Solo plants??

[guppygirl]

Hey guys,
I was checking out what plants I wanted to put in my new tank(s ) and I was trying to find some plants that would stand out in the middle of the tank and really catch your eye. Not bushy or low to the substrate, or floating either. I thought Tiger Lotus was a nice one, but I wanted to see what you guys have in mind.

(attached is a picture of Tiger Lotus)

 

[Lateral Line]

It is always difficult to recommend a plant without knowing how big the tank is, what the water chemistry parameters are, if CO2 injection is a possibility and most importantly, how much light you have over the tank.

There are some superb Sword cultivars available with coloured/patterned leaves which are pretty adaptable, condition wise. Also many fine Aponogetons which make splendid centrepieces.

 

[guppygirl]

Ok, here I will help more~
The tank(s) are both 20 gallons, about 2 feet long, by 1 ft tall, and about 1 ft wide.
I will definitely do CO2 injection, probably that natural fermentation one. I will also install an undergravel heater (yes heater, not filter!). I'll also use eco complete and/or Seachem flourite as a substrate.
I'm still not sure about the light, probably one of the plant lights, like Nutri grow, or some other brand. I'm not sure how much light that is, but the size of the nutri grow is 18", 15 watt.

 

[Bol]

Sounds like a 20-high, low-light tank.

Not bushy, huh? So something the shape of the plant in front of the lotus in your picture is out?

 

[Silly me]

15watt for 20gal tank.. never.. 0.75w/g

dubble that to have a low light tank.. 1.5w/g

 

[Colin_BC]

Unfortunatley most plants that will be 'showoff eyecatchers' require lighting cloer to at least 2-3 watts per gallon. Most planst that are red in colour require high light to really fluorish. Try this site. It's from a pinned thread in this forum. It's one page of 150 plant pic's. each one will give a general idea of light requirements.

Colin

 

[Lateral Line]

As the others have pointed out, your light is really very low. At that low level, CO2 injection will be a waste of time - you'll see no benefit at all.

Also, I have used under tank heater pads, and in substrate heater cables and under various conditions with numerous setups - have never found they made any noticeable difference.

If you want to keep a variety of plants, you'd be better off spending the money you would spend on CO2 and substarte heaters on more light. Don't get any of the expensive fancy spectrum lamps either. Simple full spectrum lamps, (5500K - 6500K) on for 12 hours a day.

With light as low as you have now, you may want to try to get one of the special cultivars of Java Fern. Microsorum pteropus var. 'Windeløv' or var. 'Tropica' for example, they will almost grow in the dark! Generally, plants that have red leaves are very high light demanding, 3 - 4Watts per gallon type thing.

 

[guppygirl]

Ok, thanks so much Lateral line (and everybody!)!! I haven't set up anything yet, still have to buy the equipment, hood and accesories!! That's why I came here first. I want do this tank right. So can anybody explain this light thing? I still don't get it.

 

[Lateral Line]

Your tank is 20 Gallons. To get "Medium" light, you'll need 40 Watts of fluorescent light over the tank. That is your "brightness factor" simplistically.

The other thing is the quality of that light. Plants work by absorbing light and using it to fuel chemical reactions which use CO2 and other nutrients. The stuff that converts the light into usable energy is chlorophyll. It only absorbs light at certain frequencies, or "colours". Fluorescent lamps are generally sold with a wattage and a colour which for reasons I won't go into are based on temperature. The best temperature to go for when trying to grow plants is one between 5500K and 6500K as it covers most of the range that chlorophyll can use to power the plant. There are a lot of very expensive lamps around with glorious names and promises, but a simple full spectrum lamp is far better unless you know you need something different.

Finally there is duration. Most tropical plants come from the tropics, (duh!), where the day length varies a bit, but nothing like the same way as nearer the poles, it is roughly light for 12 hours and dark for 12 hours. Plants use the dark period to exchange waste materials, so a dark period is important.

Browse the plant list at Tropica and see if there is what you want, available, that will grow with medium light, in your water conditions, and is flagged as Easy or Very Easy. That way you won't need to worry about CO2 and other funnies.

That is how I think you should start. What I would say though, is that if you really want to get into plant keeping in a big way, when buying your hood, get one that you can add more light to later! To get up to High or very high light, you'll need twice as much light - so think ahead. CO2 is also something you can add later.

If there is anything you don't understand, just ask.

 

[Colin_BC]

Think ahead.....hmmmmmmm..........Great advice......I wish I had thought of this when I started.

I've spent over $200 on canopies to accomodate 3x 20W 20" fluoro's (maximum that would fit with space available), only to run out of room to add more bulbs and still not have enough light for proper health of some of my plants. Now for under $100 and a tiny bit of elbowgrease and help with cutting from the hardware store, I have closer to 120W of lighting and a much nicer looking canopy. If you plan on going heavily into plants, especially ones with high light requirements, I suggest you try and determine how much light you will need and plan it all out ahead. make sure you will have enough room for any fixtures and lights you think you will need.

Colin