Can I keep plants in a 24" tall tank?

[Yossu]

I have a tank that is a 24" cube. It has sand for a substrate as it houses goldfish.

I'd like to grow plants, but am unsure if I can, as the height of the tank makes it hard to get light down to the bottom without risking algae near the top due to the higher intensity.

I know I can grow things like anubis and java fern on rocks and wood, so they can be higher up and nearer the light, but I would like some down at the bottom as well if I can.

Our local utility company shows our water specs as follows...

Any advice? Thanks

P.S. Please let me know if there is any more info you need to know. Her

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Goldies are notorious for chewing on plants and uprooting them. That said there are a few plants that will work. This site lists 6 such plants.
https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/goldfish-plants

5 Easy Plants for Goldfish Aquariums​

Goldfish are notorious for munching on or digging up aquatic plants, which is a shame because live plants are both beautiful and beneficial, capable of consuming the toxic chemicals produced by fish waste. Thankfully, we’ve found several plant species that are not only easy to care for but also hardy enough to stand up to your goldfish’s curious nibbling.

 

[Yossu]

@TwoTankAmin Thanks for the link. I have read about which plants are suitable, my question was more about if I can keep plants in a tall tank like this. I'm not sure how to strike a balance between high intensity lighting to get light down to the bottom of the tank, and keeping the lighting low enough to avoid algae issues.

Any thoughts on that? Thanks again

 

[MattW]

The plants in that list will all pretty much work in low-light conditions. Ive kept all of those species in that list in low light and high light before never had any issues. Also, your water is somewhat similar to mine

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Low light plants will do fine in your tank. Anubias, java fern and other similar easy to care for low light palnts. But, They will still grow up over time. And as they get neater to the surface it means the light gets more intense and that is when you will see algae. Here is a pic if my 14=50 gal. tank, it is more than 24 inches deep, I have only the slow growing anubias in it. I recently replanted it so the plants are nowhere near as close to the surface. I was having algae issues starting from the top down.

Here is a long list of easy to grow plants, they will get all sizes, shapes heights. It has about 160 plants.
https://tropica.com/en/plants/search/?mode=search&sew=&dif=Easy&pgr=&ori=&use=

 

[Colin_T]

Increase the light.

Narrow Vallis, Ambulia and Hygrophila polysperma all grow tall and will grow up to the light.

Duckweed can be grown on the surface for the goldfish to eat so they are less inclined to eating the other plants.

 

[Yossu]

Thanks to all of you for the replies. I guess I'll take the plunge and see how I get on.

@TwoTankAmin That's an amazing tank. What are the dimensions? Thanks also for the list, plenty to choose from there

 

[TwoTankAmin]

It is a 150 gal. It is (in inches) 72L x 18 wide x 28 deep ( I left out the fractions of an inch of them all).

 

[Yossu]

@TwoTankAmin I am not jealous, I am not jealous, I am not... heck, I'm really jealous!

 

[Yossu]

One other question I forgot to ask...

Given that the substrate s sand, which I assume won't provide any nutrients for the plants, how do I ensure the plants get what they need without encouraging algae? Fertiliser seems the obvious answer, but how do I know which will help the plants without helping the algae?

Thanks again to everyone.

 

[MattW]

Root tabs could be an option or liquid fertilizer but dosing too much can lead to algae. A mature fish tank will have fish waste in the substrate that plants use unless you gravel vac. Having enough plants will outcompete the algae for nutrients from the water column. Floating plants are the best for this. Its all about getting a correct balance in my experience.

 

[Yossu]

Root tabs could be an option or liquid fertilizer but dosing too much can lead to algae.

Any recommendations for these or all they all as good as each other?

Also, what about plants that aren't rooted in the substrate? I was thinking of java fern and anubis, as they can be attached to things higher up the tank.

A mature fish tank will have fish waste in the substrate that plants use unless you gravel vac.

Hmm, sounds like a balance between vacuuming to keep the substrate looking good and the water clean, but leaving enough to keep the plants healthy. Oh dear, I hope I'm up to this!

Having enough plants will outcompete the algae for nutrients from the water column. Floating plants are the best for this.

Trouble is that I won't be able to see them, so while they might help with the algae, they wouldn't be very visible and would block light from the rest of the tank.

Its all about getting a correct balance in my experience.

That's where I'm getting confused. Not sure how best to do it. I know it's largely trial and error, but I'd prefer to minimise the error as much as I can!

Thanks for the reply.

 

[MattW]

Any recommendations for these or all they all as good as each other?

Only ever used these I'm afraid. But they did wonders on my Bacopa and Rotala a year or two back.

