Nicolas Rodriguez

Ok guys, im getting quite a bit ambitious now, im switching my tank from gravel to sand this weekend, and im also considering turning it into a planted tank, but i have no idea what is involved with keeping a planted tank.

So as you can guess, i have ALOT of questions.

1. Do i need to get special lighting?

2. Do i need any other special equipment, all i have is a filter and heater.

3. Can you even keep plants in sand?

4. Are they expensive?

Thats all i can think of right now, but im sure i will comeup with more as i go along... but lastly, is it really worth it? I have seen some absolutly beautiful planted tanks, but are they worth all the hassel?

angelfish220

As long as you have decent flourecent lighting, you can keep low light plants. I have a 55 gallon tank with 40 watts and it works fine.

No more equipment needed, but a bottle of fertilizer is helpful.

You can keep plants in sand as long as you have enough to anchor the roots. I had sand for a long while and it again worked fine.

Really it depends. You can get some really good lowlight plants for the same cost as a guppy. Or the same cost of a wild Discus. It just depends what you get.

I think that yes, a beautifully planted tank is defiantly worth it. They help with nitrates and keep the water clean and look amazing.

Nicolas Rodriguez

Excellent, you just sold me on plants, im not sure what my light is, but i think it is at least 40 watts, ill start doing some research on low light plants, i wont being do them all that soon, once i get this sand set up and put a background on my tank i will be taking a break until i come into some more money.

angelfish220

Good! I can't wait to see pics of your tank when its all finished!

Nicolas Rodriguez

Yeah, i just asked mike to set me up with a blog, i will be doing befores and afters on the sand, and then the plants eventually.
Another question though, is stocking plants like stocking fish? Can you only add a certain amount at a time and do they have to be acclimated?

Alasse

Stock as many plants as you can afford at once, it helps to keep algae at bay, put in some plants that are nutrient hogs too, wisteria is good plant for this job

Plants can be just put in, no acclimatization, no certain amount. Be aware though some plants 'melt', crypts are known for this (never had the problem myself), leave them planted they do tend to recover

Nicolas Rodriguez

ok, im going to some reasherch on low light palnts, and i will put in as many at once as i can, i cant wait to have a beautiful planted tank its going to look amazing

inuyasha_lover_21

Java fern is a good low light plant. The tend to grow slowly and there roots need to be tied to driftwood. You could add plant weights to keep them down to

cerianthus

There are few 40w plant light blbs available. Look into these and choose the one you desire since different blb give you different look when on. Bulb that is close 6500-6700K is recommended for plant but it is some what dull.
If possible, add another strip (change the hood to Glass Canopy), using two types of plant bublbs. Have them on timer. One bulb for full daylight and another one for 4-6 hrs (11AM - 3PM, sun is most intense) to simulate the natural light given in wild.
This is how we simulate the intensity of sun in Reef Set up. But such set cost a lot.
For plant, 80W should do for most plants.

Beeker

Some great low light plants are Wisteria, Anachris, Java Fern, and Anubias. I had a little trouble with the Wisteria and Anachris at first. They are single stem plants and not bushes, so they don't stay down on their own at first. The Wisteria will send down roots to anchor themselves, but it will look messy if you don't trim them. The Anachris I just let float. The fish like it that way and it was too much trouble to keep replanting it all of the time.
The Anubias and Java Fern are both great all around. They are so easy and the Anubias even blooms flowers from time to time. For some other great ideas check out
www.plantgeek.net
It is a very helpful and informative website that is very user-friendly.