grump

I am thinking now that I have removed some lava rock I need more plants want too try a real one...Was thinking of java furn or java moss...

Now I have a 75 gal with 2-65 w coralife 50\50 lights will these be ok and they are going to be but about 2\3 from the top of the tank not right on the bottom thinking I can tie them to some lava rock that is left...

Can any one tell me if this is a good plan and if not what is the best plan to do it...Thanks Rob

CHoffman

Sounds like a good plan. You have about 1.73 watts per gallon. The java fern and moss will do great.

grump

Thanks CHoffman for the fast reply I will be getting more another light for my tank aswell after I get my hood made...

CHoffman

If your just wanting to keep low light plants without co2 you won't need more light. But if you want the CO2 and all the fancy equipment then you will. Kate, MissMTS, has beautiful planted tanks without CO2 and I think around 1.5 -2.0 WPG. Here is her tank.
80 Gallon SA Planted Tank Journal

grump

I am going too add some low light plant 1 or 2 for now after some research...Probly Java furn and some Java moss...The only thing I need to know now is do I need to quarantine plants the same as fish or do they can you just add....

Can they be rinsed off first or just put in....Can you use fishing line too tie them too a rock or driftwood....Sorry for so meny questions

Llama

You should probably rinse them off, snails might be hiding there. No need to quarantene them I'd say.

If you want to tie something to a rock/driftwood I'd suggest you get an Anubias instead, those need to be kept above gravel. The java moss is well, a moss - so yeah it'll need to be attached

ADDED: Just checked, and yeah you should probably tie the java fern too

grump

thanks Llama well rinse don't want snails LOL...Can I use fishing line too tie them too the rock\driftwood or is there some thing better too use,,,,thx

Llama

I used a rubber band for mine, you can use a fishing line or thread if you want.

grump

Thanks Llama I think I well make a trip to the LFS to look for a plant....I will post pic's later

Drew 43920

I think dipping plants in ice water or salt water for 20 minutes tends to remove snails and snail eggs. But I like snails

Nate McFin

I do a 1 part bleach to 19 parts water and a 4 minute dip for large leaf plants and 2 minutes for mosses and small leaved plants. I hear some plants don't do wll with it but I haven't seen any problems on mine including Crypts,swords,java moss, and baby tears.
Potassium permanganate is another option...I haven't tried it.
I used a salt water treatment for ICH and while the plants did not like it (2 died) the others made it ok. It did NOT however kill the snails. In fact I would say they are worse now than they were before. In the future I will do the bleach dip AND quarantine all plants for a minimum of 2 weeks. I am 99% sure that the Ich came in with some new plants I bought. (They had fish in the plant tank that had iCH)

Drew 43920

How is the 2-65 light mounted on tank ?

grump

Hi everyone I got my first real plant last night it is a java furn. I am addicted to real plants now going to slowly convert whole tank too real plants LOL....MTS comes in meny forms ...Let me know what you think thx


Here are a few pic's of start of convertion...

First plant01 5-7-09.JPG

First plant02 5-7-09.JPG

First plant03 5-7-09.JPG

Beth1965

Great looking plant, looks like it will reproduce nicely.
Beth

Nate McFin

Looks great and I love the rock it is planted on.
You are very right about MTS with plants as well as fish. Plants are alot of fun and really add to the look of the tank.
Thanks for posting an update!
-Nate