Interested In Planted Tanks! Help Needed!

What Do I Need To Start My Planted Tank? I've been researching on planted tanks for the past 2 hours. I won't to start up some live plants in my tank. My tank is cycled and has been running for a year now. I have a 20 gallon seaclear, Pool filter sand, Marineland Emperor Filter Systems Model Emperor 280, 280GPH, Aqueon Pro Heater Submersible, Fluorescent light fixture. Fixture is compatible with any T8 or T12 15" fluorescent tube. I think I have the T12 in it now. I've seen a few plants that I won't and KINDA have an idea of how I won't to Aquascape it. I was looking at the Saggitaria Dwarf, Oriental Sword, Lilaeopsis Mauritius, Eusteralis stellata. I have no knowledge of these plants just thought the were nice looking.. Are there starter plants I should start with? I do know that I won't to keep my sand though. WHERE DO I START? Open to all opinions and tips on this matter. THANKS!

 

Howdy! and welcome to fishlore!

Pogostemon Stellatus (or Eusterallis Stellatus) probably isn't a good place to start. Here's a profile:

Alot of folks would recommend the hardier plants for your first planted tank, anubias, java fern, sagitarius, hornwort, maybe a crypt. I think Bacopa and hygrophila may be ok as well. Sand is fine, but I'd recommend getting some root tabs and putting them an inch or so under the sand to feed your plants. As you get more comfortable with plants, you can invest in a CO2 system and dry ferts and better lighting and get your eustralis stellatus! Just my thoughts anyways!

Just like fish stock, plants require a lot of research! Some are pickier than others with water conditions, some need lots of light, some need lots of nutrients in the substrate. Some stay small and branch out horizontally, some grow massive. So I urge you to read up on your plants first before getting them it'll save you some money! I like planted tankfor their profiles, as well as aquarium plants and liveaquaria. I'm sure someone else has another suggestion or resource for ya!

 

Like gardening, it depends on how much time and effort you want to invest.

The easiest plant out there is the java fern. It is a leaf feeder so you do not need to feed it root tabs.


This is a shot of one of our ferns (a smaller one) it is the plant in the center. The tank is a 37 gal tank. This was just a quick mock up, it does not look like this now.

 

Wow!!! That's Amazing how quick you guys responded! lol. And I really like that java fern. Nice for a center piece. Thanks Guys really apreciate the tips and Help!

Ok YEA I figured its going to take some research lol I won't it so that's someting I'm willing to do.. Before I got my tank running I spent 5 to 6 months of research. So yea Back to the Research!! Thanks!

 

Wow!!! That's Amazing how quick you guys responded! lol. And I really like that java fern. Nice for a center piece. Thanks Guys really apreciate the tips and Help!

Ok YEA I figured its going to take some research lol I won't it so that's someting I'm willing to do.. Before I got my tank running I spent 5 to 6 months of research. So yea Back to the Research!! Thanks!

I know how you feel I had been dying for a Kleiner Bar Sword and a bunch of Limnophila Aromatic, and fixed my tank up especially for it. My Kleiner Bar has had 2 baby swords and I just got my L. Aromatica... fingers crossed it fairs well in my tank!

Gimmie a sec, there's a site I had that kinda lists the low, medium and high tech plants and setups ... I'll look for it and post it. (may take me awhile )


Edit: Found it! Ok this site is NOT A complete list, however it does break down the plants into easy, medium and difficult categories, gives information and layouts (the site is mainly about layouts, I'll admit, but it has good info I think)
Hope it helps!

 

Hello,

A planted tank all starts with the light. It dictates what plants you can keep; low, moderate, highlight plants.

Looking at your tank specs you have a single bulb that may not be efficient enough for even low light plants; growth will be very slow and plants may struggle. The more light the faster the plants will grow and more demand for CO2 and fertilization.

The plants that you like are more demanding for light, CO2 and fertilization.

One's to take a look at would be Java Fern, Mosses, Anubias and Crypt species. Crypts are root feeders while Java Ferns, Anubias are water column feeders and are to be tied to a piece of driftwood/rock.

I would look into upgrading your light if you want to try and keep plants. It's all not that hard it's just picking the plants that will suite your lighting and how much time you have to spend.

 

AlyeskaGirl makes a VERY good point about the light.

 

Do you know of any sites that can educate me more on the lighting and for the different types of plants? I've been searching the web on aquarium lighting for plants and can't find a thing. That would be very helpfull. Thanks A Lot!

 

If you want some in-depth lighting info check this page out.

 

WHOO! Thanks

 

Very few people ever mention it but I'm rather fond of water wisteria. I find it to be interesting, variable and attractive. Its a pretty hardly plant that growns rather readily.

 

Good morning,

A few links for you in case you haven't run across them:

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/oct07/plantedtank.htm



Ken

 

Plants need nutrients, NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and trace elements. And carbon.

