Plants In A Biorb?

[NeonTetra97]

Hi all,
 
I was thinking today that it would be nice to try my hand at keeping a real plant in my aquarium as opposed to the silk ones that are looking a bit tatty up close now I have absolutely no idea how to keep plants in an aquarium so any help would be great! The BiOrbs as you probably know have a ceramic media as their substrate to act as the biological filter, would any plant be able to survive in this? Are their any plants that could survive without the need to replace the substrate or maybe survive without the need for a substrate at all? I heard that the Java Fern could survive without any substrate, just tied to something like driftwood, is that true?
 
I know a BiOrb probably is not the best tank for live plants but I would love to have at least one, I hear they are very beneficial to the water quality?
 
Thanks for all your help!

 

[ian]

Java fern or anubias will both do well in a biorb. The lighting is relatively low on a biorb, so, supplementation of any ferts can be done weekly.

 

[NeonTetra97]

Wow that was a fast reply! Thanks for the confirmation about the Java Fern, and by supplementation what sort of things are available? Are there special fertilisers for aquariums? Thanks again!  

Oh, I forgot to mention, I swapped the standard light unit for an uprated LED version, would LED light be ok for plants?

 

[ian]

The led will be fine, the plants above normally sit in shade areas in their natural areas. The biorb led will be fine for them. Just using some trace element will be fine. Something like Tropica premium will do the job nicely.

4-5 squirts a week will do

http/www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/fish-tank-equipment/aquarium-plant-equipment/aquarium-plant-fertilisers/tropica-premium-fertiliser-125ml.html?ref=googlebase&gclid=CPSSzY2av7kCFRMPtAodgU0A9Q

 

[NeonTetra97]

Okay that sounds good! Im looking forward to my trip to the LFS this weekend! Have you ever had any problems with introducing snails with plants? Can you spot them and remove them before placing the plant into the aquarium?

 

[DrRob]

Snails with plants are a fairly common addition. You either love or hate them.
 
You won't be able to see all of them, or their eggs, coming in on new plants.  Washing them, and dipping the plants, can help, but it's not perfect.

 

[Meeresstille]

Mossballs would not need a substrate either. Or Java Moss on a small piece of drift wood. Then there is Hornwort which you can float in the water, it can be planted but does not need to! The same goes for Water Sprite.

 

[NeonTetra97]

Just a quick update everyone, I went to my LFS this morning and bought a Java Fern a Vallisneria (not sure if thats what is is called) and a moss ball. I was not to sure about the Vallisneria but the guy at the LFS said it would be better than an Anubias but might need more light than my current LED unit so I thought I should give it a try and see how it goes I gotta say that tying the Java Fern to the stone that its on was a nightmare! It took ages lol but I'm quite pleased with the result so far, a bit more work needed i think!
 
Only time will tell if the Vallisneria or any of the other plants for that matter will do well or even survive but at the moment I'm really pleased with the look of the real plants, they make the remanning fake ones look awful! What do you think about the guy at the LFS recommending the Vallisneria over an Anubias was that a good or bad idea? 
 
Oh, ian I have ordered the supplement you recommended and it should be here very soon! 
 
Not sure how you do it yet but i will try to post some pics and maybe someone call tell me if the Vallisnera is actually something else!
 
Thanks again for all your help on this everyone!