I will be adding plants

[Chunandler]

I will be adding plants hopefully, when I get my new aqaurium after school is over in about half a month. I will get either a 29 ga or 50 ga aqaurium. I have a 10 ga right now. My pleco isn't very happy right now. This was my first tank and I've had it about 5 months. My balas are very happy but my pleco hasn't eaten one thing I've given him and he won't move until all the light are off. Probably because my tank is pretty bare with nothing but gravel. I hope to make my new take a happier enviroment for him so It would be very helpful if you could give some helpers on what I need to succesfully have plants, including little details such as substrate and what effect it will have on the perimeters, as I want to get it right. Thanks, Chandler

P.S. Would I be better to use fake plants?

 

[ostrow]

Live plants are great and much prettier. I just use regular gravel, though laterite is preferred, I'm told, as a mix-in I think. I add SeaChem's Flourish every ten days or so per instructions and plants seem happy.

Easy and pretty are: Crypt Wendtii (I have and prefer red).
Amazon swords (I have dwarf, also pretty).
Sunset hygro (but clown loaches, I've discovered, shred them )
Water Wisteria.

All are pretty undemanding and grow easily.

Note: before adding any plants to your tank, treat them or you'll have snail and/or disease problems most likely. I treat in a solution of water and potassium permangenate (present in Jungle Products Clear Water -- liquid version), and then rinse well before adding them. Don't skip this step, or a similar one. But really, this is the best for killing snails and their eggs and will also zap any parasites, bacteria. For full details see my archived post in this forum: http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?ac...=1113&hl=snails

 

[kevin007]

i prefer fake plants, looks better and easy to clean, not to mention u can pic any color u want.