planted tanks

[Captain Hook]

pwrflpills - don't worry, plants really aren't that complicated. It's all about providing light and nutrients. CO2 injection isn't necessary in low light tanks, but it will still help.

I have a low maintenace tank with mostly crypts, anubias, and java fern. It takes almost no extra work to keep it going. I add some fertilizer sticks in the gravel every few months, once or twice a month add some liquid fertilizers, that's about it.

edit: you also don't need any special filters. If you're injecting CO2 it's a good idea to keep surface disturbance to a minimum. Canister filters are good for this.

 

[phanmc]

How much work involved in keeping a planted tank depends on the type of plants you want. You can have a low light, low maintenance tank which only requires you to do weekly water changes or you can have a colorful high light tank that will require CO2, fertilizing, and alot more trimming.

A low light tank consisting of java moss&fern, anubias, crypts, anacharis, and hornwort requires practically no extra maintenance. The standard hood lights should be enough to keep these plants alive. CO2 isn't necessary at this light level and the weekly water changes should provide the plants with their nutrients.

 

[ddayton21]

ljse, good to know about the java ferns; mine don't look any better than when I got them but it's only been about 2 weeks. My anacharis are doing great and i've only had them about a week and a half.

speaking of anacharis, I trimmed mine this morning and planted the trimmings in the gravel; they will take root like this won't they?

 

[Roan Art]

From the horse's mouth:

http://www.seachem.com/support/FAQs/FlourishExcel_faq.html

FWIW: Since I went to Excel use rountinely in my circulating range/central system, I had to discontinue the use of Anacharis as a veggie filter, as the growth arrested up to the plants dying. Val has not been affected.

Ah, that explains it! Thanks RTR. I only use Excel 3 times a week in my tanks, which will account for my anacharis not dying on me.

Roan

 

[Roan Art]

ljse, good to know about the java ferns; mine don't look any better than when I got them but it's only been about 2 weeks. My anacharis are doing great and i've only had them about a week and a half.

speaking of anacharis, I trimmed mine this morning and planted the trimmings in the gravel; they will take root like this won't they?

Yes, but the ends of the ones you cut the tops off of will branch. You can either leave them and then cut the branches off and plant them -- thereby having two plants for the price of one -- or remove them and replace them with the tops you cut off.

Roan

 

[ddayton21]

haha just like a hydra, cut off one and two grow in its place.

edit: almost forgot, thanks for the info roan!

 

[Roan Art]

haha just like a hydra, cut off one and two grow in its place.

Heh, my husband says I'm like a hydra in the morning

edit: almost forgot, thanks for the info roan!

You're welcome, of course!

Roan

 

[pwrflpills]

Well I went to the LFS after work today and unfortunately they were basically cleaned out by X-mas sales, but I was able to grab a nice little Cryptocoryne Wendtii De Witt and a Saggitaria Dwarf. They're pretty cool and I'll see how they work. Both were decribed as low maintenance.

Questions:
1. I put the Saggitaria Dwarf as a foreground plant b/c it is grassy and small (rising about 2" tall, then outward). Will it remain this way or is this a juvenile specimen that should be moved to the middle/back of the tank? I know it will produce runners and multiply that way, so that's why I though it would be a nice low lying forground plant.
2. Same question for the Cryptocoryne Wendtii De Witt. I put it in the middle. I've read they can go over 1.5 feet tall. Any recommendations for placement?

 

[reiverix]

In my moderate lighted tanks the sag stays quite small, no longer that 4 inches, and spreads slowly. Now in my high light CO2 injected tank it's like a different plant. Spreads like wildfire and some of the older plants have leaves 10 inches or so.

I've no experience with the species of crypt you mention so someone else will have to chime in.

 

[pwrflpills]

Yeah, I'm considering a brighter bulb. however, I learned tonight that it's mondo grass that I got, not sag. I also just read that mondo grass is not a true aquatic plant and does not do well constantly submerged. Guess I'll plant it in the yard! It has predictably not been doing well with my moderate light bulb. The red wentii seems fine though.

How is it that stores have these plants in tanks and look great, but they are not intended to be there?

will red wentii not do well in bright light if I go towards "bright light" plants?