So I'm tired of plastic plants and I want to add some live plants into my tank. I've heard a lot of talk about fertilizers and co2 and what have you. My question is does every planted tank require all of this? Is there not any low maintenance plants that I can put in my tanks? One is a 5g and the other is a 12g. They both have florescent lights-I think 15 watts. I dont have enough time to mess with fertilizers and all that but would still like to enjoy a planted tank! What do you all think?
Need some advice!
- Thread starter Juice
- Start date
I have a 5 gallon with crypts in it, and it gets no ferts and low light. It does just fine.
Just do a search for low light plants. I think there are some sales on this type of plant in the classifieds section here. 1 order would probably fill both thanks totally.
Just do a search for low light plants. I think there are some sales on this type of plant in the classifieds section here. 1 order would probably fill both thanks totally.
Here is a quick link to Mgamer's sales. This low light package is probably what you want. http://www.bobstropicalplants.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_37&products_id=139
(Not telling you to buy it, but just showing you what is out there, and what is a good deal.)
(Not telling you to buy it, but just showing you what is out there, and what is a good deal.)
Great link "Bigwave."
Before I got into the "hightech" planted stuff I started out with low light stuff just like that. I had Java fern, anubias, Java moss, and some crypts. Of course, I had great growth without the call for fertilization. I had under 1 wpg, and the plants still did just fine. I passed on the low light plants to my mother-in-laws fish tank and she doesn't even have a light, the tank just sits by the sliding glass door and the plants seem like they are growing faster than when I had owned them. The key to your success in the smaller tank would be to regulate your lighting schedule to stay away from algae. 7-8 hours should do the trick.
Good luck!
-Chonh
Before I got into the "hightech" planted stuff I started out with low light stuff just like that. I had Java fern, anubias, Java moss, and some crypts. Of course, I had great growth without the call for fertilization. I had under 1 wpg, and the plants still did just fine. I passed on the low light plants to my mother-in-laws fish tank and she doesn't even have a light, the tank just sits by the sliding glass door and the plants seem like they are growing faster than when I had owned them. The key to your success in the smaller tank would be to regulate your lighting schedule to stay away from algae. 7-8 hours should do the trick.
Good luck!
-Chonh
Picture
Just for something to look at, here is my 5 gallon. It has a light on a timer, a filter, a heater and a fish, and gets water changes, and nothing else. The light is a full spectrum twisty florescent type. I have recently pulled plants out because after about a year the fish was getting too crowded in there.
It's not a very good picture, I was just testing my camera this afternoon, but at least you can see it is possible!
Just for something to look at, here is my 5 gallon. It has a light on a timer, a filter, a heater and a fish, and gets water changes, and nothing else. The light is a full spectrum twisty florescent type. I have recently pulled plants out because after about a year the fish was getting too crowded in there.
It's not a very good picture, I was just testing my camera this afternoon, but at least you can see it is possible!
Anubias come in many varieties and I've never had a problem with them. Java ferns are another great low light plant.
katana1200
Unhealthy obsession?
If you have a small piece of driftwood in your tank or even a couple larger rocks you can always go with anubias species or African water fern, Bolbitus I believe is the scientific name. They both do very well in low light and you just need to weight them down by tying them to a rock or wood. Don't bury them or they rot. Mine have been set up in my low tech setup for almost a year and I have not added the first fert to the water column. I do have potting soil substrate capped with sand but I don't know how much that does for the non-planted ones. Ohh, also some guppy grass or indian fern works well as just a floating plant. Just toss 'em in and enjoy. Good luck.