kveeti, can I ask how many and what type of plants you have? What lighting also? Pruning schedule? Do you fertilize at all? Thanks
Bill
Bill
Planted tanks
- Thread starter Faramir
- Start date
Originally posted by beviking
kveeti, can I ask how many and what type of plants you have? What lighting also? Pruning schedule? Do you fertilize at all? Thanks
Most of that info is on my aquarium specs page. I have to prune my java moss every 3-4 weeks, everything else rarely, just take off any dying leaves on weekly maintenance. The floating plant I have to thin out weekly, it practically doubles each week.
I find four different "categories" if you will, when chatting with US aquarists, and they all overlap to some degree.
A fish tank only
A plant tank only (rare but happens)
A fish tank with plants (the emphasis is on what's good for the fish first, and the plant benefits to them)
A planted tank with fish (the emphasis is on what's good for the plants first, and the fish benefits to them)
Of coarse there are differing degrees. Some one with a planted Discus tank probably has an equal concern for both. Others who like to breed Oscars for instance just won't be able to have one of those lush Dutch or Amano style aquatic gardens. The point that the cichlid forum and the plant forum are separated on this chat is kind of an example of what I mean
A fish tank only
A plant tank only (rare but happens)
A fish tank with plants (the emphasis is on what's good for the fish first, and the plant benefits to them)
A planted tank with fish (the emphasis is on what's good for the plants first, and the fish benefits to them)
Of coarse there are differing degrees. Some one with a planted Discus tank probably has an equal concern for both. Others who like to breed Oscars for instance just won't be able to have one of those lush Dutch or Amano style aquatic gardens. The point that the cichlid forum and the plant forum are separated on this chat is kind of an example of what I mean
I am a huge fan of planted tanks. I have more species of plants than I do of fish.
I think most people start in the hobby without any help--or bad advice from the uninformed. They try plants with high lighting needs using a stock strip light and bulb, and get depressed when the plant dies. People who start slowly and have guidance from experienced people will have better success. Plants are cheaper than plastic--I can split a crypt and have 3-4 more plants. Try that with plastic! I don't have tons of light, I fertilize haphazardly. I vaccum the substrate deeply and regularly. Heck, I still have a UGF in one planted tank. And yet, everything is growing. Not superfast, but growing. I know I can't support swords, so I don't get them (except one melon, which is a dark red freak--not sure why it hangs on!), I stick with low light bunch plants and anubias (I have 4 species now--two are blooming), or crypts, which I haven't been able to kill yet.
To me, the rumors of planted tanks being hard is along the same lines as saltwater being so hard...And probably spread by the same people who haven't done either.
I think most people start in the hobby without any help--or bad advice from the uninformed. They try plants with high lighting needs using a stock strip light and bulb, and get depressed when the plant dies. People who start slowly and have guidance from experienced people will have better success. Plants are cheaper than plastic--I can split a crypt and have 3-4 more plants. Try that with plastic! I don't have tons of light, I fertilize haphazardly. I vaccum the substrate deeply and regularly. Heck, I still have a UGF in one planted tank. And yet, everything is growing. Not superfast, but growing. I know I can't support swords, so I don't get them (except one melon, which is a dark red freak--not sure why it hangs on!), I stick with low light bunch plants and anubias (I have 4 species now--two are blooming), or crypts, which I haven't been able to kill yet.
To me, the rumors of planted tanks being hard is along the same lines as saltwater being so hard...And probably spread by the same people who haven't done either.
All of my display tanks are planted - directly or indirectly. Those fish incompatible with plants have veggie filters.
PS: Mine are "fish tanks with plants", even those which are very heavily planted. The tanks are for the fish.
PS: Mine are "fish tanks with plants", even those which are very heavily planted. The tanks are for the fish.
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