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July 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Bum
| Should I add live plants to my tank?
I have a 6.6 gallon tank with gravel, a filter, heater, and some fake plants for my male betta. My friend gave me some small bits of her real plants from her betta tank. The plant has grown pretty big and her fish loves it. I think it's a crypt lutea based on pictures I have seen online. My tank is in a pretty dark spot but I do keep his light on most of the day. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to add it into my tank. I figured it might be good for keeping the water cleaner and adding oxygen but I also don't want any algae in the tank. Plus Bubble (my fish) is still recovering from fin rot and just started showing some regrowth so I am scared I might be introducing bacteria (good or bad) from the other tank. How hard are live plants (or this plant specifically) to take care of and is it worth it or should I just leave my tank the way it is? | 
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July 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| live plants are easier to take care of in a small tank like that.
first we need to know what lighting you have (incandesent, flouresent, compact flouresent, watts?)
for about 5 bucks you can replace a regular incandesent bulb with a 20-30 watt compact flouresent light, which would give you between 4-5WPG (watts per gallon). this would be considered very high lighting, and you wouldnt have to much trouble growing plants
sometimes a little bit of fertilizer is used, which is fairily inexpensive. seachem flourish is about 4 bucks a bottle, and treats 12,500 gallons, which would last forever with a 6.6 gal tank
hope this helps! | |
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July 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Bum
| I have a 15W flouresent lamp. I guess I want the plants more for what they would do for the water/fish, and not really for the aesthetic value. I am just wondering if I should even bother and if it's ok to add them now since I just set up the tank 3 days ago. The tank is still uncycled but I had to put Bubble in it since that's the only was he was going to recover from his fin rot. His 1 gallon, unfiltered/heated tank, wasn't doing him any good. Will the plants create algae?
How often should I be washing my fake plants/ornaments? | |
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July 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Helper
| When setting up an aquarium I put the plants in on the first day. They actually help cycle the tank. The plants will actually help absorb the nutrients that cause algae, the faster growing the plants the less algae. I have a bowl in my kitchen table without any special light and no substrate but have beautiful plants anubias, java fen, java moss and a marimo ball. I find low light, low tech tanks are the easiest way to start. As far as washing the plastic plants I wouldn't wash them all at the same time since the good bacteria actually grows on them. Plastic plants get a lot of algae on them I remember that from years ago when all I had was plastic plants. Those were the days when hornwort and watersprite made up a planted thank! Right now since your betta is in an uncycled tank it is very important to keep the water changed. If you plan on doing 100% water changes with a planted tank I would suggest things like java moss, java fern, hornwort, anubia, and marimo balls none of these need to be planted and easy to grow. | |
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July 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Bum
| I think you should go for it.
Live plants look beautiful and make a tank look natural.
good luck | |
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July 12th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Cryptocorynes... The last plant I would reccomend to someone who gets addicted to something! It's an amazingly hardy, pretty and collectable plant. It can survive in even the lowest light tanks, so no need to worry. Just keep the light on for about 8 hours a day. No less, any more would to to much.
WARNING: DO NOT PLANT THIS PLANT IN YOUR TANK UNLESS YOU WANT TO END UP WITH AN ENTIRE COLLECTION OF CRYPTOCROYNES! 
Last edited by Blub; July 12th, 2008 at 03:27 PM.
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July 12th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| What type of plants did your friend give you? | |
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July 12th, 2008
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| | Fish Helper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by HatchetHaven  Cryptocorynes... The last plant I would reccomend to someone who gets addicted to something! It's an amazingly hardy, pretty and collectable plant. It can survive in even the lowest light tanks, so no need to worry. Just keep the light on for about 8 hours a day. No less, any more would to to much.
WARNING: DO NOT PLANT THIS PLANT IN YOUR TANK UNLESS YOU WANT TO END UP WITH AN ENTIRE COLLECTION OF CRYPTOCROYNES! | Sounds like you have a few crypt yourself tucked away in a tank someplace!! | |
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July 13th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by joy613 Sounds like you have a few crypt yourself tucked away in a tank someplace!! | I find it hard to resist a new variety... I currently have 3 kinds, but I'm always on the lookout for more! I'm going to have a go at growing them emersed soon. | |
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July 14th, 2008
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| | Fish Helper
| I think that live plants are great. They have only positive consequences for your tank they look great once they have sort of grown in. (They are also cheaper than most fake plants anyway) | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by tony I think that live plants are great. They have only positive consequences for your tank they look great once they have sort of grown in. (They are also cheaper than most fake plants anyway) | Only if you get the right varietys for your tank though.
If it came in a bunch/pot, take your plant out of the bunch/pot! It grows much better. | |
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