question about plant setup

-[AnThOnY]-;1482552 said:

Might be a dumb question lol, but i recently bought a 36g bowfront and am planning on planting it, to make it easier i was going to place the plants before i started filling the tank. Regular tap water wont affect the plants right? nor will the conditioner for the water?

thanks for the help

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All true, but temp does effect plants (and of course---lights, ect).

You aren't going to want to use the sunlight because it is way more powerful then any light you can put over your tank and you have no way of regulating it. I would put curtins over the window and pull them shut when and if the sun is directly on the tank because that much light will cause algea problems. AH Supply makes a nice light that isn't that expensive and its pretty easy to assemble (I did it myself and I am not technilogically saavy!)

actually sunlight is used in some set ups(natural) and the plants regulate or control that algae.
often they sunlight in a house is limited and light may need to be supplemented.
tho in general.. you may want to avoid sunlight unless you are trying to work on a natural set up.

I have found it is almost impossible to plant a tank w/o water in it. Aquatic plants do not do well out of the water. I would suggest you do the following:

- Fill the tank about 1/3 and then plant the foreground plants.
- The add more water- to get it about 2/3 full and plant the foreground plants.
- Add more water- need not be 100%- and plant the taller background plants.

Many plants may break if not supported by water.

Plants left in chloriated water may suffer from the effects of chlorine depending on the levels and how long they are left in it.

I do not think there is enough chlorine in any drinking/tap water to harm any plants. It is drinking water not swimming pool water.