Planting w/ fish question

[James0816]

I do love the fresh real plants as opposed to the fake plastic or cloth ones but have never had any luck with them.

What are some good plants that I can go look at the LFS for that I can put in my tank with fishies?

What is the best way to put them in the tank? I ask this question due to gravel vacuuming would disturb them would it not?

Is there an amount that would be too much? I would like to create a nice display with tons of hiding and play areas and maybe breeding too?

I think I'm more concerned when it comes time to cleaning the tank. I don't want go around and wind up killing them and such (like I always manage to do).

Some good plant keeping tips would be greatly appreciated.

thx

One more to add....

If I am adding a little bit of aquarium salt for the fishies...will this bother plants?

 

[Mgamer20o0]

1 java moss java fern crypts... http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=2

2 each plant is different. just dont gravel vac around the plants.

3 i dont think you can have too much lol...

4 you dont need to add salt for the fish.

 

[James0816]

Bought two plants today...sry...dont know what they are...lfs didn't have them labled. anyway...quick question....do i leave the metal tie on them or am i supposed to remove it? also...regarding snails....we looked em over pretty good but didnt see any...how small are snail babies? curious to how long i would notice them in the tank if someone hitchhiked in.

 

[Andrew.]

Snails (some) are a good thing. They eat things you won't vacuum. They constantly oxygenate the gravel as they are always moving under the gravel. I wouldn't worry about them.

Also, the baby snails can be a treat for your fish. I don't bother trying to vacuum thoroughly by the plants. Just lighty go over the top.

 

[UCF-Planted]

If you have trouble keeping the plant in the gravel with the lead tie on, then go ahead and use it, but I personally always take it off and never have trouble keeping plants down (except java moss :wall: )

 

[UCF-Planted]

Different people have different results with different snails. Some say pond snails are the devil, others have never seen them eat a live plant. Malaysian Trumpet Snails help shift the gravel around by digging through it, but from what I have seen in my own tank, pond snails do not. I agree though, that as long as you do not see buckets of snails chowing down on your plants, that a small population of snails is healthy for the planted aquarium.

 

[James0816]

k..thx...i'll just leave it for the moment.

now the trick question...is there anything i need to do that won't hurt the fish to keep the plants alive and well?

 

[rich311k]

With some low light plants and 1-2 wpg you should not have to do anything for the plants. Your fish will be better off with the plants in the tank. Plants remove nitrogen compounds.

 

[James0816]

what is wpg?

 

[rich311k]

watt per gallon.