Low-tech Tank Will These Additional Plants Work?

HI guys,

These are the characteristics of my tank:
Volume: 25 gallon (100 lit) tank
Dimensiones: 24" (60cm) long x 18" (45cm) wide x 14.5" (36cm) high
Water parameters: 7.7pH, 5.6GH, 6.72KH, 190TDS
Light fixture: Chihiros A-Series specs:
- 39W (60 cm)
-117 x 0.3W LEDs
-Rated at 5800 lumen
-8000K (cold white)
-Dimmable at 7 different settings
CO2: None
Substrate: None as of yet until plants decided. Choices are between seachem flourite black or very small river gravel (0.1 inches in diameter)

I would like an easy to mantain tank: 1 hour max per week.

Plants I will definitely want: Anubias coffefolia, nana and gold, crypt wendtiI brown and buces.

Plant I would like to have if they can grow properly: s repens carpent in the foreground, rotala colorata and ludwigia repens rubin

Five questions for you guys:
1) Will the anubia coffefolia take over the tank if I place it on a corner? I don't mind if it grows on top of the water at some point, would actually enjoy to see that
2) Will the s. repens, rotala and ludwigia grow properly with seachem flourite, tabs and seachem root tabs? I would be willing to add NKP and excel if needed.
4) Will the higher light setting needed for the rotala, ludwigia and s. repens promote algae on the anubias and buces?
5) Will the s. repens work with river gravel (0.1 inches in diameter) plus root tabs? If the s. repens is too demanding will crypt parva work instead?

I would be very happy with anubias, buces and crypts plus a lower investment in US$ (river gravel and less ferts) and prunning time but ideally I would have the other plants too, specially the s. repens.

Thanks for your help

Jim

 

Gravel is a bit big for s repens, better to do fluorite sand or eco complete. Still need root tabs.

I have all the plants you've mentioned, plus the chihiros light. Start on the 4th setting, you can also get some water Sprite or riccia to float above the anubias for some shade (these spread nicely to add cover vs other smaller/more narrow plants). I will post some pictures for you later to show what I mean.
After the plants are adjusted you might be able to up to the 5th setting, but that would be your max. 4th is Totally fine for colorata and Rubin, slightly more red on the 5th.

You will need both macros and micros for your plants, along with the root tabs.

 

Thank you Jocelyn, that was extremely helpful. I am looking forward to your pictures. Its great to hear from someone who uses the Chihiros too. I researched more into the susbtrate that I mentioned and its actually a cheap brown silica sand. Its prices is much less that the flourite but I am willing to make the investment. Thanks

 

Definitely get plant substrate for those plants.

And FYI the buces will do much better if they are planted on hardscape or planters just below the water line, where they are allowed to grow up out of the water.

 

HI guys,

These are the characteristics of my tank:
Volume: 25 gallon (100 lit) tank
Dimensiones: 24" (60cm) long x 18" (45cm) wide x 14.5" (36cm) high
Water parameters: 7.7pH, 5.6GH, 6.72KH, 190TDS
Light fixture: Chihiros A-Series specs:
- 39W (60 cm)
-117 x 0.3W LEDs
-Rated at 5800 lumen
-8000K (cold white)
-Dimmable at 7 different settings
CO2: None
Substrate: None as of yet until plants decided. Choices are between seachem flourite black or very small river gravel (0.1 inches in diameter)

I would like an easy to mantain tank: 1 hour max per week.

Plants I will definitely want: Anubias coffefolia, nana and gold, crypt wendtiI brown and buces.

Plant I would like to have if they can grow properly: s repens carpent in the foreground, rotala colorata and ludwigia repens rubin

Five questions for you guys:
1) Will the anubia coffefolia take over the tank if I place it on a corner? I don't mind if it grows on top of the water at some point, would actually enjoy to see that
2) Will the s. repens, rotala and ludwigia grow properly with seachem flourite, tabs and seachem root tabs? I would be willing to add NKP and excel if needed.
4) Will the higher light setting needed for the rotala, ludwigia and s. repens promote algae on the anubias and buces?
5) Will the s. repens work with river gravel (0.1 inches in diameter) plus root tabs? If the s. repens is too demanding will crypt parva work instead?

I would be very happy with anubias, buces and crypts plus a lower investment in US$ (river gravel and less ferts) and prunning time but ideally I would have the other plants too, specially the s. repens.

Thanks for your help

Jim

1) Anubias are very slow growers so I don't think you'll have to worry about it taking over any time soon. And if you like the look of it growing out of the water, have you ever thought of pothos?

2) I heard that s. Repens need CO2. But I can't be sure. I'd love to grow it without CO2.

4 (because there's no 3) Yes, you'll probably experience some algae on all the slower plants. You can help prevent this with plenty of water flow and even peroxide spot treatments.

5) To make sure that the lighting won't be too much for the anubias I'd probably would go with c. parva in the first place. And, s repens have a very similar texture to almost all of your other plants, so c parva will look better anyway.

Successful planted tanks start from the substrate, so always get the higher quality.