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  L# Fast Growing No Ferts
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SubscribeFast Growing No Ferts
lou
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Fingerling
Posts: 44
Votes: 0
Registered: 06-Sep-2004
female uk
I was after some advice on fast growing plants.
I currently have a 50usg Tank with 2 30w bulbs
I have no ferts in my tank just pea gravel
I've had some crypts in my tank for a few weeks now and they seem to be doing ok. i few new leaves and visible new shoots. but i was after something that was abit more fast growing that doesn't take alot of looking after, is forgiving to the beginner, tolerant of low lighting and you guessed it doesn't need fertaliser.... if such a thing exists
i have been adding flora boost plant for to the water but i have no C02

Thanks Lou
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Report 
mattyboombatty
 
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Moderator
Tenellus Obsessor
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Registered: 26-Mar-2004
male usa us-northcarolina
[link=This]http://www.tropica.com/default.asp" style="COLOR: #FF0000[/link] is a great website for plants and thier requirements. It also has a search option. If you use the advanced search option, you can put in Desired speed of growth: fast or very fast, Maximum difficulty: easy, Light conditions in the aquarium: low.

The results will be shown on the right, all of which have information and pictures about them.

(sorry Bob for stealing your answer, it's much easier this way!)



Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
lou
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Fingerling
Posts: 44
Votes: 0
Registered: 06-Sep-2004
female uk
i had i look on that website but it doesn't state which plants are good without fertiliser
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
FRANK
 
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Moderator
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male usa us-colorado
Hi,
I'm not sure where the prohibition on the ferts is
comming from. In virtually every tank EXCEPT for
those modeled after the tanks in Diana Walstads' book
"The Ecology of the Planted Aquarium" will require the
addition of ferts at some point.

It will depend upon a variety of things.
How stocked the tank is with fish, and plants.
How bright the lights are and the demands of the plants within the tank.
If CO2 is being injected.
What kind of substrate is used.

The trick is to know your plants, and what they look like
when healthy, just as you know what a healthy xxx fish
looks like. Then look at the symptoms and dose the
tank accordingly.

I am not a fan of simply dumping in fert that contains
everything that any plant could want as some of it goes
to waste, and could become food for algae. Many plants
use more of one or two elements than others.
Check out this site:
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_nutrient.htm

Decide upon how much light (watts/gallon) you want to
invest in, and then choose only plants that fall within
that category or below. Like with fish, know your plants
before you purchase, stick within the limits of the light
and tank, and resist temptation.

Generally speaking, with low light plants, there are no
"fast growers" the light simply does not provide the
push needed. When you change to "Medium" light, then
some of the low light plants will grow slightly faster,
and most of the stem plants will grow like weeds.

Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
mattyboombatty
 
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Lou,

Plants that are "easy" generally make less demands than "hard" plants, except for the sword plants (echinodorus) make heavy demands on substrate types or at least for some root tabs, as they are primarily root feeders. Frank is right though(as is usually the case), plants will at some point need a little something extra. Just don't overdo it and you will be ok.

matt



Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
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