dmm28

This is my first shot at real aquarium plants and so far so good. I have to say though, at first I got a little overwhelmed at how much info there is and some of the setups. I've gone with nothing special at all! plain gravel no flourite or anything, standard florescent tube lights, and I use a few capfulls of a liquid fertilizer every week. I don't use any Co2 or dry ferts or anything special.

So for those that are interested in getting some real plants go for it! It's really easy.

I have all moderate light plants and apparently they are of moderate skill level as well (according to plantgeek.com) I haven't had anything but success so far.

In my tank right now I have:

Italian val
corkscrew val
java moss
dwarf hair grass
creeping jenny
water hedge

The last three I just got today so we'll see how they work out but the vals have reproduced more than I ever would have imagined! I went from 3 vals to 10 or maybe more even in a month.

kathyshovel

its sounds great hope it all goes well for u ,i been to winnipeg when i was in canada june2008 with your very cold winters at least u can garden inside hey all best happy new year

soldieroffortune1974

That's pretty good. I love heavily planted aquariums. I personally use all the known tricks to keep vibrant healthy plants. CO2,clay/loam substrate,adding trace nutrients/fertilisers,etc.

Good luck with the new plants.

CindyJ

Just curious what you lighting is? I'm new to the plants too still and there are some that are moderate light that i'd love to grow!

Take some pics cause we'd love to see your tank!!! If you get the chance and have tome of course!!!

Keep us posted on how things go and best of luck!!!!

lol

Cindy

dmm28

I'm using 2 GE ecolux 40 watt 48" bulbs. 1 is a daylight bulb and one is a plant/aquarium bulb. I'll get you all the other details if you like.

soldieroffortune1974

I use 2 40 watt 48 inch T12 Sylvania GloLux bulbs on a dimmer/timer. They start off dim early morning and increase to full daylight,then dim down to almost dark in the evening. The dimmer switch I use is like this 1: http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByMa.../Item/XPD3-WI/ and the timer I use is like this: http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByMa...ro/Item/XPMT1/

I am not an electrician,so I hired 1.The electrician charged me $50 to wire all my set-ups to the dimmer and timer. These switches operate 5 of my aquariums at a time. Like I said,I am not an electrician,and can't explain how it was done.

It works real well to simulate a day's light cycle.

dmm28

WOW Soldier very high end. I just use an on/off timer and the lights are either full bore or nothing at all. I wouldn't mind having a set up like that!

KyWildFish

Lighting is more than half the battle with plants. It can be pricey but worth it.

Joe_D

I would watch out with the "water hedge". According to plant geek all of the varities of "hedge" are not true aquarium plants. I'll quote them here -- "they will rot, die and pollute your tank".

I know from experience, I tried "cherry hedge" and it was horrible.

Good Luck with your plants.

Jess

I found the Italian Val seems to be sensitive to Flourish Excel, to the point it "melts" completely off if given enough. So I feed it mostly from the roots. But it is a very easy plant to grow. Trust me, I've killed everything else.

dmm28

I will watch the water hedge as I don't have any experience with it at all. I don't use flourish, I'm using nutafin liquid fertilizer right now and it seems to be working just fine.

mjordan

just puting this out in open. im puzzled but is it true that floresent cant be dimmed meaninf u have incandesent which heat up a tank.... incandesent baddddddddddddd very bad. especially 4 plants.


sorry but my spelling. i take the quick way out.

soldieroffortune1974

Flourescent lights can be dimmed,but it takes a certain type of ballast. The original ballasts in the hoods,can't be dimmed.They would have to be replaced.

see here: http://www.lutron.com/product_technical/fluorescent.htm

mjordan

cool i didnt no that thax

Butterfly

Are either of these the hedge you have ?
http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_...ge&type=Search
Sounds like a good plant list Do you have pictures of the tank?
Carol

dmm28

Here's some pics for ya all.

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