planted tanks

[Parin]

LOL. To get your tank like the first three photos won't be easy and frankly, you won't achieve that if this is your first attempt at keeping real plants.

Heck, I've been trying to make something half decent for more than a year now, and it's still nowhere even comparable to the beauties shown in the aquascaping contest. Although it's quite a difference now that during the first months...

It's strange though, that so many Americans use plastic plants. Don't you have problems with the waterquality? (oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, ...?)

 

[Aries]

No problem people! I figure a contest would be the best way to view a whole bunch of peoples tanks. I use this to get a lot of ideas.

A perspetive rarely seen in tank pictures, from the top down:

I really like top pictures, wish many more people did that as to get more ideal placements.

LOL. To get your tank like the first three photos won't be easy and frankly, you won't achieve that if this is your first attempt at keeping real plants.

I agree but should not hinder your attempts but should give you a goal. Those are some heavily maintained tanks that are quite mature. I have a good 'scape but is very immature - it really needs to fill in. I look forward to having something like those first three pics!!!

Aries

 

[Parin]

I agree but should not hinder your attempts but should give you a goal. Those are some heavily maintained tanks that are quite mature. I have a good 'scape but is very immature - it really needs to fill in. I look forward to having something like those first three pics!!!

Aries

That's true. However, a lot of people get discouraged if their tank doesn't look like that after 4 weeks. Or if certain plants don't do well in their aquarium. And then they tend to give up...

I can only say, give live plants a chance and do your best! It's the best thing you can do for your fish.

 

[pwrflpills]

It's strange though, that so many Americans use plastic plants. Don't you have problems with the waterquality? (oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, ...?)

Americans, if you'd be so gracious as to excuse me being that I am one, use fake plants because they are all over the pet shops, require no maintenance, and are so readily available because they generally get the pet shop about twice the money per item. Also, 90% of aquarium keepers in the US probably neither know nor are they told any better by any shop "professionals". Add to that the type of people who like white, pink, purple, black or blue colored plants in their tanks. :huh:

But hey, thanks for joining the world and generalizing Americans. :thm: Not.

 

[Emg]

I see no problem with using fake plants in an aquarium. I have seen some very nicely done tanks with fake plants..in fact, the 10 gallon tank I have that is all fake is probably the easiest one to maintain. No algae issues.....although, there is a very nice crop of mossy like algae growing on the top of the "FAKE" rock type decoration. It looks very nice so I leave it there. This tank has 3 male guppies, one glo-light tetra and 2 little cory cats.

I also have a black and white themed tank that is all fake....and I rather like it quite a bit as it's unusual and quite catches the eye....



I have no issues with water quality in these tanks.....they have sufficient filtration and are not overstocked or overfed. The B&W tank is a 15 gallon and houses 3 male HB pastel guppies, 2 panda cories and one german blue ram.

I also keep several planted tanks as well.....I do throroughly enjoy a nicely done planted tank as much as anyone else....but I won't look down my nose at someone who chooses the easier route of fake over live.....

 

[Roan Art]

Guys, Parin isn't being derogatory towards Americans. Seriously.

It's an honest question because in Europe they don't use plastic. They're really big into natural tanks and have been for quite a while. So when they see all the plastic over here they wonder why we use it.

Heck, I'm Canadian and I know Canucks mostly use plastic, too.

Thing is, Parin, plastic is cheaper and easier in the long run. No ferts, no algae, no worrying about killing the plants with medications or salt or whatever. Most of us grew up with plastic. I never even thought about putting real plants in my tank until I saw some of the Euro tanks.

Now I can't imaging having plastic at all. I have a bit in my hospital tank to give shy fish some coverage, but that's it. The advantages, for me, far outweigh the costs and care of the plants.

In Europe they rely on the plants to control their phophates and nitrates et al, which is why Parin asked about that.

There are pros and cons to both, imho.

Roan

 

[Captain Hook]

I agree Roan, there are pros and cons for both. That being said, this is the aquatic plants forum so I don't see much point in discussing fake/plastic plants.

 

[Mooch28]

Guys, Parin isn't being derogatory towards Americans. Seriously.

It's an honest question because in Europe they don't use plastic. They're really big into natural tanks and have been for quite a while. So when they see all the plastic over here they wonder why we use it.

Heck, I'm Canadian and I know Canucks mostly use plastic, too.

Thing is, Parin, plastic is cheaper and easier in the long run. No ferts, no algae, no worrying about killing the plants with medications or salt or whatever. Most of us grew up with plastic. I never even thought about putting real plants in my tank until I saw some of the Euro tanks.

Now I can't imaging having plastic at all. I have a bit in my hospital tank to give shy fish some coverage, but that's it. The advantages, for me, far outweigh the costs and care of the plants.

In Europe they rely on the plants to control their phophates and nitrates et al, which is why Parin asked about that.

There are pros and cons to both, imho.

Roan

I started off rather strangely. My first tank was a 72 gallon Bow with a few live plants. Within a few months, becamse much mroe interested in planted tanks, and created this within 6 months....... (my first tank ever!!)

http://techtastic.pricenetwork.ca/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=240737

Unfortanately, ive become tired of it, and am in the process of tearing it down. Am selling off plants and fish.

This tank is now becoming a reef (sps) tank. Ive gone a little salty i guess. :joke:

 

[RTR]

My tanks are not plant tanks, they are planted fish tanks. That dichotomy is very real to me, as I have lots of tanks, each and every one for the fish that live there, none for the aquascape. BUT, the appearance of the tank is important to me in order to show my fish, and to be healthier for them. I am unwilling to spend much time in grooming and pruning - no stem plants, lots of rooted rosettes/rhizomes/bulbs/tubers. Plants that do well for me with little effort I use a lot of and repeat in multiple tanks. Collectoritis and Dutch style plantings curl my toes. All highly personal choices and opinions. Folk who want to be collectors and to ceate a still life suitable for a frame on the wall, fine, their perogative, again personal choice. I do not do garden borders outdoors either. Everybody gets to make their own choices.

There is a link in my signature tank list to some pics of a few of my tanks if you want to see some very low upkeep heavily planted tanks.

BTW, the Marimo balls in the 55, as well as the A. nana petite in the left foreground of that same tank are from Aquabotanic, Robert Hudson's site. You can see it in a clickable version with more detail as the featured current tank on the main page of the GWAPA site at: http://www.gwapa.org/

 

[pwrflpills]

Emg, that black and white tank is wild. Very cool.

But back to the thread - the pictures are awesome, but I still don't know what any of those plants are. So, being a plant newbie, what are some of the best plants to start with?

My LFS recommended swords, wisteria, moneywort, and I can't remember any more.

I guess what I'm looking for is "lush" vegetation. However, I do like swords, but I think I want to add "grassy" plants, so what can anyone recommend?