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i just got a 20usg tank today and i planned on having it being just a plant tank. i would like i to look as if it has too many plants. so what would the best plants that will give it this feel?

Last edited by BeastKeeper at 01-Dec-2004 00:32

We could use a little more info please, such as lighting, tank size, water parameters, and inhabitants.

Certain plants cant survive in some situations. For instance i have high salt content in my water, and only a few species can grow in it. Also as you will see in other posts lighting plays alot into which plants will and wont grow. Certain tank inhabitants will eat plants or constantly uproot them so that they wont be able to survive. Tank size comes in that some plants routinely grow to 18" if you have a 12" tall tank they may be more work than you are wanting to put into them.

Bdadawg

BeastKeeper

It depends on several factors first how much $$$ you are prepared to spend, plants you can get, lighting, water quality, filtration, fish or no fish, CO2 Y or N, and your experience.

Keith

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i just bought a standard tall 20usg along with a Proquatics 120 power filter, Hagen Plant Grow, and im using Seachem Flourite Plant Substrate. right now im using the light bulb that came with the strip.

neon tetras are a posibility

money isnt an issue just as long as it looks like a show tank!

ive worked a petsmart for 6 months plus 8 fish tanks at home with the smallest being my new 20usg. plus some reptile tanks.

Usually new set ups come with a 10 or 15 watt bulb. so this puts you between .5 and .75 wpg. In my Endler tank (20g with 15 watt bulb) the only plants that i have been able to grow are hornwort, anachris, anubias, java fern, java moss, and aponogeton bulbs.

Also ozelot swords, amazon swords, crypt wedtii, and most of your vals should be able to grow in low light conditions. And although some plants should be able to grow under low light you may want to start off with only a few of them so that if you should lose some you arent out alot of money.

With the plants listed above you should have enough selection to fill your tank. And you can always increase your lighting at a later point to get an even greater selection.

Bdadawg

IME you're going to want to upgrade the lighting. To get the "full of plants look" you're going to need to invest in @least 2-3wpg of lights as well as some sort of CO2 if you're the impatient type. If you're the patient type you might try reading Ecology of the Planted Aquariium.

One thing to keep in mind with a planted tank, is you'll need a nitrAte source. The plants need it so if you dont' have fish in there, you'll need to think of adding it yourself.

^_^
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tonight i went out and got a new 18" Nutri Grow Freshwater Aquarium Plant Lamp that puts out 15 watts. im going to back tomorrow to get the Plant Gro Natural System with CO2.

so far i have these plants in mind

-Amazon Sword
-Telanthera
-Moneywort
-Italian Vallisnera
-Banana Plant
-Java Fern
-Green & white Acorus
-Hornwort
-Anacharis

can i ever over stock plants?