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The plants will do fine in the plastic bags...they don't have to be completely full of water, but the more water the better.

The easiest way to increase your light is to line the inside of the light fixture with aluminium foil. It'll give you about 0.2 more WPG...not much, but it'll help.

I'd start with hornwort and/or duckweed. They're both very hardy and are almost hard to kill. I've gotten both of them to grow in tanks with no lights but the normal room lights.

One of the best things 'bout having plants in your tanks is that the fish will munch on them or the stuff growing on them if they get hungry. They also reduce nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia so you don't have to freak out if you forget to do a waterchange or leave for a few weeks.

I've got one of my tanks planted for the sole reason of providing food for it's inhabitants. My ACF's and sunfish eat a bunch of the duckweed when they eat pellets off the surface, as well as whenever they're hungry.

Another great thing about plants is that the fish seem to be happier. They have a nice soft thing to hide under if they're scared, they've got something to munch on if they're hungry, they feel more at home. Planted tanks look more natural as well.

Have fun with the plants, they do a lot of good for the tank and they're not much extra work unless you get really into them. Every one of my tanks have live plants in them, be it duckweed, hornwort, anacharis, dwarf lillies, or whatever, they're all planted

HTH

i have a 15G planted tank with no lights and all my plants seem to be growing well. the plants i have at the moment are:

wisteria (propagated many times)
ambulia (propagated many times)
java fern (propagated many times)
anubias nana.
amazon sword

all the plants have grown well since i got them, and all the growth occured in a 15G with no light. however the tank does receive a good amount of indirect sunlight.

That's normal to have them bunched up like that. Whenever I buy plants they are usually bunched up in about 3 or 4 stems. The roots will grow in if you planted the plants well. Good luck .

You guys were pretty late. I have already bookmarked that site, and done lots of looking around.

I've done more research, and I bought another plant today. I picked up some moneywort, as I've heard good things about it. It will supposedly thrive in my tank, which is good news for me. It was sold to me in a bunch, just several five or six inch stems tied together. That's normal, right? The stems had plenty of leaves on them, and looked healthy enough. I buried them in my gravel a little ways, will that be all right? I assume that roots will eventually grow, and the plant will slowly come together.

Last edited by sirbooks at 13-Nov-2004 18:34

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Brooks!

Don't go to the pet store! Go to this site and look at what could be used in your tank:
http://www.tropica.com

It will help you to chose:
1. Light appropriate plants (low light)
2. Height appropriate plants (low, midground, back and omigod)
3. Let you know your chances of success (easy, medium, difficult or why bother)

After you do your research then go to your fish store...

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Hope this doesn't come too late...

Java fern and most (if not all) anubias species have low light demand, so you'll probably be able to be successful with them. They are slow growers whatever the light is, so don't worry too much about it. There are other plants which have low light demand, you can check up individual plants and their demands at www.tropica.com.

Hi,
Yes, the Amazon Sword is an terrific plant. If it "likes"
the conditions in the tank it will grow huge. It will
send out runners that sprout new "baby" plants (plantlets)
and when it does hold the plantlet to the gravel and it
will send roots down into the gravel. When it grows to
about 3-4 inches, then you can snip the runner on either
side of the baby plant, leaving about a half inch of runner
on each side, and presto, you have a new sword plant.


Swords are "heavy root feeders." That is, they get most
of their nutrients through their roots from the waste
products in the gravel. Over time and growth, they
will deplete the area around the roots and start to become
stunted. At that time you should consider adding something
like Tetramin plant tablets or plant sticks to the tank.
You push them into the gravel near the plant's base and
the fertilizer gets into the root system that way.
Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I went to a fish store I'd never before been to, but they were quite expensive. I was planning to buy a couple plants, but I went with just one for price reasons.
I picked up an amazon sword, Echinodorus bleheri. This kind is supposed to be hardy, and is able to thrive in low light conditions. The plant seems to be a little stressed from the move, but not too much. Hopefully it will survive in my tank.

Did I make a good choice with it, though? I'm double-checking, because I want to be successful with my underwater garden-to-be.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Welcome to the green side !

I have 2 planted tanks..
One a 29 gal with 30 watts (2x15 watt in double strip) so roughly 1 wpg.. With CO2, bit of liquid fert, and some root tabs in the gravel.. I agree with Bensaf, try to see what will work without any chems if you want to keep it simple and low cost. I think though also that if any trace elements are missing from the water, you'll find out in a couple months after adding the plant. Then you'll start looking for a fertalizer solution. For plants in the gravel, Jobes Plant Spikes are avail in almost any store and dirt cheap.. Don't be fooled into buying expensive root tabs in the LFS.

