so ive decided to go ahead and plant my tank in the next week or so. my question is about numbers: ive looked on a lot of websites at their "lowlight" packages but it always seems like a lot of plants. i have a 46 gallon tank. im not expecting an exact number for each kind of plant, but whats a good overall number of plants to provide a fairly dense look. i have tiger barbs so they need a good amount of space to swim, but whats a good amount of anubias, java fern, crypts, vals and/ or hornwort for a tank that size? thanks for any replies, i know this is a rather strange question to ask...
planting my tank, question about numbers
- Thread starter NowherMan6
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well I have plants in my tanks and I can vouch for the fact that what seems like alot of plants can easily go into a tank and even have room for more.
it is just a question of how thick you want things...
only the largest plants will fill an area and even then you can always put a smaller plant in and around that larger one... so just because one plant is a cirtain size doesn't mean that part of the tank is taken care of as far as planting it goes
it is just a question of how thick you want things...
only the largest plants will fill an area and even then you can always put a smaller plant in and around that larger one... so just because one plant is a cirtain size doesn't mean that part of the tank is taken care of as far as planting it goes
A 46 with how much light? You say 'lowlight'. What exactly is your wattage, and is it regular fluorescent, or compact fluorescent? What is the height of the tank?
You can be fooled by the number of plants that you can put into a tank as large as a 46 gal. tank, but rather than buy a 'package', I suggest you buy larger quantities of maybe 5 or 6 varieties of plants that you like and will be easy for a beginner to grow.
My opinion is that those packages don't save people much money, and they end up with some plants that they don't want and can't grow.
Len
You can be fooled by the number of plants that you can put into a tank as large as a 46 gal. tank, but rather than buy a 'package', I suggest you buy larger quantities of maybe 5 or 6 varieties of plants that you like and will be easy for a beginner to grow.
My opinion is that those packages don't save people much money, and they end up with some plants that they don't want and can't grow.
Len
regular fluorescent, two 30 watt bulbs, so 60 watts total. dimensions are 36 x 12 (16 at the bow) x 20. so it's on the tall side. i agree about the "buying packages" comment, which is why im asking around on the forum. i'd like some tall plants for the background and some that i can attach to the driftwood and rocks in my tank. i dont plan on getting anything that needs too "rich" of a substrate, just basic low light plants.
I've found that when ordering I thought I had lots but once I started planting the tank I realized I actually didn't have enough to get a thick look right from the beginning.
Be sure to order lots of stem plants to help absorb nutrients from the beginning. Also give your tank time, it will fill in on its own but helps to get a strong start. Plants like anubias and a lot of crypts are pretty slow growing so don't expect any major growth from them.
Also Ambulia (Limnophila sessiflora), Dwarf Sag (sagittaria subdulata) and Java Moss should all do fine in your tank as well.
Be sure to order lots of stem plants to help absorb nutrients from the beginning. Also give your tank time, it will fill in on its own but helps to get a strong start. Plants like anubias and a lot of crypts are pretty slow growing so don't expect any major growth from them.
Also Ambulia (Limnophila sessiflora), Dwarf Sag (sagittaria subdulata) and Java Moss should all do fine in your tank as well.
Good advice from The Capt.
You will find out from experience, which plants will grow in your environment and which won't. Don't buy 'red' plants and expect the same results that you see in the pictures at the low wattage you'll be supplying initially. Just plant a bunch of stuff and see how they do. Keep the ones that grow well and chuck the ones that don't. We all go through this process in the beginning.
Don't get caught up in the fertilization thing at the beginning. A light dosing of an all purpose fertilizer will probably do the job for you along with what the fish supply.
In any event, don't start any fertilizing for 2 - 4 weeks or when the plants tell you they need something. That will keep the algae that most new tanks experience, at a minimum.
Len
You will find out from experience, which plants will grow in your environment and which won't. Don't buy 'red' plants and expect the same results that you see in the pictures at the low wattage you'll be supplying initially. Just plant a bunch of stuff and see how they do. Keep the ones that grow well and chuck the ones that don't. We all go through this process in the beginning.
Don't get caught up in the fertilization thing at the beginning. A light dosing of an all purpose fertilizer will probably do the job for you along with what the fish supply.
In any event, don't start any fertilizing for 2 - 4 weeks or when the plants tell you they need something. That will keep the algae that most new tanks experience, at a minimum.
Len
Good advice from Len as well but one thing I want to warn you about. If any of your plants begin to "melt" away at first don't give up. I threw away a perfect anubias nana because all the leaves fell off. This happens to many crypts and basically all plants that have been grown out of water. The leaves fall off but new ones grow back.
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thanks for all the advice. i guess filling out the tank is really a wait-and-see process. patience patience patience... (but i want my tank to look perfect NOOOOW.... 
) thanks again
) thanks again