Help a newb with some plant choices

Starting to set up my 90 gallon tank and would like live plants but know almost zero about them. I want to keep the tank simple and not heavily planted I want lots of room for my angels. Here's some pics of the tank and the lights I plan to use. I'd like some taller plants in the back and a few around and on the drift wood. What are my options as far as easy to care for plants go

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I would go with better lights. I've tried the roll of LED lights and they didn't grow even low light plants well.

I would recommend the Finnex Stingray (low) or Planted Plus (low/medium). Alternative, you can buy lights from a hardware store. They don't look as nice, but they're cheaper. I use the dome lights and get plant friendly (5000 - 10000 K will grow plants, 6500 K ideal) LED or CFL bulbs.

For plants, what about jungle val for the back, crypts for the front, and Anubias or Java fern to tie onto the driftwood? All low light.

 

Well shoot I already ordered the lights. Think it's worth trying? I can always add lights later if it doesn't work well

 

I personally wouldn't waste the $20 on it. I tried it already, and it didn't work for me.

Can you cancel it or return them?

 

I'll just keep them for now they were cheap. I'll look into other options

 

I have purchased several LED lights from a seller on ebay. Other folks on here have also purchased them and appear to be very happy with their decision. They are really nice LED lights that also include the moonlight feature which I love!

I am not able to find the PAR of these lights...The seller couldn't even tell me. So I don't know if they are truly good for higher light plants. I just recently planted two different kinds that are higher light plants....so we will see how it goes!!! But these lights have worked beautifully so far for lower light plants including: amazon swords, water wisteria, Staurogyne repens, rosette swords, temple compacta, bacopa caroliana, anubais and crypts. These are all also great beginner plants!!

So far I have purchased three 4-foot long lights, a couple 24 inch lights, and a 30something inch light. The oldest one is well over a year old now....the 4 foot ones average about $30-$40 in price depending on the day....so they are very affordable!!

If you are interested in checking them out, I can give you the link.

I am excited to see your big angelfish tank come together! I love angels

 

So you use string lights?

 

So you use string lights?

No, they are LED strip lights...made for the aquarium. They just aren't name-brand, so they are much less expensive.

edit, they are 10000k (which TexasDomer mentioned in her post is plant friendly)....but I don't know the PAR which apparently makes a difference. I am not a light expert at all.....

 

If you get a chance post up a link to what you used

 

If you get a chance post up a link to what you used

here you go

 

Have any pics of it on your tank?

 

I use florescent lighting. my vals , ferns and swords are doing great with it.

 

Have any pics of it on your tank?

 

That's beautiful.

 

Can someone explain in simple terms why those will grow plants but the ones I have won't. Very confused when it comes to plants and lights haha. Information overload when I tried researching it

 

Have any pics of it on your tank?

I ordered the same lights too and got them yesterday. I LOVE how they illuminate the tank. The pictures makes it look a little more blue than real life.

 

So the strip you purchased can grow plants. Since it is rgb instead of 1 led. The only thing you're going to have to do is run 3-4 strips along each other. You can do a series circuit. Also it helps if you use a reflector on the light. If you need to build reflectors then tin foil Will work wonderful.

There are no difference from the one you purchase except possible wattage differences. I didn't look at those specs but what you have ordered will suffice planted tanks. As for your plants you'll need some sort of nutrients. Root tabs. Vals and swords work well specially for angels

 

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yeah I don't think these are going to grow plants. Oh well it was fun trying

 

The Finnex Ray2 might be a good option. Though not sure what the PAR would be on a 24" deep tank....might be around medium light or more.

A single Finnex Stingray won't work as that will be too low. But 2 might work.

A single Finnex Planted+ will be on the low end but more then the single Stingray. That may be a better option then the Ray2. But the Ray2 would give more plant options. Then again, may be more light then what you want as to keep it low tech.

Lighting isn't my best thing but I do try to help.

Another option would be a dual T5HO fixture with bulbs for plants. There are different bulbs that you can mix and match for whatever your eyes would like to see.

 

I want to go led but not looking to spend $100

 

I want to go led but not looking to spend $100

How about $30? That's about what I spent on the larger one that bizaliz3 gave you a link. It's a good first step into led and budget friendly.

 

Here's the one I use. Very similar to the ones posted above. Works wonderfully for what I'm growing. I'm growing Aponegeton, crypts, anubius and milfoil. All are growing steadily.

 

Yeah I'm leaning towards the eBay one. Might order it today

 

I have purchased several LED lights from a seller on ebay. Other folks on here have also purchased them and appear to be very happy with their decision. They are really nice LED lights that also include the moonlight feature which I love!

I am not able to find the PAR of these lights...The seller couldn't even tell me. So I don't know if they are truly good for higher light plants. I just recently planted two different kinds that are higher light plants....so we will see how it goes!!! But these lights have worked beautifully so far for lower light plants including: amazon swords, water wisteria, Staurogyne repens, rosette swords, temple compacta, bacopa caroliana, anubais and crypts. These are all also great beginner plants!!

So far I have purchased three 4-foot long lights, a couple 24 inch lights, and a 30something inch light. The oldest one is well over a year old now....the 4 foot ones average about $30-$40 in price depending on the day....so they are very affordable!!

If you are interested in checking them out, I can give you the link.

I am excited to see your big angelfish tank come together! I love angels

Since when were amazon swords low light plants? Mine tend to grow better in higher light.

 

Since when were amazon swords low light plants? Mine tend to grow better in higher light.

I don't know. I am not a plant expert. I just know that my amazon swords have grown very well with my lights. As I said, I don't know the true PAR of my lights...I usually see people say Amazon swords are low or medium light plants. I don't think they are considered a high light plant.

What kind of light do you use for your amazon swords?

