Would Like To Try Live Plants For First Time

[Will91]

Hi all:

I would love to try some live plants but am not sure I have a right set up at this time.

I have a 26 US gallon All-Glass brand bowfront tank. I have epoxy coated gravel that is about 1/4" in diamter in so. I have a "hang on back" Tetra filter and aerate the tank. The light is the standard hood that came with the system.

Do I absolutely need special substrate, higher light and CO2 for any live plants? Is there any type of plant I could simply plant in my gravel and have moderate success - even if it only lives for a short time?

 

[mlawson]

You don't need a specialised substrate, high-light and CO2 to grow some plants, but it limits your choice very much. Assuming your substrate is of considerable depth, you could try Vallis which in my experience is very undemanding and does not require a great deal of additional CO2. Aerating the water doesn't make growing plants any easier. You could also try Java fern and Anubias which you must attatch to rocks and wood. These are very simple to grow.

 

[TFFKes]

Will,

I'll just cut and paste this from another thread, I've got gravel with no substrate, though I have stuck a root tab in it under the
Crypt

Limnophila Sessiliflora (sold to me as Ambulia) for my tank (Juwel 60 with standard light) 3 weeks ago and its
growing well - I'm going to have to trim it soon, after only 3 weeks.

I've also got Elodea Densa, 2*Vallisneria Spiralis, a Java Fern, some Java Moss and an unidentified Crypt that are doing well.

I did have Bacopa Monnieri and that grew a lot, but it got really 'leggy', so I pulled it and replaced it with the Ambulia.

I've got another unidentified plant that looks like it's doing okay, but I can't find what it's called.

Take a look at Plantgeek - Plant Guide as well.

Kes

 

[doubledee]

Hi all:

I would love to try some live plants but am not sure I have a right set up at this time.

I have a 26 US gallon All-Glass brand bowfront tank. I have epoxy coated gravel that is about 1/4" in diamter in so. I have a "hang on back" Tetra filter and aerate the tank. The light is the standard hood that came with the system.

Do I absolutely need special substrate, higher light and CO2 for any live plants? Is there any type of plant I could simply plant in my gravel and have moderate success - even if it only lives for a short time?

I wouldn't see the point in just sticking some plants in "even if it only lives for a short time". If you want to grow plants, which will benefit the fish, you will need to some basic preparations. I don't know what "epoxy coated gravel" is but it doesn't sound natural. I suppose you could try growing some crypts and swords with some root tabs. Anubias, Java Ferns and Java Moss can simply be tied to rocks and bogwood using some cotton thread. However, if you want a lot of plants, I would remove the substrate and start again. It needn't be expensive. You can could make your substrate entirely from a plant nutritious substrate but that could be expensive. Alternatively, put a layer of plant substrate down and then add some silver sand on top. That's what I did. You could easily grow anubias, amazon swords, crypts, java fern narrow, java moss, vallis (needs good light), sagitaria, hairgrass, hygrophila sp., and rotala sp. with the basic lighting (I upgraded mine though later on) for now and some ferts added once or twice a week. It really isn't hard. You will probably get an algae bloom but I sorted that out with a water change and now shrimp eat it all.

 

[Will91]

Thanks everyone for your generous expenditure of time in replying to this question.

Last night, with the replies to this post in hand, I bought a very pretty anubias nana plant. I was also assured by the lfs that this is indeed a very hardy plant requiring very little light and could be tied to a rock or piece of wood. I have it tied to one of my synthetic plants now but will tie it to a rock in the next few days. I guess I should use cotton thread or fishing nylon string. It was more expensive than I would have thought, $ USD, but it IS nice.

One question... should I purchase some sort of liquid fertilizer? I hope it will really be OK with the low light from my stock hood and no CO2 injection.

 

[nry]

How much light do you have in watts?

Many plants will grow fine in ~1 watt per gallon on a tank of your size, I had no issues with 1wpg in my 15-gallon:

A liquid fertiliser will be a good idea - Tropica Plant Nutrition is considered one of the best by many, go for Plant Nutrition Plus (included N and K) if you have a low fish stock for your tank. It may seem expensive but you need little and it will last ages.

 

[Will91]

I'm pretty sure the wattage is only like 13W. I will have to check. That would be 0.5 W/gallon which I know is really low but from what I have read the anubia variety can handle low light. I hope!

 

[Will91]

I just looked at the single tube and it is 15W which is close to 0.6W/gallon. Do you folks think this will be enough for the low light plants that were recommended here such as the anubia nana?

Thank you.

 

[Biulu]

That should be enough. I have been growing the anubias with only the 'daylight' from my house. They do grow very slowly though....

 

[Will91]

Hi again everyone and thanks for the great info. Last night I added a Java Fern to my tank. It is very pretty.

Question: As I mentioned, I have a 24" 15W strip light on my tank. From what I have read here, I would benefit from a bit more light. So far, I have only found the CoraLife AquaLight 24" hood which comes with a single 65W light. I'm almost thinking this might be TOO bright for my 26 US gallon tank. Also, according to George Farmer's pinned thread, when you go to higher light levels, CO2 and fertilization become absolute necessities.

I'm not sure I want so much light as to have to get into CO2 and fertilization so should I :

1) find a 24" hood with less than 65W output but higher than my 15W? ANY recommendations as to manufacturer appreciated!!
2) stick with my 15W and focus on the low light plants folks have mentioned in this post

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Biulu]

Is there any chance you can change the light in that hood you found? If you have 2x 24 W T5, you would have enough light to grow lots of plants, and yet do not need CO2.
Or a single 24W with a reflector maybe?