N and P are naturally produced as phosphates and nitrates, in sufficient quantities for low tech planted tank. You still need to dose potassium and trace.

The ideal source of carbon is CO2. The easiest to dose is liquid carbon, it doest provide as much but it's much better than nothing. Fish really don't produce enough CO2 to many a real difference.

So, an easy dosing would be Flourish comprehensive, Flourish Potassium and Flourish Excel.

A better dosing regime would be dry ferts, which can be bought real cheap from , and dosed following the Estimative Index. And dose Flourish Excel too, unless you go with pressurised CO2 but this is more investment

The easy plants I always recommand are anubias and java moss, in part because they don't require substrat and can be attached to wood and rocks. Your sand is not the best substrat for plants

The best forum for plants is planted tank, it has tons of info.

Another great source is barrreport.com. Read about the Estimative Index there

 

I agree with what has been said about lighting, ijust want to share my expierence. ibought a cheap decent light an afterabout a month I wanted diffrent plants. so I wnet out and bught a better light. pretty much what I'm saying is just buy a good light the first tI'm around. dual t5 HO would be my suggestion.

 

I feel ya. But I don't think the T5 is compatiable with my fixture. My fixture only takes T8 and T12s. And right now I can't afford a whole new fixture so whatever I get won't be change for some time.. Thanks Though!!!

Ive been doing a little research and I'm kinda stuck on lighting now.. The hoodlight on my tank takes 15' T8 and T12 bulbs and the max watt is 40. What I have in there now is a 15in T8 14 watt 8,000k daylight bulb. The hood is set so that you Can add another fixture into it so you may have dual bulbs. Ive read on many sites but I'm still a little confused on what I need for Low Light Plants. Is my one T8 14wat 8,000k bulb strong enough for the low light plants.. lol Hope So.. Please Shed Some LIGHT. x

 

Link below has a lighting chart.

https://www.fishlore.com/encyclopediaaquariumplants.htm

 

Oh Wow! SMH I'm still tryna figure out how to navigate through and work the forums. But this is what I was looking for. Has some other good info to.. x a Lot!!!

 

One thing to keep in mind is what plants are available for you to actually get? If you want hair grass but can't get it don't get frustrated.

I would go to where you plan to buy plants and see what they have. If you have a good LFS write down your tank information and show it to them. They will be able to help you get the right plants.

PETCO sells Anubias, Argentine Sword, and Java Fern. These have all worked well for me in a "Low Tech" tank.

 

Ok... I have a question... Is 8000 Kelvin not good then?

I'm confused

 

Ok... I have a question... Is 8000 Kelvin not good then?

I'm confused

I've had best results in the 5000-7500k range. I also have a 5000k/10000k going. If your running dual, you can do a 5000 or 6500k with an 8000k.

 

I have duel bulbs on top of a 22h tank... they arg T8s rated at 8000k With a color spectrum of peaks in the red blue and green? ...think its green... may have to double check
.

I figured it sounded right..

I have water wistera water sprite anabus anacaris some water onion and variois other stuff...

the water onion looks kind of sad but I think that has more to do with the bulb accidentally getting pushed down... I tried to make sure it was a little above the substrate when I replanted...

I just wasn't sure after reading threw this if perhaps I didn't have good bulbs

I find lighting to be the absolutly most confusing aspect of the whole hobby... lol

 

I have duel bulbs on top of a 22h tank... they arg T8s rated at 8000k With a color spectrum of peaks in the red blue and green? ...think its green... may have to double check
.

I figured it sounded right..

I have water wistera water sprite anabus anacaris some water onion and variois other stuff...

the water onion looks kind of sad but I think that has more to do with the bulb accidentally getting pushed down... I tried to make sure it was a little above the substrate when I replanted...

I just wasn't sure after reading threw this if perhaps I didn't have good bulbs

I find lighting to be the absolutly most confusing aspect of the whole hobby... lol

Red and blue are most beneficial for most plants. Green is more beneficial for our eyes to see the plants. To get the best growth you need some red and blue spectrum and proper nutrients for the plants to utilize during photosynthesis. Strength of light is also very important, I would say wattage but LED's have changed this.

 

If you want a relatively in depth read on lighting check out this link. I find it very useful whenever I want to look something up.

 

Red and blue are most beneficial for most plants. Green is more beneficial for our eyes to see the plants. To get the best growth you need some red and blue spectrum and proper nutrients for the plants to utilize during photosynthesis. Strength of light is also very important, I would say wattage but LED's have changed this.

Well yea that's just it... use to you went by the X number od watts per gallon... but this new lighting just confounds me... lol

If you want a relatively in depth read on lighting check out this link. I find it very useful whenever I want to look something up.

Thank you!
bookmarked it

 

If you want a relatively in depth read on lighting check out this link. I find it very useful whenever I want to look something up.

Very informative, thank you.

 

Hope it helps!

Awesome link, thanks for sharing!