Planted Tank

[ripil]

hello
i've just read loads of info on the planted aquarium resource centre on here. wow i'm even more confused (not saying the forum topic aint no help its just no help to me and my pea sized brain) the two plants i've had before both died within two weeks. after seeing what ppl can do with plants and how natural they can make their tanks its my turn. i've just been given java fern and christmas moss. any tips so i'm not buying more in 14 days? thanks.

 

[Proxo]

Lol, i was the exact same when reading into plants and then i just wanted to have a pro planted tank asap.
I've calmed down now and took things slow, get feel of some plants then i'll do that 'pro planted tank scape' lol.

Some plants i was recommended;
Java Fern, Java Moss, Vallisneria, Anubias Nana, Samolus Valerandi, Anubias Nana Bonzai

 

[Louiseness]

hello
i've just read loads of info on the planted aquarium resource centre on here. wow i'm even more confused (not saying the forum topic aint no help its just no help to me and my pea sized brain) the two plants i've had before both died within two weeks. after seeing what ppl can do with plants and how natural they can make their tanks its my turn. i've just been given java fern and christmas moss. any tips so i'm not buying more in 14 days? thanks.

Both of those plants need to be attached to something to grow, so you can't plant the java fern in the soil. Use a bit of cotton thread, fishing line or even superglue to attach them both to whatever you like (rock, ornament, bogwood etc).

IMO they're both fairly easy to take care of (I have them both in my low tech, low light tank), just make sure you have your lights on for a decent amount of time (I have mine on about 9 hours a day because it's not very bright) and they should live

 

[fluttermoth]

I've had Jave fern grow in tanks that were empty of fish with no light for six months and it did fine just in the ambient room light. The only way you can kill Java fern, IME, is if you have fish that rip it apart or eat it, but most won't as it tastes quite bitter, apparently (I've never tried it myself ).

 

[Akasha72]

I have some amazon swords and some twisted vallis. As far as I know both spread out quite well. I did have Cabomba and Elodea but my fish discovered too much of a liking for it and ate it all.

Some plants the fish will just destroy, other they'll leave alone. It's just trial and error but I won't be buying Cabomba or Elodea again.

Hope that helps a little

 

[ripil]

i was hoping to add ferts to help them but i'm guessing i cant do that with the fish in the tank? both the lights are on times 8 hours a day so that part is sorted. been told no airstones just a bit of water flow at the top. the wpg is something i've got to work out as i dunno what sort of size tank it is. so i'll the the calculator on here in a min. yep got the two pieces of bog wood i'm going to attach them too. i'm really thinking of trying to make a moss wall as the background keeps coming up with air pockets every couple of days. does coral sand effect the plants given that the pH in the tank is 8.2? thanks for all the replies