View Full Version : New to plants
kyle079
06-28-2007, 10:37 AM
Ive got a 29 gal tank that i have had for about 5 months now and i was wanting to start planting it but i have no idea where to start. The lighting on my tank is the standard lighting that came with the tank when i bought it do i need to upgrade my lighting and if so what do you think i should go with?? Just some help would be great. Oh and some recomendations of starter plants would be great.
Nolapete
06-28-2007, 10:44 AM
Do you want to do low-light plants like java fern, java moss, and anubias or high light plants?
ahsupply.com is a good source for retrofit kits
lightbulbsdirect.com for bulbs
6500K Philips bulbs from Home depot work well
Squawkbert
06-28-2007, 10:52 AM
I second the above and also suggest that you check out www.rexgrigg.com and APC (http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/index.php?referrerid=15164)
kyle079
06-28-2007, 1:42 PM
yea i was probably looking to do low light cause my tank is in my room so i dont want to have the way bright lights on 24/7
UCF-Planted
06-28-2007, 2:34 PM
You wouldn't want lights on 24/7 no matter what kind of plants, unless your real goal is algae. Plants need a period of darkness as part of photosynthesis.
kyle079
06-28-2007, 4:13 PM
I know i was being sarcastic. :wall:
John N.
06-28-2007, 5:11 PM
Coralife 65 watt light should do well for a low light setup with Java Ferns, anubias, and crypts. You can grow dwarf sag as your foreground. It'll require little maintanance, and doesn't require CO2 or ferts for the most part (they'll benefit with them of course).
-John N.
UCF-Planted
06-28-2007, 7:13 PM
I know i was being sarcastic. :wall:
Heheheh, sarcasm is tough to detect in writing :)
kyle079
06-29-2007, 12:48 AM
Am i going to be alright with the standard substraight?? It is just the black gravel that comes in a bag at LFS. Or am i going to have to replace all the substraight.
John N.
06-29-2007, 1:10 AM
Substraight - substrate. :)
John N.
06-29-2007, 1:11 AM
Standard substrate would be okay if you are planning to use Java Ferns and Anubias. These two plants don't require planting directly in the substrate and survive with limited ferts. Other plants will do well with a root tab to enrich the substrate. Also, some water column fertilization would do the plants very well.
-John N.