How Does This Sound?

[carttman]

I have a 29 gallon tank with an all gravel substrate. I will not be adding CO2 or fertilizer. My tank has been set up for more than a year now. How do you think these plants would do? Java Moss, Java Fern, Hornwort, Water Sprite, Corkscrew, Anubias? If there are any others that would do please recommend them for me. Also, how deep do you plant them in the substrate?

 

[FishSeller]

You can certainly set up a planted aquarium using CO2 that occurs naturally in your water. However, light and nutrients are two components that cannot be overlooked. What kind of lighting do you plan on using? Even low-light plants such as java fern and most anubias still need about 1.5 watts per gallon (wpg) at a bare minimum. Fertilizer is relatively inexpensive and can be something as simple as a few plant tabs or a few capfuls of a commercial aquarium fertilizer. Hornwort and Water Sprite probably aren't your best choices for the set up you're going for, as Water Sprite grows rapidly and will remove many of the ferts you're trying to conserve. The same goes for Hornwort. I would recommend any of the crypts. They come in many different flavors to choose from and once they're established, they're pretty easy to care for.

 

[Robert H]

It all depends on your light, how much you have.

 

[Blinky]

I agree with both the above posters.
My best advice is to do some research before starting up with plants. Check out back posts in this forum, visit plantgeek.net, aquaticplantcentral.com or plantedtank.net for loads of info. The Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscock (Barron's) is a great book as well, it talks about setting up, ferts, CO2, light, and gives descriptions and care info for many species.
The more you learn, the more likely it is you'll be successful. There's something so beautiful about a tank full of healthy plants, it makes all the initial effort worthwhile .

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I've grown many different kinds of plants fairly well at 1.5 wpg. If you have at least that amount of light you should be fine...though I would recommend adding some ferts(K + mg) and mix some flourite with that gravel. Flourish Excel would be a good carbon source in place of the CO2 and has been known to help control some algaes. Once a week 20% water changes would be enough to maintain a tank like this.

 

[carttman]

Right now I have 38 watts running on my tank. Would this be considered low or medium? Also, what other plants could I add?

 

[carttman]

Fertilizer is relatively inexpensive and can be something as simple as a few plant tabs or a few capfuls of a commercial aquarium

What kind of liquid fertilizer would you recommend and would that be sufficient enough to still put Hornwort, and Water Sprite? What is Flourish Excel

 

[snytiger_92]

I love the rummy nose tetras ! I have had horrible luck keeping more than four at a time, though :Angel: . I once bought six to add to the four I already had. Well, five of the six died, one of the first four (that I had had in my tank four about four months) died - leaving four. Same thing happened again later, only four of the six died and two of the original four died! Again, leaving only four! Strange! My tnak must have a four rummy nose limit!

I would suggest a little more light. if you begin using ferts, do not dose too much iron! I made that mistake and found myself in an algae problem :duh: !