Switching fake plants to live.

Hey guys im gonna switch out my tank 125 liters to real plants instead of the fake ones. Is there anything i need to think off before buying the plants? Is there anything more i need to buy except Co2 and fertilizer? Thank you.

 

a lot of plants don't need co2, it depends on what you want to grow.

 

Hi there, equipment really depends what you want to grow Some plants just need a light and they explode.

 

Plants require light, nutrients and CO2.

You'll have to supply the light and the nutrients, you can supply CO2, or you don't have to (let nature do that).

Just note, you'll likely bottom out on CO2 in the tank if you aren't injecting it (you'll only get about 3ppm of CO2 in a low tech tank, which can quickly be consumed by plants).

I would buy some fertilizer...


What do you currently have in mind in terms of turning this into a planted tank?

 

The thing is that i already have co2 and fertilizer for my other tank aswell. And i will basically have the same plants. But is there anything else to think of?

 

Depends on the plants you want. You need a good substrate for them to root in if you're not getting floaters (Seachem Flourite!), a full spectrum light, CO2 and ferts. If you're new to plants (as I was a few months ago) a good liquid Co2 like Excel or Co2 Booster will do well. Thrive is a great fert.

Lots and lots of research on the plants you want. And don't be scared if they start to melt or look sad after you add them. They have to adjust.

 

What kind of fertilizer do you have?
What kind of lighting do you have?
What is your source water?
What is the kH / gH / pH of your source water?
What is your water change schedule going to be like?
What is your fertilizer schedule going to be like?

Any substrate will work, I would not recommended Eco-Complete or Flourite (they are no different than gravel or sand, and way overpriced, use that money elsewhere).

No such thing as liquid CO2, you already have liquid CO2 in the only place you can find it (inside a pressurized CO2 cylinder, not a green and white plastic bottle sitting on a store shelf).

Seachem Excel is not a carbon source, it is not CO2 and it is not a CO2 replacement. Aquarium product manufactures are masters at marketing, and mislead the buyer with many products.

Excel is a mild algaecide that allows users to run slightly higher light with a reduced risk of an algae outbreak. It may or may not help break down protein films growing on plant tissue, allowing plants better access to atmospheric CO2 naturally occurring in the water.

Excel can be used to spot treat, and create plant dips to help control algae.

Excel should be used as an algaecide, not a carbon or CO2 source / supplement.