Keeping Amazon Swords

Is hairgrass from the amazon? Sorry, I'm just trying to keep everything in the tank amazonian. Also, I'll keep the fixture I already have (which is better like you said) and get one of those bulbs because they will fit in my fixture. Phew, that saves me over $60!
 
remember, the sides will be less lighted with that fixture as the bulbs are 24" and the light it 30". And you are spending $25 on bulbs and $45 on the light. I would have just bought a T5 HO fixture for $20 more.
 
try micro swords as the grassy plant. I would reccomend CO2 though, because my swords were doing fine until i took the CO2 out. green algae shouldn't be a problem, as that is what most algae eaters eat. but brown algae might get hard to contol. Its more rare than green algae, but idk about any livestock to control it. you might want an algae scraper.
 
Okay, I bought a T8 FloraMax light for my current light fixture and I bought an API root tabs fertilizer for the plants when I get them. I solved that problem but then another one arose. My parents told me I'm not allowed to get plants because my tank is doing fine the way it is. That's true, but plants will only make it better. I tried to tell them this but they said don't mess with it. Also, they said since I spent $60 on fake plants I shouldn't throw them away after only 4 months, which is also true. Can anyone think of a reason I can tell them why I should mess with my tank, get real plants, and not use my fake ones? If it has something to do with the condition of my tank or fish they probably won't listen. If it has something to do with me or them making money or having more time, they will probably listen. So, any ideas?
 
you could tell them that you'll pay for it yourself. You'll be surprised how far in life doing that will get you...
 
Maybe you can negotiate to edge into this slowly rather than going straight from all-fake to all-real in the plants. Move one or two of the fakes out of, say, the right rear corner. Obtain permission to get one small to medium Amazon sword--this should cost little to nothing or you might find somebody willing to trade. Experiment with this, see how fast it grows for you, what algae situations you encounter, etc. If it looks attractive and you keep up with tending it this will go a long way to persuade your folks that you are serious about a planted tank. At that point you ask if you can add some hairgrass or pelia or other ground cover: again expense will be low and change incremental.

They are probably worried that you will lose interest in it 4 months from now and it will get overgrown and yukky looking. And starting small will let you experiment with ferts and how the fish treat it and stuff like that. Personally I would just stick it in the substrate and leave it alone, except to pluck off any leaves that get green-spot algae. I had mine in a 10g with no ferts, no special lights and after a year it had pretty well taken over the tank. I had to sell it off to somebody with a 125 who didn't want to wait for a little one to grow. See: potential profit in plants right there! :)
 
user_name, I wish I could say that, but I have paid for all of my aquarium supplies, so unfortunately that won't work. Also, I don't think they are concerned about me losing interest, they think it will cause problems and I am wasting the $60 on the fake plants. Although, that is a great idea on incrimental planting! That will probably work. I will post again after I propose this to them. Thanks, that is a really good idea!
 
They agreed! So, I guess I will get 1-2 plants for now and see how it goes, and they said if they do good until september, I can fully plant the tank. Thanks for that great idea XanAvaloni!
 
you could always try starting with java moss, and selling it on here. Claim that you're developing skills needed in running a small business, and learning responsibility. Mine jumped all over that, it helps too if you strategically do water changes when they're around, even if it's harder. Make sure thye realize the amount of work you put into the tank, and then they'll be more leniant.

Xan's idea sounds really good too, you may want an easy anubia too, it will help your case to have two nice looking plants.

I'm sure that with time they'll be cool with it, eventually they'll get more used to aquaria.
 
Yea you are probably right. I may get some non-amazon plants just for looks, but I doubt they will let me sell them because they are already hesitant about me buying them. Also, I will do water changes when they are here and the small business idea may work, and I tell them that it teaches me responsibilty so they agree to that. Finally, they realize I work at it, but they apparently expect that of me because they never give me much credit for it. They just aren't big pet people, so they probably don't understand. Thanks again for the ideas, I hope they work!
 
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