Need ideas for Planted Tank

VivaLaVics

VivaLaVics

*blub bubble*
Oct 3, 2008
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Seattle, WA
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Okay, so I have a 14 gallon tall that needs something in it. I'm thinking of making it my first planted tank. I have no idea where to start from filtration to lighting or plant choice? There is good room for them to grow tall so I'd like opinnions on good plants that grow high, and substrate, filtration, temperature and lighting options. Just to get my feet wet. I'm also doing some basic research, but I've seen some awesome planted tanks here so thought ya'll would be a good place to start. :)

Want to keep some fish in it. Thinking a betta and some tetras after the plants get going.

Let me know what you think! And thanks!
 
Tall tanks aren't a great idea for a planted tank, especially if its your first. you'd need a heavy duty light for it to penetrate that much water properly.
 
I've been thinking of doing a taller tank myself, like an 18 tall with the same footprint as a 10g. I'd paint the back black, black plant substrate, a couple pieces of mopani placed just of center to stand higher than it sits wide, with moss around the bottom of it, java ferns and anubias placed on it for effect, a wall of low light stems against the back with about 2 thick patches of rotala and one sparse patch just in front of it all to give some contrast by way of leaf shape and size at least, and a few river rocks with quartz striping placed to ballance it all out. I'd put about 45 watts over it. But seeing as warm weather is around the corner and my monthly allottment of aquarium money is about to become my monthly allottment of "gone fishing" money, how about you put one together this way and just post pics so I can see how it would have looked! LOL!!
 
Vallis, cabomba, and javas and anubias. Onion plant? grows very tall and will have to be removed eventually but theyre pretty cool.
 
lol. Tank size is: 13x13x19.5ish. It's basically 19 inches tall. I think the background thing is going a bit too far for me as I still haven't even ever had a planted tank... The tank also has some crazy custom size light so I'd have to rig that too... Not sure what to so with the tank. I keep cichlids and there is no way they would be comfortable in this tank so thought plants would be a way to go-
 
Fish-Addict said:
Vallis, cabomba, and javas and anubias. Onion plant? grows very tall and will have to be removed eventually but theyre pretty cool.
Click to expand...

If you trim the leaves of the onion plant at the water's surface, it will start new leaves and get more of a fan look to it. I like this idea!
 
SMDimi said:
lol. Tank size is: 13x13x19.5ish. It's basically 19 inches tall. I think the background thing is going a bit too far for me as I still haven't even ever had a planted tank... The tank also has some crazy custom size light so I'd have to rig that too... Not sure what to so with the tank. I keep cichlids and there is no way they would be comfortable in this tank so thought plants would be a way to go-
Click to expand...

If by "background thing" you mean the wall of stem plants, if you get something with a low light requirement there is really nothing to it. Just find someone selling some various stuff on the F/S forums, and plant it across the back, let it grow and top it when it starts reaching the water surface and leaning over, then plant the tops that you cut off into the hedgerow where it looks sparse of thin to thicken it out until it looks like a wall of plants. Midground and foreground you could just place some decorateive wood with smaller varieties of anubias and java ferns attatched by way of string until they root into the wood on their own. It's a lot easier than it sounds, and you'll have all the help you need here on the boards if you hit a snag. At 19 inches tall, I'd go with 30-45 watts of light for low light plants to avoid an algae bloom on the slower growing stuff. You could even make a light with a pair of 27W CFL bulbs from walmart. Do a search for a thread on DIY lights and you'll find all sorts of info and help for that. As for the onion plant, there is a dwarf version that would do well in a 19 inch tall tank I think.
 
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