Wanting To Have Real Plants?

I am interested in swapping my nasty plastic plants for real ones and need some advice. I love the look of fully planted tanks, but i was wondering whether this would be really hard to maintain...how do you siphon the gravel or do you even need to? I have a 70 litre juwel rekord lighted with the 15watt 436mm tube. I have about 4-7cm of gravel, largish pebbles. How can i go about adding and caring for the plants? I don't want a massive job at changing it and i don't have hours to spend cleaning it up.

Thanks in advance!!

Ok i am not expert and only just started, but info from here has been rewarding.

Tip i would give is get a co2 system (not as scary as it sounds) This link here explains Nutrifin Co2 it all.

I bought mine from aquatics-online.co.uk online, fast delivery. NutraFIN

You dont need to get anything else as you can get your yeast from Tescos etc, mess with levels of sugar and water and you will have constant streams of co2.

The plants will anchor themselves over time. If you strip the leaves on the bottom nodes they will grow back as roots under the gravel. Some will float up, some knocked by fish and cleaning etc, just replant them and it will be fine. Long as you have co2 and good light you will notice a big difference in growth. I have seen the difference when not using co2 and using co2.

Most of the pinned posts have all the info you desire. As you are established it be a pain to put in some latrine etc so if you sort of copy me then it will be great. As the plants grow you can take cuttings and replant (probably within 10 days or so).

Please be aware i am no expert but followed advice on the pinned topics and found it to be working a treat. Some may disagree and if they do it will only help you.

Hope it goes well, read, read and read and you will be the next George farmer

For cleaning just go carefully, between the plants, I have knocked a few out but nothing that a replant will sort.

Cheers...

lotlot said:

I am interested in swapping my nasty plastic plants for real ones and need some advice. I love the look of fully planted tanks, but i was wondering whether this would be really hard to maintain...how do you siphon the gravel or do you even need to? I have a 70 litre juwel rekord lighted with the 15watt 436mm tube. I have about 4-7cm of gravel, largish pebbles. How can i go about adding and caring for the plants? I don't want a massive job at changing it and i don't have hours to spend cleaning it up.

Thanks in advance!!

Click to expand...

Hi,
I just would like to say than some plant live easily in tap water but some are sensitive and you need to use RO water + minerals, fertiliser, light and CO2.
Be careful because aquatics retailer are specialist to sell house plant as aquatic plants. They will survive few weeks and then die. So don't forget to ask. My tips:
- Try to buy a light unit to upgrade you are light system (minimun 2 bulbs)
- If you can mix 50% tap water and 50% RO water (ask your shop), it is better (specially if you start with a CO2 kit)
- use the "laterit balls" from JBL to add nutriments in the soil (I find mine at Maidenhead)
- use some liquid fertiliser Ferropol every week, and the Ferr.24 if you like red plant
- CO2 is a really nice investment for the plant. I come from France and JBL is well known so that is why I advise you these product. My small Bio CO2 from JBL supply CO2 during 45 days when the other one are jsut for 25-30 days. So it's cheapper
Feel free to ask more details if you are interested
Bye

If 70Ltr = 15USG then 15W will grow low light plants and you could achieve a nice 'basic' tank with little maintenance needed.

As for water changes either do as people say and get 1 x Nutrafin/DIY yeast kit and then try and remove just what you can see poop wise.

Water changes can be minimal and ferts optional (with fish) at this light level, although I would still use a decent off the shelf fert to supplement the plants just in case. TPN+ is my suggestion as always.

As for the lighting I would upgrade to a decent lamp (still the same fitting) and you MUST have a polished metal reflector.

The Arcadia Classic Daylight and Arcadia reflectors are available at Pets at Home and they would make a difference.

I can't see the point in you spending loads of money on upgrading the lighting power when you are looking for an easy to maintain basic planted tank. Upgrading the lighting would involve better CO2, dosing and a lot more maintenance.

Andy

lotlot said:

I am interested in swapping my nasty plastic plants for real ones and need some advice. I love the look of fully planted tanks, but i was wondering whether this would be really hard to maintain...how do you siphon the gravel or do you even need to? I have a 70 litre juwel rekord lighted with the 15watt 436mm tube. I have about 4-7cm of gravel, largish pebbles. How can i go about adding and caring for the plants? I don't want a massive job at changing it and i don't have hours to spend cleaning it up.

Thanks in advance!!

Click to expand...

I have three planted aquariums, you need compacted fine gravel or sand for good plant growth, some large pebbles are good at one end, if i was you id remove some of the large pebbles and move most of them to one end of the aquarium, then add some fine gravel, stick to natural types and not dyed, you can even get black which looks great. Or you could have pockets of gravel, or even potted plants although i think that may restrict root growth. I dont bother to clean my gravel any more i syphon as much water as i want from the large stones and the plants and snails, shrimps, corys etc clean the rest. i dont add co2 either and im overrun with plants and pass them on esp vallis, cabomba, java fern etc. There another idea have floating plants, or plants on wood, and some moss balls.

Anyway heres a pic of one of my tanks just to show you what i mean, di

If you want something easy and nice go with moss.

Another thing to remember is that – like fish – plants come in degrees of difficulty, so going for the 'easy to grow' ones would be a good place to start.
Again, like fish, research your plants first. Impulse buying often leads to mistakes. Some thrive in acid water, others quickly rot away – same for hard water species. It the plant does not come with a label, ask its name (and write it down so you don't forget), then you can read up on it when you get home (if you impulse bought, and we all do...)
And one last thing, don't go for too many species. Six large clumps and three smaller spot plants will look great – sixty different species of plant here, there, and everywhere will always look a mess.