How Does This Sound

[littlest]

OK, this is my first foray into planted aquariums. I have a small 30L tank which has a 11W light fitted in the hood (it says red/white on it). No CO2 and no soil substrate or anything.

I have three java ferns attached to wood and java moss attached to stones on the floor of the tank. I chose these plants because I was told they would do OK with no CO2 and low lighting.

I haven't bought any fertiliser yet but I guess I should buy some stuff to go in the water.

Do this sound OK? I know CO2 is normally recommended but I don't have another spare plug socket.
I only planted it yesterday so no idea whether the plants will survive yet.

Also, if this does sound OK, are there any other mid-sized plants I could use in such a low-tech tank. There's a rather empty patch at the back and I'd like to have something growing there. If I just have gravel substrate, would plants that actually go into the substrate survive?

edit: OK, I clearly never read up anything about CO2 as you don't need a plug socket. I assumed it was something completely different. Maybe I should get CO2 then, is it much of a hassle?

 

[SuperColey1]

Shuold be fine apart from the substrate but have a read of this:

http/www.barrreport.com/articles/433-non-co2-methods.html

Andy

 

[littlest]

Hi, thanks for the link. I've had a quick read but will go through more thoroughly later.
This might sound like a silly question, but does the substrate matter if none of the plants are actually planted in the substrate? I was just going to add some fertiliser liquid stuff to the water. Does anyone have recommendations for products?

 

[littlest]

OK, I've done a bit of reading and I was thinking of using the poor man's dosing drops and seachem flourish excel. Does this sound OK?

 

[George Farmer]

Welcome to TFF!

Substrate is irrelevant if you stick to moss and ferns. Anubias would be a good choice too.

CO2 isn't necessary with your lighting. Personally I'd go for Seachem Flourish Excel, but don't overdose. This supplies carbon in and is good value in a small tank. It's also known to help keep algae away.

A 500ml bottle will last you several months/almost a year.

PMDD isn't necessary in such a low light/small tank. It would be easier to buy a bottle of quality off-the-shelf fert i.e. Tropica Plant Nutrition or Seachem Flourish.

Final tip. Plant heavily if you can. Maybe even get some floating plants in there. It will help avoid early algae issues that are very common.

Where do you live?

 

[littlest]

thanks.

Your reply certainly helped save me some money by stopping me from rushing out and buying loads of supplies.

So you suggest Seachem Flourish Excel for carbon and Seachem Flourish or Tropica Plant Nutrion for nutrients? That sounds pretty easy.
(I live in London btw).

I might give the anubias a try too, I quite like them. Any suggestions for floating plants that would cope with the low light?

 

[George Farmer]

Duckweed (Lemna minor) should be ok. It's hard to totally remove though so if you do use it you'll always have it. Not really a bad thing though.

 

[DevUK]

Greenline Aquatics have some more interesting forms of duckweed Look a little more attractive. They have a giant version too (might be esier to expell from the tank if you get fed up of it )

I just started with some Amazon Frogbit, and I quite like it Just waiting to see how much it grows. I bought 6 plants and put them in last week and they are sprouting already.

 

[littlest]

wow, I see what you mean about algae, Loads has appeared literally overnight. I have ordered some floating plants. I ordered both frogbit and giant duckweed. I couldn't decide by the pictures so I ordered both and will just use whichever I prefer. I take it having floating plants will cut the light and therefore cut the algae? I also ordered an anubias. Unfortunately, what with the bank holiday and all, I don't think they will be despatched for a while.

I couldn't find Seachem Flourish or Flourish Excel, or Tropica Plant Nutrion anywhere so I bought a very small bottle of Nutrafin Plant Gro for now while I order the others. I used slightly less than the instructued dose, but the algae has gone mad. Its also growing on the java fern leaves in places and I'm worried this will kill my plants. I've reduced lighting from 12 hours to 10 hours, does this sound OK?
Over the weekend I've had the lights on for 5 hours, off for one hour, on for five, but when I'm working I just have it on for ten hours.

I'm hoping the floating plants will reduce the algae, but until then what can I do? Does the lighting time sound OK? Should I try and physically remove the algae from the plant leaves and ornaments? Will water changes help? (the tank is still doing a fishless cycle so I'm not really doing water changes at the moment, though I did a 33% one before putting the plants in).

 

[nry]

8 hours or less is more than sufficient. A break can help keep algae down but not for everyone.