Anacharis if planted will grow too stringy in your tank but maybe if you float it..

Java Fern and Java moss for sure.

Water Lettuce is a nice floating plant which should fare well.

Hornwort will do well if floated, but if it breaks up can get messy and you'll have bits everywhere..

Duckweed is nice but if your tank is TOO suited for it,
you'll also be netting tons of it out.. It also may get into and gum up your filter.

I can't see a sword doing well, not enough light.
Maybe with fert tabs in the gravel ?

Asian Ambulia - it would grow stringy if you plant but if you float it, should also make a nice carpet..

Maintenance level depends on what kinda plants.
Slow growing such as Java Fern and Moss would be lowest maintenance. Just tie them on a stone or piece of wood with some dark cotton thread. If you get a nice sized 'mother plant' Java Fern, it will grow 'babies' on the leaves, which will look great carpeting your gravel (but don't bury the rhizone in the gravel, just the roots to hold it in place) My 10 gal planted has Java Ferns and Pennywort and is very low maintenance. Good luck !

The Amazon Nut...

Sirbooks,

Welcome to the planted side, you'll never go back

Everybody has given great advice , nothing I can really add except some encouragement.

You will become addicted so be prepared for it. Your fish are going to love you, for making the biggest improvement in their home you can give them. You may run into problems, but keep at it you'll overcome them. Some plants may not do well and some will do great. There may be some trial and error at the start. If a plant is not doing well, try to understand why. If it's because your set up can't accomadte it be prepared to cast it aside and try something else, for example if you have a plant that's more light then you can provide, lose it, don't try to "coax" into growing with fertilizers or such, it wont work and will cause bigger problems. Everytank is different and plants havevarying requirements, some plants just won't work. Even with good light and Co2 there are some "easy" plants I just can't grow, like some fish there are some plants that will only do well with very low Nitrates and catering to them may be to the detriment of others - find out what works for you and stick to it. Frustration may set in from time to time but persevere and the reward will be worth it.

Best of luck, and remember we're here to help if the need arises

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Since I love gardening outside, I've reasoned that I will love keeping aquatic plants. I wanted to buy a stronger light for my tank than the standard one so that I'd be able to grow healthy plants. However, my stepdad insisted that the one I have will be fine. He won't let me buy a better light. I won't be able to convince him that I don't have enough light for plants, unless I try growing some in my low-light tank. I have a 29 gallon tank, with a 20 watt bulb. I really don't want to waste money so that I can prove my stepdad wrong, so I'm going to just try growing plants with what I've got.
Do I have enough power to try some java fern, or some anacharis? .6 wpg isn't much, I admit, but I'd like to try. I don't have a CO2 system, and I don't plan on getting one. Do I have what it takes?

Sorry for the long and jumpy post. I'm just making sure I get all of my information in there.:%)

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Since I have tomorrow off from school, I'm going to a new fish store about 45 minutes away from me. I think I'll pick up a plant or two while I'm there.
I would like to start with either cabomba (since I already have some plastic cabomba plants) or java fern (because of how hardy it is). Hopefully I will do just fine growing these plants. If (and when) I get a larger tank, with better lighting, I can use my experience to try some other plants.

Is there any special way that I should transport the plants home, or do I just let the store employees do their thing? Just trying to cover all the bases.

Thanks for all of your help, guys!

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Hi Heaven 2,
Good comments. I did not realize that Java Moss
was that sensitive to saltwater baths.
Thanks,
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Great advise! I would not recommend tha salt bath on java moss though. I still remember the instant seaweed like stink when I dropped the java moss into the salt - and that was years ago. The moss seemed to melt before my eyes - actually it probably wilted pretty much instantly. relizing something was terribly wwrong, I rinsed it in running fresh water but most of it rotted away over the next few days. A few wee sprigs survived though to regrow.

Now I wash new plants checking for snails and snail eggs, then QT them in a small tank or margarita pitcher for a month or more, enough to ensure they harbor no fish parsites or snails.

Hi,
To combat your fears you should do a few things to stack
the deck in your favor.

You should clean your plants after purchasing, before you
place them in your tank.
Under running water, you should wash them off, running
your fingers along each leaf. This will dislodge any
pests including unwanted snails or snail eggs.
Remove any dead/dying leaves including any soft,
yellowing leaves.
Rinse off the roots and remove any dead(brown)/dying roots.
Others make a mix of uniodized salt or mix up some salt
water (as if for a salt water tank) and soak the plants
in that for a few minutes to kill the freshwater parasites
and snails.
Or, you can use a very dilute solution of unscented chlorox
and soak them in that for a minute.
There is/was a thread about cleaning plants on the site
read it for other possible chemical baths.
Personally, I don't recommend them for plants fresh from
the store. A saltwater bath is the least harmful of the
bathing techniques, and running water the least traumatic
to the plants.


