Total Newbie!

[CrystalClear16]

Hi everyone!

Thanks to all the very helpful posts on my thread in the Tropical Discussion section I have decided to give real plants a go. Here is my set up:

I have read the newbie guides and want to start small - definatly low tech. I was thinking some moss on the slate and a plant latched to the larger bit off bogwood?

Any input would be appreciated

 

[CrystalClear16]

*sneaky bump*

I am quite unsure as to how I should go about starting with real plants. Help would be greatly appreciated

 

[PDSimon]

Hi,

whats your watt per gallon? or the wattage of the bulbs and the volume of your tank?

Java moss should easily grow regardless of the lighting. It'd look good on that coconut cave you have there imo!

You could also attach java ferns and anubias to the slate or bogwood with fishing line or some super glues work really well. There are other plants too which should grow provided the lighting is ok, such as a load of crypts, vallis, egeria densa etc. I would recommend looking at the beginner plants and see what you like googling the name something (the lists are in the help section).

 

[CrystalClear16]

I have 2x 20w lights. One is 'Super Bright' and the other is 'Fish Colour Enhancing'. I have a 125L tank.

The lights are off most of the day and are only switched on when we get home from work at about 5:30pm. They stay on until about 11:30pm. The apartment does get very warm during the summer and so I am loathed t have them on longer than necessary, at the moment the tank is already at 81F.

I like the idea of moss on the coconut cave, but it is a plastic one rather than real. Would the moss still be able to grow? Would I need to superglue moss on there since fishing line wouldn't be possible?

I have also heard of using thread instead of fishing line as then it dissolves in the water. Which is best? And generally how long does it take for moss to attach to slate and a plant to attach to bogwood?

 

[PDSimon]

Ah right, I shouldn't noticed - your tank is the same as mine! Your lighting will equal about 1.5WPG, so you can have quite a range of plants if you're interested in planting it with real plants, especially if you're happy to get some nutrients and liquid carbon.

If you just want a few plants though I wouldn't really bother with liquid c02, possibly some nutrients if you wanted to help them

Time wise newbies normally start at about 6 hours a day, you can get really cheap timers at tesco if you want to regulate it.

I'm not too sure about plastic cave, I got some cyanoacrylate superglue which is perfectly safe for the aquarium and just put a few splodges on the cave and stuck the moss on, let it dry and put it in the aquarium. Java moss doesn't really attach itself to anything it just wraps itself around it so it may be difficult getting it to stay (especially on plastic) but for my cave, a few splodges and its stayed on ever since.

I think using glue is great and instant(although fairly permanent as well) so I never really researched into the use of thread, someone else will have to help you there and for how long it would take to attach.

Moss would wrap on easily to the bogwood though.

btw, your tank looks really clean!

 

[CrystalClear16]

Great At the moment the light is on for 6hrs a day so perhaps I could see how it goes and up it if necessary.

What kind of nutrients are needed for plants?

As for the cave I think I will start off easy and have a go at attaching to the slate and wood. I would be interested to hear others' experiences on what worked for them.

And thanks ^^ The water has been crystal clear since investing in an external filter.

 

[PDSimon]

Tropica plant nutrition plus is popular and really good as it covers everything, I use it myself...

I wouldn't really increase the lighting to more than 6 hours its not really necessary

This is how my coconut cave turned out, if you can find it

 

[CrystalClear16]

I love that cave! It did take me a few moments to find it Was that made with a real coconut?

Edit: Also, how much java moss will I need? Say I start with covering the small bit of slate on the top, how much would I need to buy?

 

[PDSimon]

It was a real coconut yeah, I bought if off someone on here! The java moss was complimentary You wouldn't need much, it quickly spreads... I had a box approx. 10cm by 5cm and it was plenty for my tank. I have 3 clumps on the bogwood on the left, and a big clump on the right, then some on the coconut cave too...

 

[CrystalClear16]

It looks great!

When you say it quickly spreads, if I were to cover one bit of slate would it spread to the others? Is it difficult to keep under control?

 

[PDSimon]

Thank you, I would spread some loosely over all the places I wanted and then it should become more dense.

You can also see in the pic the java ferns attached to the bogwood, you wouldn't know I glued them.. from the front

 

[CrystalClear16]

Wouldn't the glue kill the roots?

I called up my LFS yesturday but they don't have java moss in stock at the moment When they get some I am going to try tying it to the slate with fishing line.

 

[PDSimon]

You'd have thought so but I think because you only glue a couple of spots that if it can't grow it'll just grow some more roots. Roots are very strong though and can probably grow through it. I've also glued the java ferns and anubias that are in my tank.

You might be better of getting some java moss, ferns, anubias (all plants you can attach to something) online as you can often get some good deals. Maybe even of the classified section of here I saw some good deals a while back