Okay, I have a topic here on the plants I purchased... and what's gone wrong since I got them. I've been hearing a lot of mis-matched information about whether or not I need fertilizers or CO2, whether or not my substrate will work, and so on.
I was nervous before I even got started with these plants... now I'm feeling rather defeated by the whole scenario. I had no idea it would be so daunting a task, or that it would consume so much income to even try!! I can't believe I've already invested close to $200 on a 5-gallon aquarium, some plants, and a betta. Granted, the betta alone was close to $50 all by himself.
Still, I thought I'd asked all the right questions about if my gravel and lights would work for my plant choices. Now everyone is piping up about how I could have done things differently. I'm broke, confused, and frustrated as all get out....... but I still want to try. I'm nothing if I'm not persistent!
So...
I have a 5-gallon minibow setup from All-Glass. I performed by first ever fishless cycle with this tank back in April with quick success. I bought blue gravel at the time to go with a theme I was going to experiment with (I'm thinking better of it for now as it's looking too costly thanks to my other expenses) and an 11-watt, screw-in fluorescent bulb. The kit came with a 15-watt incandescent, but I've heard they aren't as potent for growing plants?
Anywho, my first package of plants was 3 bulbs of crypt wenditii, one rhizome of anubias coffe with 7 leaves, and a 'freebie' from the seller of a bunch of 10 stalks of some red-gold plant... Reideckii? :huh: I also bought a trio of aquatic brigs apple snails.
Whether it was the battered condition of the plants, their hunger for vegetation after fasting for the trip, or my own ignorance, the snails went to town for 3 days, stripping the reideckii's leaves to the point of transparency and breaking off the stalks of the anubias and chewing holes in the leaves. The seller assured me they were true brigs snails and they looks more like brigs than the other 'apple snail' species that is a known plant-predator. It's name escapes me at the moment.
So I remove the snails to a non-planted 10-gallon with algae bloom, sinking pellet diet, and the occasional fresh veggies and go back to looking after my pet-project. It's been less than a week since the plants came in. I can't tell if it's my imagination that's making me think the crypt stumps are trying to sprout, the anubias looks like it's going to lose all but 3 or maybe 4 leaves (which is bad since I was told it's a slow grower), and the red plant is turning bright green, dropping leaves, and the smaller stalks are already withering away.
*sighs heavily* So that's how it's been so far. I don't know if it's a disaster, or just the normal bumpy beginning stages of a novice, or if I am not giving myself enough time and credit for what I am *trying* to do here.
I have another crypt species, 2 types of java fern, hygro, and flame moss coming in. Where do I go from here? Do I bite the bullet, let the plants live or die as they may, and buy special plant-growing substrate, better lights, and whatever else when I have the chance to? Is all this necessary just for 5-gallons?
As a sidenote, I admit I have an extremely healthy respect growing for people who plant tanks and do a good job of it now. Moreso than I did when it was just 'pretty' to me. Now I know personally that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication!!
I was nervous before I even got started with these plants... now I'm feeling rather defeated by the whole scenario. I had no idea it would be so daunting a task, or that it would consume so much income to even try!! I can't believe I've already invested close to $200 on a 5-gallon aquarium, some plants, and a betta. Granted, the betta alone was close to $50 all by himself.
Still, I thought I'd asked all the right questions about if my gravel and lights would work for my plant choices. Now everyone is piping up about how I could have done things differently. I'm broke, confused, and frustrated as all get out....... but I still want to try. I'm nothing if I'm not persistent!
So...
I have a 5-gallon minibow setup from All-Glass. I performed by first ever fishless cycle with this tank back in April with quick success. I bought blue gravel at the time to go with a theme I was going to experiment with (I'm thinking better of it for now as it's looking too costly thanks to my other expenses) and an 11-watt, screw-in fluorescent bulb. The kit came with a 15-watt incandescent, but I've heard they aren't as potent for growing plants?
Anywho, my first package of plants was 3 bulbs of crypt wenditii, one rhizome of anubias coffe with 7 leaves, and a 'freebie' from the seller of a bunch of 10 stalks of some red-gold plant... Reideckii? :huh: I also bought a trio of aquatic brigs apple snails.
Whether it was the battered condition of the plants, their hunger for vegetation after fasting for the trip, or my own ignorance, the snails went to town for 3 days, stripping the reideckii's leaves to the point of transparency and breaking off the stalks of the anubias and chewing holes in the leaves. The seller assured me they were true brigs snails and they looks more like brigs than the other 'apple snail' species that is a known plant-predator. It's name escapes me at the moment.
So I remove the snails to a non-planted 10-gallon with algae bloom, sinking pellet diet, and the occasional fresh veggies and go back to looking after my pet-project. It's been less than a week since the plants came in. I can't tell if it's my imagination that's making me think the crypt stumps are trying to sprout, the anubias looks like it's going to lose all but 3 or maybe 4 leaves (which is bad since I was told it's a slow grower), and the red plant is turning bright green, dropping leaves, and the smaller stalks are already withering away.
*sighs heavily* So that's how it's been so far. I don't know if it's a disaster, or just the normal bumpy beginning stages of a novice, or if I am not giving myself enough time and credit for what I am *trying* to do here.
I have another crypt species, 2 types of java fern, hygro, and flame moss coming in. Where do I go from here? Do I bite the bullet, let the plants live or die as they may, and buy special plant-growing substrate, better lights, and whatever else when I have the chance to? Is all this necessary just for 5-gallons?
As a sidenote, I admit I have an extremely healthy respect growing for people who plant tanks and do a good job of it now. Moreso than I did when it was just 'pretty' to me. Now I know personally that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication!!
