PLANTING A RIVER BOTTOM TANK

[petluvr]

I am not sure if this should be here or in the newbie but I want to plant my tank that I have my turtle in. What are some hardy plants-not anacharis-that are medium light would be good to use?

[Bk718]

try some ferns, crypts, swords. Im just not sure whether the turtle will munch on the last 2..

[petluvr]

I am really not worried about her eating anything, she lives with her feeder fish-that she won't eat and several briggs.

[Bk718]

then try the plants i listed above. Can also try vals, anubias. Basically you can give all plants a try since seriously theres nothing hard about them.

[petluvr]

Plants for some reason scare me. I like adding nothing and I mean nothing to my tanks. Plants need fertilizing correct, so I would have to add chemicals to the tank.

[Bk718]

whats your exact lighting (watts)?? tank size??

Plants are not that hard. If you just provide the right lighting, you are already off to a good start.
Fertilizers are not necessary but can help plants grow better/fuller. Same with co2.

[petluvr]

I knew this was coming. The tank is 65 gallon filled one third of the way up. As far as lighting at one end there is a heat lamp so the turtle may bask and on the other end there is a fluorescent tube that I am not sure about.

[Bk718]

I knew this was coming. The tank is 65 gallon filled one third of the way up. As far as lighting at one end there is a heat lamp so the turtle may bask and on the other end there is a fluorescent tube that I am not sure about.

Check the wattage of the bulb. Heat lamp got the incandescent type bulb so that wont do much for the plants.

[petluvr]

Will do in the morning-all inhabitants have been put to sleep for the night-don't want to disturbe their night.

[petluvr]

The fluorescent lighting is a 20 watt repti-glo.

[Bk718]

k so you would need to upgrade your lighting if you want to try and use plants in that tank. Something thats atleast 40-60watts+ and is the right K rating (5500-10000K)

[petluvr]

Can you suggest any particular brand of bulb and should I get fluorescent for both sides?

[Bk718]

If you plan to have plants on both sides of the tank then yes have the desired lights on both sides of the tank. As far as which light to get (its not really bulb) since you probably have a regular T8 bulb which cannot be upped to higher wattage. Therefore I would suggest a whole new light unit.
New lighting you can get can either be:
Coralife freshwater kits PC (65w)
Coralife T5 fixture (2x18w i believe)
AHsupply kit (36 or 55w)
or even a regular shoplight

Since the tank is only 1/3 filled then you would probably only count the 20gallons of water in calculating the watts per gallon #

[petluvr]

Thanks I will have to look into those. You still suggest the plants you mentioned earlier, remember I am new with the plant thing?

[Bk718]

If you get either of the fixtures i stated above then yes you should be fine with all the plants i stated. For a big tank like that you can just get 1-2 big amazon swords and they should really make the tank look nice.

[petluvr]

Would a 36" Nova T5HO 10,000k, 78 watt do?

[Bk718]

78w on a 1/3 filled tank will be 2 much. And dont that T5 cost alot?? Check out www.bigalsonline.com

[petluvr]

Cost is not an issue so that's not a big deal. I am just worried about getting the right wattage and equipment.

[Bk718]

Yee i understand.
Heres another question. Do you plan on filling the tank more in the future?? (or is it one of those tanks that can only handle being filled 1/2 the way)

BigAls should give you a nice selection of lights, plus the prices there are pretty low (and if they are not low then they will price match their competator)

[petluvr]

Turtles live for a long time and mine goes to the vet every six months for checkups so i don't see him going anywhere soon so the water level would only change a few inches from water changes, evaporation nothing large.

[Bk718]

lol didnt really mean if the turtle will go soon. Just was curious if you were planning to fill the tank more with the turtle in it. If you are going to keep it as is then go for a fixture thats about 40-60w

[petluvr]

40 to 60 watt cool. No she is happy with the water level where it is. She gets a little angry when I change it too much.

[petluvr]

Now lets talk substrate. There is a very deep aquarium gravel and crushed coral substrate in this tank. What type of substrate do you suggest adding?

[Bk718]

not sure how plants will do in crushed coral but regular gravel should be fine, preferably not 2 large in size, pea size should be just fine

[petluvr]

Should I use any type of fertilizer? I use iron enriched plant-gro in my 55 gallon for the few potted plants I have in there, would this be cool?

[Bk718]

you dont have to use ferts and its not really necessary to have any special substrate. Just provide the lighting and if anything can try diy co2

[petluvr]

Co2 scares me because I know nothing about it WHATSOEVER!!!!!! That is my main reason for staying away from plants for so long. I think I am ready to take that step though:)

[Bk718]

co2 is nothing to really be worried about. If you follow everything right then nothing wrong can occur (especially with diy)

[petluvr]

I will have to look into the DIY then.

[Derringer]

I would skip the CO2 all together, at least for now. I'm getting ready to change my 75g over to planted and I have no intentions of doing CO2, not until it becomes a necessity. Looking at the success of others who dont use it I am optimistic that plants can and will do well without it.

[petluvr]

That's what Iam thinking skip the CO2 it just scares me.