New to plants

[kyle079]

Ive got a 29 gal tank that i have had for about 5 months now and i was wanting to start planting it but i have no idea where to start. The lighting on my tank is the standard lighting that came with the tank when i bought it do i need to upgrade my lighting and if so what do you think i should go with?? Just some help would be great. Oh and some recomendations of starter plants would be great.

 

[Nolapete]

Do you want to do low-light plants like java fern, java moss, and anubias or high light plants?

ahsupply.com is a good source for retrofit kits
lightbulbsdirect.com for bulbs

6500K Philips bulbs from Home depot work well

 

[Squawkbert]

I second the above and also suggest that you check out www.rexgrigg.com and APC

 

[kyle079]

yea i was probably looking to do low light cause my tank is in my room so i dont want to have the way bright lights on 24/7

 

[UCF-Planted]

You wouldn't want lights on 24/7 no matter what kind of plants, unless your real goal is algae. Plants need a period of darkness as part of photosynthesis.

 

[kyle079]

I know i was being sarcastic. :wall:

 

[John N.]

Coralife 65 watt light should do well for a low light setup with Java Ferns, anubias, and crypts. You can grow dwarf sag as your foreground. It'll require little maintanance, and doesn't require CO2 or ferts for the most part (they'll benefit with them of course).

-John N.

 

[UCF-Planted]

I know i was being sarcastic. :wall:

Heheheh, sarcasm is tough to detect in writing

 

[kyle079]

Am i going to be alright with the standard substraight?? It is just the black gravel that comes in a bag at LFS. Or am i going to have to replace all the substraight.

 

[John N.]

Substraight - substrate.