New To This, Any Tips/ideas?

[Bones1987]

Hey everyone, as I said in the title, I'm new to the whole aquarium thing. I know I'd like to get some live plants (but I don't want to go crazy with them) to go in my tank. I'd like to have them just kind of around the back and sides or something. I have gravel in my tank, and I also run an airpump connected to a bubble wall (I've always thought they were cool, haha) and just a little bubble decoration. I also have just the typical flourenscet lighting. My tank is 28 US gals. What are some plants that are not too difficult to keep for what I have? Would I have to replace the gravel with substrate and get all that CO2 jazz if I get live plants? Also, would the bubble stuff have an effect on the plants? (any and all tips/suggestions/anything info at all! are more than welcomed and encouraged, I'd like to know all I can before I jump into this stuff!)

Thanks!

 

[Themuleous]

You could probably grow a number of plant species in the set up as you have it now. There is a pinned list of common plants, with a recently added list for easy to grow species, take your pick If you want stuff around the back and edges, cryptocorynes, swords and a range of stem plants might be a good option. And no you dont need too add CO2. Add a bunch of plants and see which ones grow (BTW the growth will be slow so dont worry if you dont get a 'jungle' after a week, it could take months under lower light but thats nothing to worry about) in your tank, worry about getting more light, co2, etc later on.

The bubbles shouldn't affect the plants

Sam

 

[lljdma06]

it could take months under lower light but thats nothing to worry about) in your tank, worry about getting more light, co2, etc later on.

Sam

Tell that to my plants! I'm pruning almost every week!

As Sam say, consult the pinned topic. The updated list is actually a link in my signature, so have a go at that.

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh yeh, stop showing off

 

[lljdma06]

Yeh yeh, stop showing off

I'll stop when you stop, Mr. know-it-all-help-everybody-in-the-Planted-Section!!!

Ignore us, Bones, Sam and I aren't that scary. Go read those pinned topics!

 

[Themuleous]

someone has to help these poor lost souls, it befalls to me to do it.

Some are born with greatness
Some achieve greatness
Some have greatness thrust upon them

Take your pick

 

[Bones1987]

Thanks a lot for the help, I'm headed over to the plant list right after this! One more question though... do I have to buy liquid plant fertilizer or anything? I was talking to someone at a fish store and he mentioned that I'd have to buy 2 bottle of something. I put in the water once a month and the other once every day or every other day. I don't know exactly what he called it, but he said it helps the plants grow since I have no CO2.

 

[SuperColey1]

someone has to help these poor lost souls, it befalls to me to do it.
Some are born with greatness
Some achieve greatness
Some have greatness thrust upon them
Take your pick

You haven't given the option I wanted to choose. lol

 

[lljdma06]

someone has to help these poor lost souls, it befalls to me to do it.
Some are born with greatness
Some achieve greatness
Some have greatness thrust upon them
Take your pick

You haven't given the option I wanted to choose. lol

He he.

Well, anyhoo, back to the topic. Bones, you have a 28g tank, what is your lighting level in watts? If the LFS person suggested two bottles, one must be an all purpose fertiliser and the other sounds almost like Seachem excel to me, especially considering the dosing given. But, I'm not sure, I need to know your lighting level first to determine whether or not any of this is necessary in the first place.

llj

PS: Like calling you Bones, makes me feel all Star Trekkie.

 

[Bones1987]

Hey, yeah, I'm pretty sure that it was Seachem Excel. And I think the other bottle was the same brand as the other. But yeah, I have one flourencent tube and it's 17W. Is that not very much? Because most lights I know of aren't that low (I didn't even know they made 17W lights! haha).

As for the Bones, it's been my nickname for years, and although I'm not much of a Star Trek fan, I love Star Wars! Hope I don't offend you if you are a Star Trek fan! haha. I've heard both those Star Trek/Wars guys have a kind of rivalry! haha.

 

[SuperColey1]

I have 36W (which was what came with the hood of the tank) and this is over a 29Gallon. Fluval 800 Duo Deep, so maybe you can gauge yours on this.

Mine is considered very low-low light in planted (although fish wise I can see 'em all)

 

[lljdma06]

Hey, yeah, I'm pretty sure that it was Seachem Excel. And I think the other bottle was the same brand as the other. But yeah, I have one flourencent tube and it's 17W. Is that not very much? Because most lights I know of aren't that low (I didn't even know they made 17W lights! haha).

As for the Bones, it's been my nickname for years, and although I'm not much of a Star Trek fan, I love Star Wars! Hope I don't offend you if you are a Star Trek fan! haha. I've heard both those Star Trek/Wars guys have a kind of rivalry! haha.

17W over 28g isn't a lot, but if you double it 34W over 28g isn't half bad, and with a weak DIY CO2 mix, you can grow wome pretty nice plants. Or, you can ditch the CO2 and still grow some nice crypts, ferns, mosses, anubias, and some very hardy stemplants.

Nope, not offended one bit, Bones. In fact, I'm one of the few that pretty equally likes both. But, I'm not a huge fan. No conventions for me.

llj

 

[Bones1987]

Ok, thanks for everything. I'll go out sometime this week and look for a new lighting rig. And yeah, no conventions here for me either! haha. Thanks again for all the info!