Wanting To Begin Using Natural Plants.

So I've been using artificial plants since I started fish keeping. Now I'm interested into getting some live plants. The tank that I want to start with is 29 gallons and has five LED pods. Is that sufficient for live plants? And will my regular gravel be suitable? My LEDs are already on a ramp timer and they get 12 hours of light.

 

Depends on the LED pods. Do you know their light temperature? Can you include a link to the brand?

Gravel is fine. You can add root tabs for the root feeders.

 

If you start with plants like anubias or java fern, I bet you'd be fine with the lights you have, but it would be helpful to know more about them. I use CFLs that are rated 6500K, but if they are basically 5000K and above (think daylight bulbs, very white light).

Crypts might be a good option if you want root feeders... I'd just search them online to find out more...

 

Good advice above - it will work if you choose plants wisely.

 

I think if you want anything other than moss, anubias, maybe wisteria, you'll want to invest in better lighting. Regular gravel can work but isn't ideal.

 

Agree with -Mak- , gravel will work, but it is not the best. The best would be ADA Aquasoil, Controsoil, Fluval Stratu, etc. The questions that we need answered are:

1. what plants do you want to grow?
2. What is your budget?

 

Agree with -Mak- , gravel will work, but it is not the best. The best would be ADA Aquasoil, Controsoil, Fluval Stratu, etc. The questions that we need answered are:

1. what plants do you want to grow?
2. What is your budget?

That's just it, I really haven't sat down and figured any of that in... Right now it's just deciding whether or not I should pull the trigger

 

You can have a really nice tank going low budget. I suggest going Low-Light first and then later you can upgrade.
Low Light plants -
Excellent List Of Plants For Low Light Tanks - General Aquarium Plants Discussions - Aquatic Plant Central

Lighting. if I remember correctly, a 29 gallon is 30 inches wide? For Low light tanks, I really like the Finnex Stingray. Not too powerful to give you an algae farm, but strong enough for low-light plants. later, if you desire more light you can add a second fixture...but I think one fixture is fine.
Light -

Substrate

• Gravel - not the best, but You can grow some nice Amazon Swords and Crytps with this stuff. You can actually get pea gravel cheaper at Lowes rather than the pet store. use root tabs.
• Pool Filter Sand - Nice looking sand. Good Grain, natural look. Use root tabs
• Seachem Flourite - I really like this stuff. It is a porous clay like material that holds beneficial bacteria well, but it still is not dirt.
• Miracle grow organic potting soil - A lot of people use this stuff for Walstad type tanks because it is inexpensive; alas, I have not had success with stuff. I had a bunch of gas pockets under the substrate that smelled like sulfur when burst and it eventually became a really muddy mess.
• ADA Aquasoil - Expensive, but probably the best soil for planted tanks.

Hopefully this will get you started.

 

When I started with live plants, I had a 20 gallon with three small LEDs. I found out through experience that with the basic lighting that came with the aquarium, I could grow aponogeton, dwarf water lily, amazon swords, and banana plants with no trouble, and by adding root tabs.

 

You can have a really nice tank going low budget. I suggest going Low-Light first and then later you can upgrade.
Low Light plants -
Excellent List Of Plants For Low Light Tanks - General Aquarium Plants Discussions - Aquatic Plant Central

Lighting. if I remember correctly, a 29 gallon is 30 inches wide? For Low light tanks, I really like the Finnex Stingray. Not too powerful to give you an algae farm, but strong enough for low-light plants. later, if you desire more light you can add a second fixture...but I think one fixture is fine.
Light -

Substrate

• Gravel - not the best, but You can grow some nice Amazon Swords and Crytps with this stuff. You can actually get pea gravel cheaper at Lowes rather than the pet store. use root tabs.
• Pool Filter Sand - Nice looking sand. Good Grain, natural look. Use root tabs
• Seachem Flourite - I really like this stuff. It is a porous clay like material that holds beneficial bacteria well, but it still is not dirt.
• Miracle grow organic potting soil - A lot of people use this stuff for Walstad type tanks because it is inexpensive; alas, I have not had success with stuff. I had a bunch of gas pockets under the substrate that smelled like sulfur when burst and it eventually became a really muddy mess.
• ADA Aquasoil - Expensive, but probably the best soil for planted tanks.

Hopefully this will get you started.

Thanks man. I'll post back when I get it going