Only purchase plants that fall within your light range.
Don't buy something that requires moderate to high light
when you are only providing low light. The exception to
this "rule" is if you have a shallow tank (10 gallons and
under) then nearly any light you put on the tank will be
"bright." Water scatters, and absorbs light as it passes
through the water to the gravel. The shallower the tank,
the more light reaches the plants. So, if you are running,
say 1.5 watts on a small tank, you MIGHT be able to raise
some of the moderate, and MAYBE one or two of the high
light plants.

Do make regular water changes. Depending upon your stocking
level, at least every other week, and preferably every week
of around 10% - 20% of the tank.

While you don't NEED, it is helpful to have, test kits
for testing pH, KH, GH, and nitrates. The only time you
will really need them is if something is going wrong.
Then any information you can get, will help you, and anyone
you ask, fix the problem.
For a long time it was felt that a tank should have "0"
nitrates. But within the past few years, it has been
discovered that a level of around 20 is preferable.
With some, about 20, it seems to keep the Cyanobacterium
at bay.
Some plants need high levels of Ca, and thus prefer
"harder" water. Others prefer softer water.
Just about any plant will thrive within the normal
limits of pH, GH, and KH that is found in aquariums.
Keep in mind that while we all want our plants to thrive,
if we over feed them (liquid ferts, tablets, sticks) when
it is not necessary, or if we feed them an "all purpose"
fert, they pick what they need and leave the rest in
the tank. With the over abundance of nutrients, algae
of some sort, will quickly take hold and could
eventually out compete the plants for the nutrients.

Keep your light on for about 10 hours. The idea is to
simulate the noonday, tropical sun (directly overhead)
for the length of a tropical day. That is why you will
see a photo period of 10-14 hours. In freshwater tanks
with plants, we have found that an average of 10 hours
is more than enough. Saltwater tanks with corals and
other inverterbrates generally run to the higher side
and use much brighter light.

You don't need a "Plant grow" or "Grow Lux" style light
for your aquarium. You can walk into any hardware store
and purchase a DAYLIGHT or SUNLIGHT labeled bulb and
it will work just as well, for much less money. Those
that have incandescent bulbs and want to put plants into
their tanks can, again, walk into any hardware store
and purchase the small screw in flourscent bulbs.
All of these are rated at about 6700K and will give
you a beter color rendering than the "Plant bulbs."
In other words, the greens are greener, and not washed
out by the pinkish light that the plant bulbs give off.

Always "under plant" your tank. A planted tank is a
"living thing" and as the plants grow, they spread out.
You prune them to get new plants, and soon you will need
another tank to keep the prunings in. Leave the plants
room to grow, and they will grow into the tank.

Hope this helps.
Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 01-Nov-2004 12:13

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

All right, well it seems that I'll be able to grow some plants!

On another note though, before I jump headlong into this, what are the disadvantages of live plants? I've heard a number of things, that it is harder to clean the tank, harder to dispense meds, and that plants have some connection with parasites. Is this stuff true? I just want to make sure I know what I'm doing, so I don't walk into a deathtrap or something.:%)

Thanks for all of your advice!

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

All of my tanks with flourescent bulbs are low light. I also have three planted tanks with incandescent bulbs.

I've had luck with Amazon swords, moneywort, dwarf sag, and java fern. I recently planted some crypts, anubias, and cabomba; so far they are doing well.

Anacharis, wow...I have had so much luck with it as a floater, I literally have a jungle in my Endler's breeding tank. Thick, wonderful green coloring, roots. I did some planting and rearranging in that tank this weekend and one of the pieces is almost 4 feet long

I actually have it in most of my tanks and decided to try planting it, see how that goes.

Good luck, I still consider myself quite a beginnger with plants but they're very addictive


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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

i am currently attempting the same thing you are (for different reasons). my wysteria is doing horribly. my laceada (sp?), banana plant and sword plant are doing great. my dwarf hairgrass at the moment is a tossup. i am running about .8 wpg.

by the way- my red clawed crabs really enjoy eating dwarf hairgrass. they look like tiny wood chippers or loggers. at least the plants are cheap.

anacharis isn't so good for low light, it won't be as bushy and full without much higher light than you have. you *can* grow anubias, most crypts, java fern and a few others without getting a lot of light though

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

I say go for it. I have java fern and java moss growing in .75 watts per gallon. Just experiment. Of course, don't expect your plants to grow very fast...but you really shouldn't have any problems.