Help with Live Plants

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elongatedm

Registered Member
May 29, 2006
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For the last 7 months I have been running a 10g tank (my first) that was given to me for Christmas. I love it. I have learned a ton from it. I eventually want to move into a much bigger tank. In preperation to doing that I want to try my hand at placing live plants in my current tank. I have been up and down the forums and the amount of info is so vast it is hard to put everything in perspective. My current tank is one of the those all inclusive tanks that had all the equipment to start.

My question from ground zero what are the necessary items I need to begin the planting process? Also some suggestions on some good starter plants.

Thanks for the help in advance. :dance2:
 
hi if you post in the plant section you prob will get more people posting. if you have checked out the sticky http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12585

aquatix02:
to put it simply, aquatic plants require the following:

1. quality and bright lighting.
2. proper substrate with high cation ability and root fertilizer
3. carbon dioxide gases
4. liquid trace elements

to start off you need lighting. i have 120 gal tank. i use t8 bulbs. there are power compact lighting thats really good. i have seen people who take the screw in pc lighting that goes in reg light bulbs. i would start out with low light plants. it really depends on how much you want to get into plants.
 
First you'll need about 15 watts of fluorescent light over your 10g to grow low-light plants well. If you've only got an incandescent hood you can buy spiral CF lights to replace the screw-in bulbs.

Plain gravel is fine if you choose the following easy-care plants:
-Java ferns (there are several different types)
-Anubias
-Cryptocorynes (I have Wendtii green, there are others though)
-Java moss
-Hygrophila siamensis 53B

You can purchase fertilizer if you wish, although it shouldn't be necessary in most low-light tanks. Fish food is usually enough. However, a tiny drop of something called Flourish Excel once or twice a week can help things along, but it's usually not necessary.
 
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