Also, what about plants that aren't rooted in the substrate? I was thinking of java fern and anubis, as they can be attached to things higher up the tank.

They take in nutrients through the water column. The best fertilizer would be liquid for them. My entire Paludarium's aquatic plants are epiphyte plants that use nutrients in the water column. I haven't dosed fertilizer in that tank for a long time now and all are healthy and growing well.

Hmm, sounds like a balance between vacuuming to keep the substrate looking good and the water clean, but leaving enough to keep the plants healthy. Oh dear, I hope I'm up to this!

Wait just realized.. Its goldfish you have right? I think gravel vac may be a better option as they produce more waste than most other fish. Another option for you is terracotta plant pots. They will keep the plant substrate separate from the sand substrate in the tank

Trouble is that I won't be able to see them, so while they might help with the algae, they wouldn't be very visible and would block light from the rest of the tank.

If kept under control I don't think it would be an issue. @Colin_T recommended duckweed I believe. Its a bugger to get rid of manually but goldfish do eat it so it's a 2in1 plant that takes up excess nutrients and is another food source for the goldfish

That's where I'm getting confused. Not sure how best to do it. I know it's largely trial and error, but I'd prefer to minimise the error as much as I can!

Completely agree with minimizing error. Trial and error has been a big part of keeping plants and fish for me too. There are other members on here with decades of experience who have a much better understanding hopefully they can help as well.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

For the past 22+ years I have use the Tropica Ferts. That is the sire to which I sent you for the plant list. Read their info on Plant Care. Today they make two kinds:

Premium Nutrition has all the required micro nutrients and is recommended for all plant aquariums. Specialised Nutrition further has macro nutrients and is suitable for aquariums with many plants. Both are liquid fertilisers that are dispensed directly into the water on a regular basis.

Premium Nutrition without nitrogen and phosphor for aquariums with many fish- 6 mL a week per 50 L water is easily dispensed with the pump and ensures proper plant growth.

• Contains iron, magnesium and vital micro nutrients
• Does not contain nitrogen and phosphor
• Suitable for aquariums with few or slow-growing plants and many fish

See how Specialised Nutrition with nitrogen and phosphor is easily and exactly dispensed with the included pump.

• Contains nitrogen and phosphor for fast-growing and demanding plants
• Also contains iron, magnesium and vital micro nutrients
• Suitable for aquariums with many and fast-growing plants

How to use the product​

Specialised Nutrition is added each week when the water is changed. The pump bottle dispenses 2 mL per push.
We recommend 6 mL (3 pumps) per 50 L water weekly. However, we recommended that this is set in accordance with plant requirements. Specialised Nutrition contains, in addition to micro-nutrients, all essential macro-nutrients. The fertiliser is particularly suitable where plants display a lack of nutrition. However note that if algae growth starts, Specialised Nutrition will promote this growth.

Specialised Nutrition contains nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Dosage must therefore be adapted to plant absorption rates, to avoid undesirable algae growth. Where signs of algae growth develop, reduce the dosage by 50% and increase water changing frequency by 50%. Changing the water not only reduces the concentration of nutrients in the water, but also removes algae spores, remnants and other accumulated elements from the aquarium water.

Tropica is one of the oldest and well known Aquatic plant producers in the world.

Mr. Holger Windeløv, founder of Tropica Aquarium Plants, started as a fish tank hobbyist who became increasingly interested in growing aquatic plants for his own use and for fellow hobbyists.

He then started to develop greenhouse facilities and sell the plants he produced, creating the company named Tropica Aquarium Plants in 1970.
Every year since then, Holger Windeløv has been travelling to explore for new plants - sometimes to exotic locations such as chalky, crystal-clear springs in South America, or murky, muddy ponds in Southeast Asia, and sometimes to extensive collections of aquatic plants, nurseries, and meetings with aquarists throughout the world.

In 2004, the company was sold to JPS Clemens, due to a generational change and the new owners established a new nursery garden in 2007 as the base of a long-term strategy.

Note some of the plants are named after him. Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv' is a patented variety of Microsorum pteropus, named after Tropica's founder Holger Windeløv.

 

[Yossu]

Thanks to both of you for the excellent replies, really helpful.

@MattW3344 Love the idea of the terracotta pots. What sort f medium do you put in them, and how do you stop it coming out into the main tank? Wouldn't work for things like vallis, as they send out runners, which would leave the pot, but great idea for single plants.

@TwoTankAmin Thanks for the recommendation. Years ago I had a heavily planted tank, and used a lot of Tropica plants. Bit more expensive, but good quality. Will probably do the same this time.

Still gathering info before I jump in, and still waiting for the spiderwood to sink before I can put anything in place, but I think this becoming clearer.

Thanks again.