scatty

I've just been perusing pics of members tanks, and everyone's plants look so fantastic. Mine always look kinda unhappy. Not dead, but...you know. I've tried a couple of different ones, same problem. Unfortunately I have no idea what they were. I'm assuming all pics are live plants - anyone on here use plastic ones?

My question is, are some plants easier than others? and if so which ones would you recommend? (assuming same species are available here in oz). Also, does the nitrogen cycle, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates affect plants as well as fish?

Oh!!! just thought of something. Could it be the light I'm using? Are there special ones for plants?

Shawnie

all my tanks are silk aka fake plants lol...I dont have the proper lighting for anything but the mosses and a couple ferns...

heres a link that has all the plants imaginable and what type of lighting would be required
www.plantgeek.com

Butterfly

Some plants need more light than others.
Some simple low light plants are Java fern, Anubias, and Bolbitis. There are several kinds of each of those. Each of these need to be attached to rocks or wood. The anubias can be laid on the substrate and it will send roots down into it. These will grow with just about any light. check this out
Plants with Rhizomes
Crypts(cryptcorne) are also low light but can be planted in the substrate as long as the rhizome isn't covered.
Hope that helps
carol

scatty

Man you guys know alot

aquarist48

Well thank you Scatty. It took me hours to decide on which plastic plants to get
(just teasing you). I have all plastic plants. Having Silver Dollars in my tank I decided against live ones. Take care and have a good day today!

Butterfly

Thanks, we are still learning too
carol

You are SSSSSOOOO bad

scatty

Ken, yours were the first pics I looked at (being in the spotlight and all - congrats). I looked for ages, thinking, they can't be real, can they? it spurred me to look elsewhere, and, lo and behold, everyone's looked great. Imagine how disappointed I'm going to be if they all turn out to be fake

I've been told that plastic plants can tear up a bettas fins, true? Silk might be the go - didn't even know they existed for fishtanks. I still like the idea of live ones, but if they're going to be a hassel.....

Hey look! I've been promoted to fish bum

aquarist48

Yeah!!!! Congrats on making it to Fishbum. So many of the members here have beautiful live planted tanks. Too, so many beautiful tanks with plastic and silk plants.
Something else you may want to consider it silk plants from places like WalMart, in the craft department they have silk plants that are a lot cheaper and a much larger variety. Just make sure there is no wire inside the silk plants that could lead to rusting in the tank. If I'm not mistaken Shawnie gets many of her silk plants at places other than local fish stores.
For Betas I would suggest silk over plastic personally.

scatty

No walmart over here (yet), but I can think of similar places, great idea. Good advice about the wire, too - wouldn't have thought of that. Are there advantages to the tank having live plants, or does it not really matter?

Hehe. You guys have ROOMS full of tanks (or tanks full of room ) and I have a 5G with corys and a betta, arguably the toughest fish going. Methinks I might be getting a little technical?

Butterfly

My Bettas enjoy the broad leaves of anubias. They are super easy to grow
There are difinite advantaes to live plants. They use up Nitrates which are the end result fish waste, make the tanks look more natural(can do same with silk) and the fish like them for hiding/sleeping places.
As for silk plants i think Michaels has a large selection again as aquarist48 said watch for the wires. they can rust in your tank but may poke your fish as well.
Carol

scatty

no Michaels either

Butterfly

I didn't look to see where you were until after I posted. But you kind of get the idea of places to look?
Carol

scatty

I do, thanks Carol. I think I might give the anubias a try. I've got some broad leaf reddish purple thing that looks fine sitting in the old betta bowl in cold water, but as soon as I put in in the tank the leaves start to fall off and rot. I suppose there are plants that prefer cold water. Geez, I thought my fish knowledge was limited. Turns out my plant knowledge is non-existent.

Butterfly

Does it look kind of like this? If so it's not aquatic and the warm water probably speeds up the deterioration.
http://www.plantgeek.net/plant-167.htm
Here is a list (there are many more)of some non-aquatic plants that LFS are prone to sell as aquatic but they soon die and pollute tanks.
http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_...hp?category=11
Many LFs order plants in bunches instead of by name and are sent non-aquatics as well as aquatics so it's up to us,the hobbyist, to research and know what we're buying
Carol

scatty

Nope, not there. I'll try to attach my first pic. I pulled the plant out of the water so you could see it.

DSCF0445.jpg

Hope you can see this ok.

Butterfly

That is dragon flame(Hemigraphis repanda) which is a non-aquatic.

bolivianbaby

Do you have a Hobby Lobby? They usually have a good selection of silk plants.

scatty

Well that explains why it doesn't like being in the water . Looked into Anubias and I can get it but it turns out its quite expensive here. The one I have in there at the moment seems to be hanging in there, so I'll stick with it for a bit longer as the fish seem to love it.

I will be looking at silk plants next time I'm shopping though, as I quite like the idea. No reason why I can't have both I suppose.

No, no Hobby Lobby either, but I can think of places that sound similar. I live in a small town, and it's quite a treck to anywhere, but next time I am anywhere I'll be keeping my eye out.

Haven't been able to get on for a few days, was having withdrawals

So good to be back.

jclee

Don't forget about those Java Ferns that Butterfly mentioned. I've got a low-light tank, myself, and I have fallen in love with Java Fern, since it grows and reproduces so quickly, even with my lame little 1wpg (one watt per gallon -- most plants prefer 2+ watts per gallon).

Since it sounds like light is your main limitation, I'll attach PlantGeek's list of low-light plants. The pictures can help in case the common names in Australian pet stores are any different than what we might be calling them in the U.S.

http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_...=1&filter_by=2

If you want to get into a really plant specific research project, you should poke around the rest of their site. They're pretty good about step-by-step explanations and details.

AusBloke

Scatty,

Most of the junk $2 shops have the silk plants for cheap cheap. I am from the Central Coast and get all my silk plants at places like Go-Lo the Reject Shop etc, most of the junk shops at Erina. There is a good one at Green Point called the Hot Dollar shop I think.. good range and all cheap. (If your ever down this way that is )

I pay anywhere from $1 to $5 for massive ones, and NEVER go to the aqaurium shops as they are usually about $10+ for even the smallest plants.

Hope this helps.

Shawnie

just remember, always boil everything and NEVER use fake/silk etc plants with the metal in the stem areas...its got to be all plastic the metal will be harmful to the fish as rust settles in the tank the longer its kept wet..good luck!

scatty

I'm not down that way alot, but lived down there for years! Up near coffs harbour now, and we have all the places you mentioned. I also thought I might try spotlight - I know they have loads of crafty type stuff. Wouldn't have thought of the $2 shops though , so yes, my aussie friend, it helped alot. Thankyou.

Also will look out for the java fern (had forgotten), and will be very careful about metal in silk plants if I get any.

Thank you all!