would these plants work for a "newbie"

wataugachicken said:
I have looked at a couple different things to add and it seems that seachem florite was one I looked at at least the name sounds VERY familure so I must of seen it at least. Was that one that said it helps with nitrates and stuff like that?
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I dont think it takes care of nitrates - but then again I dont have the packaging with me.

I would not worry about Wisteria clogging filter. If it does, it is easy (at least with most filters) to clean out. It is a fast growing plant that has the potential to take your tank over. :)

Just another note - rinse you plants before placing them into your tank to rid of any critters. THere is a solution you can make (dont know what it is) to help kill off the critters. I dont rinse mine because I want the critters - my fish eat them (puffers and african cichlids).

Good Luck

Aries
 
I looked on my light bulb in the hood and some of the info is fadded off but this is what I could read:
Penn (then something I couldn't make out)
FL 15
Aquri-lux

So if that helps and tells you anything you needed to know, please let me know.

Thanks once again,
Gin
 
I believe the way Plenn Plax labels theirs "FL 15" means Fluorescent 15 Watts.

I think you have a 15W light - at least according to my research which could be flawed. Hard to say. Do you have two of these on your tank??? If you dont, then plants will have a very hard time growing in 0.5 WPG (Watts Per Gallon), if they grow at all. It is really best to have a starting point of 1.0 WPG - but not required.

At this level I would stick only with Java Fern, some Anubias and some Crypts. Nothing else because they would require more light and possibly die off thus wasting the money spent on them. The vals might also survive but I am not sure.

This is my $0.02.

Good Luck

Aries
 
I am also a plant newb but love the way they look. I have:
wisteria
java fern
red ludwigia
some spindly stem plant that is falling apart/being eaten

i have 19 watts over 10 gallons and about 1/4" gravel substrate. Have only had the plants for about a week, anyone have any tips?
 
Ok thank you then I will just go with the Java Fern, anabias and the Vals for now. Can I just get a bigger watt light, or would that require a whole new hood?

Thank you
 
In flourescent tubes, wattage is determined by length. i.e. for 15 watts your tube is probably 18 inches prong to prong, you won't get more wattage in that length. You can only add more tubes/fixtures.
 
Thanks for the thought of cyrpts Aries, I hadn't noticed them before, maybe the sites I had gone to didn't have them, I'm not sure but for what ever reason I hadn't noticed them. I found a site with a few that I really do like and they are reasonabley priced AND the shipping is only 11.79 flat rate!! I think instead to the Vals I will get crypt spiralis or crypt retrospiralis. Then in place of the amazon sword maybe cyrpt walkeri, or ciliata or wendtii. Unless I read wrong I believe they all said they could live in low to high lighting.
Also when I get everything do I take out my old rock and replace it with the substrate that I get or do I just add that to the rock?

Thank you soooooooo much!!!!!!!!
 
Oh I see, my hood only has a spot for one tube so then I either have to get a new hood or stick with just the very few choices in plants right? If I got an irrodecent light would that help? Like I said I am new at this so I really have know idea when it comes to the lights and things. I know something else I wanted to ask, if my lighting is so bad then it would be a bad idea to get floating plants wouldn't it, I had someone who was going to send me a few, but now I'm worried with the lighting being so bad.

Thank you yet again!
Gin
 
The floating plants will do fine, but they will then rob the lower plants of even more light if you let them cover the surface. If you keep them to 1/4 or under of the surface through active 'pruning', it should be ok.

If you search AH Supply on these boards, they have retro kits that you can buy that you can fit into your existing hood for more light. I've never used them but have read about it often here. I actually prefer my low light tank, although I'm not quite as low as yours. I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by iridescent lights.
 
Opps sorry about that I guess it is incandescent, I don't know what it is either but some one asked me if I had floresent or incandescent lights. I don't know if I could add an attachment on my hood it is just big enough to cover the light bulb that is in it, but I will check that out.

I don't mean to keep asking so many questions, but I have another one does it matter how close the plants are to the filter? I was sitting looking at my tank trying to invision how I would want the plants to go and I thought of the filter and how would it effect the plants by it. I hope all this info. isn't on here somewhere already, I've looked around the site quite a bit but didn't notice any. If it is and I have missed it just let me know and I can go there and look instead of taking all of your time.

Thank you!!!

Gin
 
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