Yeah I'm leaning towards the eBay one. Might order it today

I don't think you will regret it!

 

I don't know. I am not a plant expert. I just know that my amazon swords have grown very well with my lights. As I said, I don't know the true PAR of my lights...I usually see people say Amazon swords are low or medium light plants. I don't think they are considered a high light plant.

What kind of light do you use for your amazon swords?

Low light plants, simply refers to the fact that they will grow in low light. But yes mine grow better in high light too.

 

I don't think you will regret it!

What size tank is yours on?

 

mine grow better in high light too.

Forgive me for sounding dumb....but wouldn't that be the case for ALL plants? Or at least most plants? Low, medium or high light plants? They would all grow better/faster in higher light?

What size tank is yours on?

I have one on my 75 gallon. I have one on each of my 55 gallons. I have one on my 46 gallon and I have one on a 20 gallon. Can you tell I am a fan? lol

 

Yes but some need a lot of light. If you have a high light set up you can get high medium or low light plants. If all you have is low light on your tank then all you can chose from is low light plants.

 

Forgive me for sounding dumb....but wouldn't that be the case for ALL plants? Or at least most plants? Low, medium or high light plants? They would all grow better/faster in higher light?



I have one on my 75 gallon. I have one on each of my 55 gallons. I have one on my 46 gallon and I have one on a 20 gallon. Can you tell I am a fan? lol

youve convinced me I just ordered it should be here next week

 

Yes but some need a lot of light. If you have a high light set up you can get high medium or low light plants. If all you have is low light on your tank then all you can chose from is low light plants.

I realize that. All I was saying is that obviously it will grow faster in higher light....but does that really make it a true high light plant? Wouldn't even low light plants grow faster in high light? You know what I mean?

Either way, my amazon swords are growing very well with these lights. Yet I have been told that my lights are low lights (even though the PAR is unknown) So if my lights are supposedly "low lights" Why the heck are the amazon swords growing so quickly if they need high light? It leads me to believe, based on this conversation, that my lights are more like medium lights vs. low lights. All of my plants are growing very quickly with my cheap 10000K full spectrum LED lights from ebay!

I am VERY happy with them!!

 

Yes higher light , higher growth. All but 1 of my plants are considered low light. I have a high light set up and all are doing great.
Amazon swords are low light plants. If your light is medium I'd expect more growth.

 

Amazon swords are low light plants. If your light is medium I'd expect more growth.

Which is why I am pretty confident my lights are medium and not low. Because I do have wonderful growth with them.

Gosh I wish I knew the true PAR of these lights!!! (even though I have no understanding of PAR haha)

 

Which is why I am pretty confident my lights are medium and not low. Because I do have wonderful growth with them.

Gosh I wish I knew the true PAR of these lights!!! (even though I have no understanding of PAR haha)

As long as the plants grow, esta toto bien. All good in Spanish lol

 

New here and new with planted tanks but wanted to chip in that I had great success with cabomba caroliniana being a tall soft looking green screen behind my MopanI wood to hide tubes and things. It grew fast and super easy for me and was super easy to propagate if you need more rows for a thicker green background, nip off 6 inches and replant. I suppose I should add for me it grew at least 32in tall no idea if it gets longer I trimmed it back when my water surface got too crowded.

 

New here and new with planted tanks but wanted to chip in that I had great success with cabomba caroliniana being a tall soft looking green screen behind my MopanI wood to hide tubes and things. It grew fast and super easy for me and was super easy to propagate if you need more rows for a thicker green background, nip off 6 inches and replant. I suppose I should add for me it grew at least 32in tall no idea if it gets longer I trimmed it back when my water surface got too crowded.

Can you post pictures?

 

I'll have to check later tonight if I have a pic on my hubby's phone of what my tank was like before I over pruned and wrecked it. I kinda don't think I do have a pic because I pruned it precisely because people had asked for pics and it was looking like swamp/bedhead (hubby wanted to throw a gator in it) so I was trying to clean it up. It all grew so fast I figured NBD, anyway something went wrong, long story I just posted about it - when I fix it I will post a proper pic sorry. Other than that off hand I just a have a pic of my tank pre-planted that I think of as my super embarrassing Plastic-Edo phase.

Checked and no pic but now my plants are back on the right sauce (Flourish Excel) I should have a pic available soon since Cabombia grows super fast!

 

I don't know. I am not a plant expert. I just know that my amazon swords have grown very well with my lights. As I said, I don't know the true PAR of my lights...I usually see people say Amazon swords are low or medium light plants. I don't think they are considered a high light plant.

What kind of light do you use for your amazon swords?

I just use regular 18W LED lights. My vals seem to be high light plants, as one time I forgot to turn the lights on before I went to school, and one of them had shed it's leaves really fast. I tried led strips before, and they were terrible. I had to throw them out just after two days of using them. Then again, my air stone was making it so water was coming out and hitting it, so maybe it was my fault?

 

I just use regular 18W LED lights. My vals seem to be high light plants, as one time I forgot to turn the lights on before I went to school, and one of them had shed it's leaves really fast. I tried led strips before, and they were terrible. I had to throw them out just after two days of using them. Then again, my air stone was making it so water was coming out and hitting it, so maybe it was my fault?

What kind of vals do you have?

 

What kind of vals do you have?

Vallisneria Spiralis. I think they might be called jungle vals normally, but i'm not so sure because the sign for the plant at the store only said Vallisneria Spiralis. I stumbled upon it while I was looking for a snail in Tampa. I was looking for the plant where I used to live, Lakeland, and instead got an amazon sword. I actually got 3 vals for $5.00, then one reproduced and then one died from losing so many leaves. My amazon sword also reproduced before but I cut off the baby too early so it died.