i have a 55 gallon and want to produce plants for profit. do i need co2 do i need special substrate or regular substrate dosing ferts. do i need a filter. can i set it up outside in the sun? do i need to get the chlorine out of the water? any suggestions would be great.
how do you start a plant nursury for profit?
- Thread starter iamvictor2k
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Growing plants and making a profit is a challenge. I've got numerous planted tanks with various substrates, co2 and use my variation of the EI fert dosing. All my tanks have fish so all have over filtration. Gotta keep it out of natural light or algae will be happy. De-chlor only if you have fish. T5ho lighting is most efficient. Everyone has a substrate of choice, mine are flourite, eco-complete and inert pond substrate in that order, but depends on what you're growing and tap water parameters.
If I consider the costs: hardware & electric... I may break even in the hobby, selling plants at monthly fish meetings and auctions. If I calculate my time playing in the water having fun @$2 an hour for 20hrs then yes there could be profit. Woops forgot about travel expenses: gas and tolls. I'll take that back we're now in the red....
It's dumb luck what sells good one time and not another. I get the best return on "weeds" the unique plants don't always have interest.
Sorry if I'm babbling, I'm taking a break from baggin and tagging plants for tomorrows auction in Freehold, NJ. 71 miles one way, but I've gotten the best discus for $5.
If I consider the costs: hardware & electric... I may break even in the hobby, selling plants at monthly fish meetings and auctions. If I calculate my time playing in the water having fun @$2 an hour for 20hrs then yes there could be profit. Woops forgot about travel expenses: gas and tolls. I'll take that back we're now in the red....
It's dumb luck what sells good one time and not another. I get the best return on "weeds" the unique plants don't always have interest.
Sorry if I'm babbling, I'm taking a break from baggin and tagging plants for tomorrows auction in Freehold, NJ. 71 miles one way, but I've gotten the best discus for $5.
What I think you ought to do is purchase some plants and try them out for a month. See if you can propagate them successfully without also growing algae. If you can then maybe purchase a second tank and go from there. But it's going to be a big investment.. you won't be able to get away on the cheap.. and amortization of your start-up costs is going to be over years, not months.
As with any beginner, I would recommend avoiding CO2 and high-light to start out, opting instead for easy-to-grow stem plants, mosses and rhizome plants (hygrophilia, ceratopteris, mosses, java ferns, anubias etc).
Growing submerged plants in direct sunlight is an invitation for algae so artificial light is preferred. 100 Watts of PC or T5 lighting over your 55 gallon will be enough to grow most of the plants mentioned.
I prefer to use test kits rather than dosing methods like EI (which of course I still follow in principle with dosing schedule and a weekly water change). If you go the kit route you'll need the following test kits: Nitrate, Phosphate, GH/KH and Iron.
And you will need the following dry ferts: Potassium Nitrate, Mono Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Sulfate, and Plantex CSM+B which, conveniently enough, you can buy these as a package deal here: http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/micro-macro-fertilizers.html
For a dechlorinator I would recommend Seachem Prime, but I honestly don't think it's necessary.
A filter is definitely not necessary in a fishless tank but good circulation is. That can easily be accomplished with some cheap powerheads.
I say good luck with this. There is a learning curve, but it is a lot of fun. :thumbsup:
-edit-
Oh I guess I didn't mention substrate. My favorite has always been Fluorite. It's got what plants crave.
As with any beginner, I would recommend avoiding CO2 and high-light to start out, opting instead for easy-to-grow stem plants, mosses and rhizome plants (hygrophilia, ceratopteris, mosses, java ferns, anubias etc).
Growing submerged plants in direct sunlight is an invitation for algae so artificial light is preferred. 100 Watts of PC or T5 lighting over your 55 gallon will be enough to grow most of the plants mentioned.
I prefer to use test kits rather than dosing methods like EI (which of course I still follow in principle with dosing schedule and a weekly water change). If you go the kit route you'll need the following test kits: Nitrate, Phosphate, GH/KH and Iron.
And you will need the following dry ferts: Potassium Nitrate, Mono Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Sulfate, and Plantex CSM+B which, conveniently enough, you can buy these as a package deal here: http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/micro-macro-fertilizers.html
For a dechlorinator I would recommend Seachem Prime, but I honestly don't think it's necessary.
A filter is definitely not necessary in a fishless tank but good circulation is. That can easily be accomplished with some cheap powerheads.
I say good luck with this. There is a learning curve, but it is a lot of fun. :thumbsup:
-edit-
Oh I guess I didn't mention substrate. My favorite has always been Fluorite. It's got what plants crave.
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thanks guys for the information. does any one do this for profit or as an additional hobby that can tell me exactly what they have and what they use. any information is greatly appreciated.
"Profit" is a relative term. With only one 55g tank, the best you can hope for pay your expenses plus maybe a few extra dollars.
You'll want some decent light, some good co2, and a nutrient rich substrate. After that you'll want to grow some more rare/difficult plants. Those are they only ones that are remotely "profitable". The easy plants or the ones that grow quickly don't sell for a lot of money, and therefore won't "profit"
Most of the people that you see selling plants en masse generally buy them wholesale and resell them online at retail. Most of us hobbyist don't really make money, we just cover our expenses. To come out ahead, you'll need more than a 55g.
You'll want some decent light, some good co2, and a nutrient rich substrate. After that you'll want to grow some more rare/difficult plants. Those are they only ones that are remotely "profitable". The easy plants or the ones that grow quickly don't sell for a lot of money, and therefore won't "profit"
Most of the people that you see selling plants en masse generally buy them wholesale and resell them online at retail. Most of us hobbyist don't really make money, we just cover our expenses. To come out ahead, you'll need more than a 55g.
It's a business. Study entrepreneurship, and learn to grow plants. the better you grow plants, the more sales you make. the more legal advertising you make, the more business you get. The more money you make, the more taxes you pay.
any more advice, and I'll need a cut when you start selling.
any more advice, and I'll need a cut when you start selling.