What Plants For My 4ft Community Tank?

[Ben M]

i have a 4ft community tank, and in it quite a few crypts, an Amazon sword plant (which isn't doing very well) and a couple of tall plants that i don't have the name of. the substrate is 6mm pea gravel, and i am using clay based fertilizer balls. the temp is 26, and the pH approx. 7. could you suggest some plants for my tank that are easy to keep, and i can find at my lfs. there is quite a selection of plants as it is a maidenhead aquatics. also, is there a better relatively cheap fertilizer, as the one i use is not very good.

cheers.

 

[Jallen]

i have a 4ft community tank, and in it quite a few crypts, an Amazon sword plant (which isn't doing very well) and a couple of tall plants that i don't have the name of. the substrate is 6mm pea gravel, and i am using clay based fertilizer balls. the temp is 26, and the pH approx. 7. could you suggest some plants for my tank that are easy to keep, and i can find at my lfs. there is quite a selection of plants as it is a maidenhead aquatics. also, is there a better relatively cheap fertilizer, as the one i use is not very good.

cheers.

Vallisneria
Java fern (has to be tied to something with cotton so it can wrap its roots round it in time - if planted in the gravel it will die)
Anubias (same as with Java fern)

 

[Ben M]

thanks, could you think of a small carpet plant for the front of my tank in which baby shrimp could survive?

 

[baron von bubba]

i have a 4ft community tank, and in it quite a few crypts, an Amazon sword plant (which isn't doing very well) and a couple of tall plants that i don't have the name of. the substrate is 6mm pea gravel, and i am using clay based fertilizer balls. the temp is 26, and the pH approx. 7. could you suggest some plants for my tank that are easy to keep, and i can find at my lfs. there is quite a selection of plants as it is a maidenhead aquatics. also, is there a better relatively cheap fertilizer, as the one i use is not very good.

cheers.

lighting and co2 have a massive bearing on what plants you can successfully keep!
the ph and temp is not so critical.

what is your lighting and do you add co2?

cheapest ferts! look into EI and buying dry ferts to mix your own. it can seem a tad complex to begin with but imo its the way forward!!

most carpet plants will be a problem in low light tanks, but i believe various types of mosses could thrive and be a good place for the baby shrimp to hide!

 

[Ben M]

i don't add co2, but do you think that i should, is it expensive?
my lighting is from 2 30w florescent bulbs.

i am also considering totally changing the decor in my tank, by adding bogwood, and removing a lot of the rocks. does moss attach itself to rock or bogwood? i already have:
1. anubias coffeefolia
1. clump of cryptocoryne bullosa
1. echinodorus rubra
12. cryptocoryne wendtii green
1.clump and 12 plantlets of cryptocoryne moehlmannii

could you think of a design for my 4 foot tank?

thanks for the info on the fertilizer!

 

[baron von bubba]

i don't add co2, but do you think that i should, is it expensive?
my lighting is from 2 30w florescent bulbs.

i am also considering totally changing the decor in my tank, by adding bogwood, and removing a lot of the rocks. does moss attach itself to rock or bogwood? i already have:
1. anubias coffeefolia
1. clump of cryptocoryne bullosa
1. echinodorus rubra
12. cryptocoryne wendtii green
1.clump and 12 plantlets of cryptocoryne moehlmannii

could you think of a design for my 4 foot tank?

thanks for the info on the fertilizer!

You certainly dont need to add co2 with that light.
However your choices for plants that will thrive are a little more limited.

Moss will be fine on either wood or stone.

Personally i wouldn't worry too much about an over all design at this point.
Just try different plants out, see what you like, how things look, etc. The tank will just kinda evolve naturally!

Unless you are of course wantin a proper "aqua scape" in which case its mainly about the asthetic design.
Which in my opinion is the most challenging part.
That said it totally subjective, if you like it, thats all that matters!

 

[Jallen]

thanks, could you think of a small carpet plant for the front of my tank in which baby shrimp could survive?

<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...101806&st=0" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...101806&st=0</a>

Read the bit on Java moss.

Baron, why is your post so huge?
Oh wait, it's full of returns.

 

[mdwheeler]

Get all that and some Cabomba. Quite pretty (and big).

 

[Ben M]

cheers, the java moss looks great, but i've tried cabomba before and after a while it's just got clogged with rubbish and died. can i prevent this?

 

[hensonc4098]

As Jallen said earlier, vallis is nice and creates a nice background if you let it grow.
Pic:

I have just ordered some Bacopa Caroliniana and some Heteranthera Zosterifolia from the internet

Bacopa Caroliniana:

Heteranthera Zosterifolia:

 

[Ben M]

thanks, i'll look for them at my lfs.

i can find them there right?