Help ! Plants Plastic Or Real ?

[tomh1232]

Hello there i have had my 1st aquarium set up for some time now ( nearly a year ) and i have gone trough quite a few fish i am not overstocking and the culprit is usually the nitrates i have it all under control now i currently have 1 cory  2 gourmai and 3 endlers  the tank is 20 gal with a small gravel substrate i cannot tell you the name of the plants i have in there but i will upload a picture with the post  im just wondering how mutch of a benefit do real plants provide ? they seem like such hastle removing the dead bits to stop them decaying i.e increasing the nitrates i would just like some general advice im still new to this and id rather just have happy fish rather then a fancy planted tank  

i will attatch pictures of when i 1st had it and how i have it now please advise me on anything i am doing wrong.


thankyou ! 

 

[Byron]

Live plants are a real benefit.  To illustrate, you can have an aquarium well planted with a moderate fish load and not even need a filter.  Now, I'm not suggesting you remove the filter, just pointing out how serviceable plants are as nature's filters.  They remove ammonia, lots of it, more and quicker than the bacteria.  They use nutrients, helping to prevent algae (provided the light and nutrient load is balanced).  They produce oxygen, especially via the roots, keeping the substrate healthy.  And on and on.
 
To your situation, can you provide data on your lighting?  And are you using any fertilizers?  What is the GH (= general hardness) of your tap water (you can get this from the municipal water supply folks)?
 
Can you upload a larger image of the present tank?  Having trouble identifying the plants.  I think I see Vallisneria (left rear), maybe Pennywort, and Java Fern?
 
Byron.

 

[Ch4rlie]

I agree with Byron, live plants are a real benefit to any tank.
 
As already mentioned, they help with ammonia and nitrate, also they provide good cover for fish and shrimps do appreciate real plants as make it more natural.
 
And of course, the aesthetic of the tank having a natural look compared to fake plants is much improved in my opinion.
 
However, fake or silk plants can add a splash of instant colour and no need to worry about ferts or lights etc but they do need cleaning every once in a while.

 

[tomh1232]

Live plants are a real benefit.  To illustrate, you can have an aquarium well planted with a moderate fish load and not even need a filter.  Now, I'm not suggesting you remove the filter, just pointing out how serviceable plants are as nature's filters.  They remove ammonia, lots of it, more and quicker than the bacteria.  They use nutrients, helping to prevent algae (provided the light and nutrient load is balanced).  They produce oxygen, especially via the roots, keeping the substrate healthy.  And on and on.
 
To your situation, can you provide data on your lighting?  And are you using any fertilizers?  What is the GH (= general hardness) of your tap water (you can get this from the municipal water supply folks)?
 
Can you upload a larger image of the present tank?  Having trouble identifying the plants.  I think I see Vallisneria (left rear), maybe Pennywort, and Java Fern?
 
Byron.

 the lighting is standard that came with the tank 2 strip lights 0.2 watt  one blue one white
i did use some root tabbs to start with to anchor them in but not regular 
and  my water is hard but i use an api formula to nullify it 
also i have a piece of bogwood in there i read this is also good ?? 
 
 the lighting is standard that came with the tank 2 strip lights 0.2 watt  one blue one white 
i did use some root tabbs to start with to anchor them in but not regular 
and  my water is hard but i use an api formula to nullify it 
also i have a piece of bogwood in there i read this is also good ?? 

 

[Byron]

At one end of the tubes there should be some printing, can you give me what this is?  I am assuming this is likely T8, plus I would like to know the other data.  The blue is probably not the best for plants, but when I know more of what you have it will be easier to suggest tubes.  The light fixture should be fine.
 
What is the API formula you are using?
 
You mentioned nitrates initially, what is the test reading for nitrate?
 
Byron.

 

[Alasse]

I am a big live plant lover....but in saying that. Fake plants can make a beautiful display tank, far less work and hassle than real...or alternatively, you can do a fake/real mix
 
Your easiest bet is to stick with Java fern and Anubias, and add some silk plants for differing foliage and colour

 

[tomh1232]

Ive done some research and my nitrates were high due to rotting plants and the plants are dieing because my tank has low lighting and i was jut shoving any plant in and wondering why they die so my nitrates are balancing out again now could you suggest some low lighting durable plants and also advise on fertaliser if i need it and how oftern should i use it ?? Thankyou !

 

[Alasse]

Ive done some research and my nitrates were high due to rotting plants and the plants are dieing because my tank has low lighting and i was jut shoving any plant in and wondering why they die so my nitrates are balancing out again now could you suggest some low lighting durable plants and also advise on fertaliser if i need it and how oftern should i use it ?? Thankyou !

Your easiest bet is to stick with Java fern and Anubias, and add some silk plants for differing foliage and colour
 
You wont need to add fertz for the above plants, fish waste will tend to cover that aspect

 

[Byron]

I agree, but it seems a real shame to deny more options when it is likely quite easy.  I have helped several aquarists new to plants to build a very pleasing planted tank simply, but I won't spend my time explaining until you ask, and give me the lighting data I asked about, and your GH (general hardness) of the tap water.  And what is the API Formula?  Some of the water adjustment products may do harm to the fish.

 

[Alasse]

..........I have helped several aquarists new to plants to build a very pleasing planted tank simply,....................

Java fern and anubias are plants that can make a extremely pleasing planted tank......add in a few crypt wendtii (another hardy plant) and you can have a tank that will rival many a high tech tank



 

 

[tomh1232]

I agree, but it seems a real shame to deny more options when it is likely quite easy.  I have helped several aquarists new to plants to build a very pleasing planted tank simply, but I won't spend my time explaining until you ask, and give me the lighting data I asked about, and your GH (general hardness) of the tap water.  And what is the API Formula?  Some of the water adjustment products may do harm to the fish.

sorry  i dident mean to offend you i work allot so i was on my phone when i posed my last message my genereal hardness is classed as verry hard the number is 223.5 anything above 180 is classed as very hard 
the light has  thes enumbers at the end BG15-12LED-VO3-HS  and at the other end PCB-458X12L12-AO
the solloution i use is not API  sorry  it is called PRIME  freshwater and seawater  its not to soften water but to  detoxify and remove chemicals in tap water 

 

[Byron]

The light seems to be LED, so I can't offer much on that as I am not experienced with LED and there is so much variety out there.  The hardness is not going to trouble most plants, so that's fine; stay with hard water fish and no issues there.
 
Prime is a water conditioner that you use to condition the fresh water at each water change, so that's fine.
 
Not knowing the light better makes it difficult to suggest plants, but avoid high light requiring plants and see what works.  The Java Fern and Anubias already mentioned should be OK.  With your hard water, Vallisneria would thrive, provided the light is adequate, but worth a try.  Being a fast growing plant, Vallisneria will provide much more of the "live plant benefits" initially mentioned.
 
Byron.