually require higher wattage than 2wpg. Glossostigma & riccia are two that I've used, but they do better with 3wpg & CO2.

My driftwood is attached to slate but others have mentioned soaking it in water for a long period of time. It's best to boil driftwood, especially if you got it from Mother Nature, to remove any impurities and other nasties.

Anubias are good plants, though they're not real cheap. Java moss will grow well, and you can even attach it to objects. Beware, it can get messy.

Since I decided to go with a planted tank, I got the extreme hookup with high light & the addition of CO2. My pockets were emptied at the same time. :blink:
 
o and i wanted to know if i could add plants from the ponds around my house, i live in NY USA
 
many of the crypts are fairly easy to maintain and they can make do in the lower light tanks.

ALASKA

There are some great pond plants in dif parts of the world - however seeing that you are new to this I would have to say don't try it yet as you may bring home more then you bargained for in disease and unwanted hitchhikers.
 

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