Switching From Plastic To Real Plants In Large Tank

[nicanuck]

First, a little background on my tank. It is a 200 gallon community tank that I have had established for almost three years now. Inhabitants are: 7 clown loaches, 4 weather loaches, 4 bala sharks, 10 red eye tetras, 8 black skirt tetras, 2 cory, 1 african butterfly fish, 1 bristle nose pleco, 1 pleco, 2 cardinal tetras and 4 bleeding heart tetras. I started out with all plastic plants but would now like to venture into the world of live plants. I have 4 fluorescent bulbs and 2- 405 fluvals. This set up seems to be working very well for me.
Now, which are the best plants to start integrating into my tank and are there any changes that I need to make to my tank immediately or in the near future? I am a major rookie at the live plant thing - have some in my guppy tank but that's about all... don't even know what they are, just attached to some driftwood. Any help would be greatly appreciated. This will be a SLOW transition as I can't just go out and blow the wad on plants for a 200 gallon tank... as much as I would love to. That being said, any ideas as to where the best on-line place is to shop for these plants?
Thanks so much for your help everybody. I'm really looking forward to "hanging out" here and exchanging ideas etc.
Nicanuck

 

[Dave Spencer]

Could you give more info on your lighting? I am going to assume that it is not particularly high lighting.

There is a good chance that the plants you have attached to the wood are Java fern, which would make a good introduction in to your new planted tank. Anubias sp would be another good type to look at.

Being a mature tank, there may well be enough ferts in the substrate and water column to maintain certain stems in a low tech set up. Take a look at Rotala sp, Vallisneria sp,, Cabomba sp, Hygrophilia sp, plus Echinodorus sp and Cryptocorynes sp. I am guessing a bit, but I reckon most of the types I have mentioned will be OK in your established tank without having to make any real changes.

Have a look around this forum for the various ways people upgrade their tanks in terms of lighting and ferts. If you catch the bug, you will have your credit card out in no time at all.

Dave.