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06-25-2008, 01:34 PM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
|  New to Planted Aquariums I am wishing to have a planted aquarium but I am left clueless as to what substrate and equipment I need after reading several articles online. I need to know: 1. What substrate is best for plants, yet easy to clean 2. What type of plants are good for beginners 3. What other equipment I need (I have filter, light, heater...) Thanks for any help you can give!  -swa123 |
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06-25-2008, 01:56 PM
| #2 (permalink) |
| Large Fish  Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Crockett, TX
Posts: 889
|  What size is your tank? You'll need around 2 watts per gallon for most of the easier plants, with the exception of java fern, java moss, anubias, etc. Those all do well in lower light. Eco-complete is a good substrate, but costs a bit. Plain gravel will work (smaller enough to hold the roots down, or course), but you still need to add root tabs for fertilization. I use plain ol' pool filter sand in one tank and plants grow fine with added ferts. With planted tanks cleaning the substrate is not that much of an issue. You can just swirl the hose around and pick up stuff as it floats. Mulm is actually beneficial, so no need to clean it up too much. If I tried to clean my substrate in my planted tanks it would be impossible.
__________________ My tanks: 2.5g, 5g, 10g, 14g planted, 29g, 30g and 55g planted http://jpotx113.4t.com/index_1.html http://www.myspace.com/tomstreetman นะกัดตัง กะขะชนะ ตัวข้ามีกำลังดังพระยา ปลาในมหาสมุทร สุกุโยเกล็ดแก้วมณีหุ้มห่อตัวข้าดังเกราะเพชร พุตากะเก เขี้ยวแก้วทั้ง 4 ดุจตรีเพชร หนุมาน มะอะอุปลา ใดมารอนราน วินาศสันติ  |
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06-25-2008, 03:02 PM
| #4 (permalink) |
| Super Fish  Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,470
| I've found play sand (throughally rinsed) with root tabs to be my favorite plant substrate personally. It's cheap and easy.
__________________ 29G - Cories, Black Skirts, Yoyo Loaches, SAE, Betta 10G - Betta, Ottos 3G - Betta Retirement Home 10G - Crayfish tank in the works... no bettas allowed |
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06-25-2008, 05:31 PM
| #5 (permalink) |
| Large Fish Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Crockett, TX
Posts: 889
| Play sand is a bit dirtier than PFS, I believe. I didn't bother to rinse the PFS and it came out fine. And yeah, you can just swirl the hose and catch whatever comes up; that way you don't disturb any roots.
__________________ My tanks: 2.5g, 5g, 10g, 14g planted, 29g, 30g and 55g planted http://jpotx113.4t.com/index_1.html http://www.myspace.com/tomstreetman นะกัดตัง กะขะชนะ ตัวข้ามีกำลังดังพระยา ปลาในมหาสมุทร สุกุโยเกล็ดแก้วมณีหุ้มห่อตัวข้าดังเกราะเพชร พุตากะเก เขี้ยวแก้วทั้ง 4 ดุจตรีเพชร หนุมาน มะอะอุปลา ใดมารอนราน วินาศสันติ |
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06-25-2008, 05:41 PM
| #6 (permalink) |
| Super Fish Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,470
| Yeah it is dirtier but it's also a lot heavier which is why I've always liked it, it's easier to secure plants in it. I think it's got a really natural look as well especially if you mix a bit of gravel in with it.
__________________ 29G - Cories, Black Skirts, Yoyo Loaches, SAE, Betta 10G - Betta, Ottos 3G - Betta Retirement Home 10G - Crayfish tank in the works... no bettas allowed |
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06-25-2008, 07:42 PM
| #8 (permalink) |
| Moderator  Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ft. Worth, TX
Posts: 2,636
| You only need a single 55/65w power compact bulb with a good reflector to grow anything you wish in your 29g. Check out Compact Fluorescent Lighting Kits! You may need to do a little DIY work, but it's cheaper than buying one.
__________________ MyFishTank: 29g Planted Plants: Bacopa australis, Blyxa japonica, E. angustifolius & tenellus 'micro', Hygrophila angustifolia, 'Low grow', & 'Tiger', H. zosterifolia, L. aromatica & 'mini', Ludwigia brevipes, 'Cuba', & 'Pantanal', Pogostemon. stellata 'narrow' & 'fine-leaved', Rotala sp. 'Goias', 'Vietnam', verticillaris, & wallichii, Tonina fluviatilis & manaus, Utricularia graminifolia, Flame & Christmas moss View my gallery here and join us in the MFT.net chatroom! |
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06-26-2008, 12:11 AM
| #10 (permalink) |
| Little Fish  Join Date: May 2008 Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 157
| From what I undertand, plants are good to go when you first poor the water in. It is best to plant them with a small amount of water and then fill the tank the rest of the way. The only reason I know is becuase I asked a few days ago, lol. Best of luck to you and your tank.
__________________ 2.5g(cycling) 10g(7 convict fry, 6 blue platy fry, bn pleco, 2 mystery snails) java moss 29 gallon( Kissing Gourami, BN Pleco, 3 otos) Anubias Nana, Java Moss, Amazon Sword, Corkscrew Vals 55 gallon(Albino Chocolate Pleco, Oscar(Vinny), Jack Dempsey, Blood Parrot Hybrid) Anubias Nana, Java Moss, Wendti Crypt, sag. subulata, corkscrew vals, hornwort and unknown sword 90g (5 Otos and 2 Rubberlip Plecos) Madagascar lace, glossostigma, sag. subulata, Amazon sword, pennywort, giant hairgrass |
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