Alessa

Ok, I got tired of plastic and I would love to plant Balthier's tank, since I dont want any piece of plastic hurting him and I want to give him a nice, comfortable, natural home... And I need advice from the plant experts

Barbrella

How many watts of light do you have, is it flourescent, and what and how deep is your substrate?

This will help determine what plants will do well in your tank.

Alessa

The hex tank says: "15 watts max" I believe it is 10 watts fluorescent it comes with, and I have 1 inch of substrate...

joy613

You might be able to get by with things like java fern, java moss, African fern, and anubias none of these need to be planted just tied to rocks or driftwood. Crypts can tolerate lower light but I have a problem with them melting.

Alessa

Thanks! are there any plants that can be "planted" in my type of substrate?
also, any ideas on how to make sure there arent any snails in my plants? thanks!

pepetj

My female betta loves Anubias Barteri (hard leaves) and Anubias Afzelii (soft leaves).

Both grow well in low light. Just keep the main root of the Afzelii (rhyzome) out of the substrate (can touch it though, just don't cover it with sand I lost some that way) and carefully bury the secondary roots spreading them around so your plant stays putt. Easy to care beautiful plants!

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Alessa

Thanks! I really dont have a sand substrate. (deadly to bettas)... but I am going to try and see what happens!

what about co2... how many plants would be "ok" so that I dont have to be worrying about it?

Iron waffle

You could also put one in a small pot with an aquatic plant fertilizing stick or plant growing formula. Plants grow well in gravel too. co2 is not much of a problem, you can have a reasonably planted tank without adding extra co2 (fish respiration). If you want you could add a co2 injector. Good luck with the underwater garden.

Barbrella

I don't have CO2 in my tanks and my plants are thriving. With your light, you don't need it either.

1" of substrate isn't really enough for most rooted plants...can you add some more?

I have quite a few cryptocorynes, and mine are doing very well. With some more substrate, you could try one of those. There's a very pretty bronze variety that would look good!

Shawnie

im always having issues with real plants...not a clue why..but ive put the silk ones from the dollar store in my bettas tanks..they are very soft and cushiony (is that a word ?) i boiled them first to be safe...and they have been great since then...goodluck either way !

pepetj

I don't intend to hijack this thread but... I have sand in my female Betta tank! could that be one of the reasons she got injured so bad with those sharp edge-stones I stupidly place there? -She's in a temporary 1gal bare bottom "tank" with two mid-size smooth river rocks, medicated with Methylene Blue, and seems to be recovering.

Keep in mind she was doing A-OK in the 10gal (sand at bottom but gravel on top) but I moved her to a 5.5gal that is sand-only, when I needed the 10gal to heal another injured fish.

Should I replace the substrate in the 5.5gal or would it be Ok if I place some gravel on top?

I know you won't mind helping me out in Alessa's thread (assuming I have her permission!)

Pepe
Santo Domingo

PS Anubias do well in gravel as long as you attached them somehow; they do great in my non-CO2 tanks (this sounded like I'm high tech, I only have one simple DIY CO2 which is "in-trial" at the moment).

Alessa

its fine pepe yes, remove the sand if you can, many bettas have died in the forum because they tend to eat the sand, and even if it is covered with gravel, some particles may come above.

here is the link http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/be...tta-tanks.html

I will start on the project as soon as I can, and I will keep you guys updated!

Alessa

Ok, I have added a good bunch oh Hornwort and java fern, and they are both doing great, plus my boy loves them and I plan on adding some more! Thanks for the advice everyone!

joy613

If you want co2 without the mess of diy or the cost of the set up get excel from seachem. There is a few plants that it will melt like val and anacharis. Snails and their eggs are on my bettas menu,

Red1313

Hmmm... I think that you're pretty much covered good luck!

rileyrk190

i have found amazon swords very easy to grow, and i just use the florescent light my tank came with. They get nice tall leaves that reach the surface.