Carbon? Nutrients?
- Thread starter Beeker
- Start date
That's actually not as easy to answer as you might think 
A lot depends on how much work you want to put into the tank. Some easier plants will do fine in low light without supplemental CO2 or fertilizer, but they'll really flourish given ideal conditions. What is considered ideal varies depending on the plant - just like fish.
If you haven't read the fertilization sticky yet, that's a good place to start. It's a bit overwhelming at first, but it gets easier.
Then I'd read up on the individual species you want to keep - find out how demanding the plant is, what its light requirements are, etc. As with fish, sometimes it's easier to figure out what you want to keep, then build the tank around the needs of its future inhabitants.
When it comes to lighting, I found at first it was easy to become overwhelmed - there's a lot of information out there. If you've got at least 1.5W per gallon, that's a good place to start for a low maintenance tank.
A lot depends on how much work you want to put into the tank. Some easier plants will do fine in low light without supplemental CO2 or fertilizer, but they'll really flourish given ideal conditions. What is considered ideal varies depending on the plant - just like fish.
If you haven't read the fertilization sticky yet, that's a good place to start. It's a bit overwhelming at first, but it gets easier.
Then I'd read up on the individual species you want to keep - find out how demanding the plant is, what its light requirements are, etc. As with fish, sometimes it's easier to figure out what you want to keep, then build the tank around the needs of its future inhabitants.
When it comes to lighting, I found at first it was easy to become overwhelmed - there's a lot of information out there. If you've got at least 1.5W per gallon, that's a good place to start for a low maintenance tank.
So far
So far I am looking at a java fern and anubias. From what I have been told, these plants are pretty hearty and don't require much. I figured this is a good place to start. My 10 gallon tank has a hood with 2 lightbulbs (15 watt). How does it sound? Any other ideas or thoughts?
So far I am looking at a java fern and anubias. From what I have been told, these plants are pretty hearty and don't require much. I figured this is a good place to start. My 10 gallon tank has a hood with 2 lightbulbs (15 watt). How does it sound? Any other ideas or thoughts?
When you go into the planted tank section, and see all the posts listed, there are 'stickies' at the top of the list. They're posts that don't move so you can refer to them any time 
Are your two bulbs fluorescent, or incandescent? If the fixture is designed to hold two 15W incandescent bulbs (like the one on my 10g), you can swap them for screw-in fluorescents, which will give you much more light. Look for something with the words 'daylight' and/or 'full spectrum' - 'warm white' will make your tank look very orange and won't give the plants the full spectrum of light they need.
I haven't kept either Anubias or Java fern, but AFAIK you're right; they're fairly easy to care for and won't be demanding when it comes to light, fertilization or CO2.
Are your two bulbs fluorescent, or incandescent? If the fixture is designed to hold two 15W incandescent bulbs (like the one on my 10g), you can swap them for screw-in fluorescents, which will give you much more light. Look for something with the words 'daylight' and/or 'full spectrum' - 'warm white' will make your tank look very orange and won't give the plants the full spectrum of light they need.
I haven't kept either Anubias or Java fern, but AFAIK you're right; they're fairly easy to care for and won't be demanding when it comes to light, fertilization or CO2.
You're very welcome
They come in spiral and straight forms, I believe you get more usable light from the straight bulbs, but the only ones I could find that weren't 'soft white' (~2300K), 'warm white' (~2300K) or 'cool white' (~3500-4000K) were spirals. I've tried 5000K 'brilliant white' and that wasn't bad, but I prefer the Philips 'daylight' bulbs I have in right now - be careful to make sure the bulbs will actually fit in your hood, some of them are wider than others. Philips 15W daylight bulbs are very small, and the light is bluer than any others I've found, around 6500K.
They come in spiral and straight forms, I believe you get more usable light from the straight bulbs, but the only ones I could find that weren't 'soft white' (~2300K), 'warm white' (~2300K) or 'cool white' (~3500-4000K) were spirals. I've tried 5000K 'brilliant white' and that wasn't bad, but I prefer the Philips 'daylight' bulbs I have in right now - be careful to make sure the bulbs will actually fit in your hood, some of them are wider than others. Philips 15W daylight bulbs are very small, and the light is bluer than any others I've found, around 6500K.
My java fern did fine for a long time in low light with no CO2 or added ferts (one of my first plants). But when I started getting better lighting, added CO2 and ferts, it started growing REALLY well and now I have little baby java fern EVERYWHERE.
Problem...
I stopped by Petco and they don't have much of a selection of anything I am looking for with fish or plants. The plants don't even have names on the signs. How do I know what I'm getting and how to take care of it? Are there any other suggestions?
I stopped by Petco and they don't have much of a selection of anything I am looking for with fish or plants. The plants don't even have names on the signs. How do I know what I'm getting and how to take care of it? Are there any other suggestions?
If an employee can't tell you what type of plant(s) are in their tanks, you could try taking a digital camera or a notebook to the store, recording what the plant looks like, and then either posting here or looking online. Another alternative is to purchase (or borrow from the library) a book on aquarium plants, take it to the store, and look up your potential purchases.
I highly recommend trying to find out a plant's needs before you buy it - some plants may not be suitable for your tank, for instance they may require more light than your tank has, grow huge, or aren't true aquatic plants.
If the store doesn't have enough selection, you could ask if they'll order plants in for you, or you could try buying online.
I highly recommend trying to find out a plant's needs before you buy it - some plants may not be suitable for your tank, for instance they may require more light than your tank has, grow huge, or aren't true aquatic plants.
If the store doesn't have enough selection, you could ask if they'll order plants in for you, or you could try buying online.