Thinking About Going Back To Fake Plants

[jiffy]

I'm a little frustratI've got a java fern, 2 crypts, and some hornwort in my tank. All other plants are fake. I do large (30+%) water changes weekly and have the lights on 9 hours a day. I've got some brown and some thread algae that is driving me nuts. Also, when I buy hornwort its nice and dense, but then it thins out in my tank and doesn't provide quite the cover I am looking for.

Do I need more real plants to reap the benefits of a planted tank and increased lighting? Should I turn my lighting on for a little longer a day to combat the algae growth? Or should I scrap it all and go back to all fake plants?

 

[lljdma06]

I'm a little frustratI've got a java fern, 2 crypts, and some hornwort in my tank. All other plants are fake. I do large (30+%) water changes weekly and have the lights on 9 hours a day. I've got some brown and some thread algae that is driving me nuts. Also, when I buy hornwort its nice and dense, but then it thins out in my tank and doesn't provide quite the cover I am looking for.

Do I need more real plants to reap the benefits of a planted tank and increased lighting? Should I turn my lighting on for a little longer a day to combat the algae growth? Or should I scrap it all and go back to all fake plants?

What kind of lighting do you have? Your plants consist of mostly slow growing plants, they do not efficiently compete against algae. Fast-growing stem plants combat algae best. But these plants grow best with more light, though some will grow slower under lower light conditions. I will say this, your crypts and java fern look very nice.

 

[Alex_]

For starters, you still have them potted.

and what type of ferts, gavel or Co2 are you using

or if not. And i would not leave the ligths on longer if you have a slow

growing plants that will just make the algea grow faster.

 

[jiffy]

Thanks for the replies guys. Here is a little more info on my tank.

1.5wpg, regular plain ol fine grain gravel, no Co2, no ferts. Lighting is currently on 9 hours a day, but plastic plants and glass are growing some brown and green algae.

As far as the crypts being potted, the LFS told me I can leave them potted if I wish, and that the matting material in the pots with them will help them grow. Plus, I kinda like the looks of them potted.

I tried searching plantgeek.com for some fast growing lot light plants, but hornwort seems to be all I could find. Can anyone recomend me some low light fast growing plants?

 

[big mick]

every plant in this picture is fake......if you did decide to go back to fake plants you can get some pretty good ones if you dont mind paying a little extra...

 

[jiffy]

big mick - I do agree that all fake plant tanks can look very nice, its all about the aquascaping the the selection of plants. One thing though, is that I enjoy having my tank lit up most of the evening, something that would definetly boost algae growth if there were no real plants.

I think that might actually be my strongest argument to get more real plants.

 

[jiffy]

Bump.

Can anyone recomend me some fast growing low light plants?

 

[lljdma06]

Bump.

Can anyone recomend me some fast growing low light plants?

In low-light, I have had success growing anacharis, hygrophile polysperma, and to a lesser extent, hygrophilia difformis. Their growth is slower and will not be as lush. I would also remove the crypts from their pots. It's not necessary to keep them there and they will appreciate the room to expand their roots.

Try reading this pinned topic from the Planted section, it has some useful links and basic care requirements for some of the common plants seen in the hobby.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=22604

 

[jiffy]

I checked out that link before, but the only thing possibly low light and fast growing is an amazon sword. Everything else they listed was medium light.

Is there nothing fast growing for low light?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

I think egeria densa ? Its really fast growing and im thinking its low light... im not 100,000 percent sure