What do i need to keep plants

[chunmak]

I want to know what sort of equipement i need to keep live plants

 

[ryan]

You need a good substrate for plant growth, then a good lighting system, reflectors help. In addition to this you could use a CO2 injector, undergravel heating and liquid feed if you are seroius about plants.

Good Luck

Feel free to ask more questions.

 

[Bol]

What do you need? Water and light.

After that, honestly, you branch off into a ton of different factors.

Some plants are floaters, or have no roots to speak of (they get nutrients from the water, through their leaves), so those don't require substrate (i.e. sand, gravel, etc.). Others are root plants, and the type of substrate can be important.

Different plants require different amounts of light to grow well.

Nutrition needs will vary, based on many things, such as ... what type of substrate you use, how much light you have, what kind of plants you have, what type of water you're using, etc.

It really depends a lot on what you want, and what you are willing to invest in terms of time, space (for equipment), and money.

The amount of lighting you decide on is probably the biggest factor in determining the other things. It will determine, among other things, what plants you can grow, and whether or not it would be prudent/necessary to inject CO2 into your water.

 

[Aquatic]

I have had good success with just the basic most of the time. Good filtration, a decent stocking of fish and good biological growth. Little disturbance and some time.

I had a ten with two frontosa and a nice piece of drift wood. A little crowded but their temperment and eating habits worked out well. The Java fern and crypts did well. a couple of bulb plants two.

I now have a community tank of about 3 dozen white clouds or so and 70 watts for 40 gallons. Its not that much and overkill for the crypts i think. Its doing fine with a natural cycle and water changes.

 

[Yenko]

Java fern will grow as long as you have light (I had 50w of Incadescent lights on a 10 gallon tank and the Java Ferns took over). In my currently understocked (but better lit) 32 gallon tank, they havent done much; I think they need more fish waste to do well. Mine need iron supplements to do well at the moment.

 

[bettalady]

My 15 gal tank is thriving on only the basics..I do not use a co2 injector..I do feed them with each water change..also have a special flourescent plant grow light..I keep my light on 10 hours a day..my java fern, kryt , java moss and hydra are gorgeous..think you can do well with simple plants and just light, water and feedings

 

[apisto_uk2]

Hi,

I think I have a setup that works reasonably well with noe need to add additional CO2. Also if you add extra CO2 you may need to reduce fish stocking levels.

My planted tank recipe.

1. Quartz gravel - for good root growth
2. Silver sand and Duponit fertliser mix - provide food supply to roots.
3. use appropriate heater cable.
4. Use a mixture of fast and slow growing plants placed at the correct depth in your tank.
5. Use bogwood to provide both tier the tank and to produce tanins that seem both helpful to fish and plants.
6. I have 240 watts of light for 125 Gallons of water, at a maximum depth of 22 inches.
7. Use a spray bar from an external filter to help create a gaseous exvhange at the water surface.
8. THink carefully about the addition of CO2, I found it helpful to plants but not for my fish.

Hope this helps

Apisto

 

[drobbins27]

I have plants, all grow perfectly. You know what equipment I have? None. Fertilizer, basic lighting, basic filtration, my undergravel filter actually creates bubbles which add to the oxygenation process...a big no-no for plant lovers. Just get some hardy plants, and a bit of fertilizer!

 

[jams.alaskan]

Apisto,
That tank is a work of art!!!

ALASKA