Post by someguy on Aug 11, 2003 20:16:28 GMT -5
so u want 2 have a stunning and beautiful planted aquarium? want 2 spice up the underwater experience? well there r things u should know b4 u go out and get a bunch of plants and dump them in and hope 4 the best... u have 2 consider lighting, tank inhabitants, how dedicated u r 2 the hobby, space and most importantly, budget! because some r beautiful, but require alot of time, patience, and money 2 get going! but having plants helps fish hide, feel generally safer, provides oxygen and will look beautiful when finished *if properly done!*
lighting - one of the most important aspects of keeping plants r what lighting u have and/or what u will get. i will talk about 2 kinds of lighting, incandecent and flourecent *the others r 2 much 2 handle 4 newbs and u shouldn't worry about them 4 now!* incandecent lighting, (regular light bulbs) r good, 4 a regular tank w/ just fish, but if u want 2 grow plants, i highly suggest investing in something better *although i was able 2 keep some plants alive w/ a grow and show light, specially designed 4 plants, but do them a favour and get flourecent, ul be happy u did!* flourecent lighting uses tubes, instead of bulbs. they require their own types of fixtures 2 run them and can be a bit expensive. a general rule of thumb is 4 most enclosure having plants is 2 watts per gallon *minus 10-15% for displacement from gravel or sand, rocks, driftwood, ornaments etc...* although some plants prefer less and some more, but we won't use those plants 4 a first time plant owner! im not endorsing them, but hagen makes a good line of flourecent tubes 4 all tanks, planted, freshwater and marine/reef. another thing 2 look 4 is the k rating, the higher, the better *most come in the range of 6000-23000k* as they will beter simulate the required wavelengths that alow photosinthesis *plants making food using light* so a typical 20g could have 1 or 2 15 watt tubes in a canopy (regular top) or a glass top, glass being preferable, because u can always add another fixure on top of them. this would be adiquate 4 most aquarium plants
tank inhabitants- this is another important factor, because the fish that u r doing this 4 might just uproot them or tear them 2 shreds! most cichlids will make short work of plants, even if they r not in their regular diet! *exceptions r dwarf cichlids and some different species* most small fish r generally good with plants, and some bigger fish as well, but beware fish that have vegies in their diet! and sometimes the plant destroyer finds harmony with them while the innocent fish eats them up! its up 2 personality also!
dedication 2 the hobby- now im not saying that its bad 2 have high maintenance fish, but some ppl, *like me!* would rather do the odd thing here and there, but 4 the most part let the plants be, which is ok 4 some plants, but other need special attention, and pruning *most bunch plant cuttings will grow roots themselves and be able 2 grow on their own*so getting some plants over others can make all the difference, and some low maintenace plants can look just as good or better than specially grown plants
space- no i don't mean how they will be able 2 go 2 mars! i mean the room ur tank has in it. now don't think that by having a 10g u can only grow 1-2 things, because i have seen 10g tanks that look way bigger than they r in real life! but some plants like the amazon sword do require a little space 2 grow, while others like bunch plants usually r planted in groups of 5 or more *hence the name "bunch"plants* so space can play a factor, but that won't limit everything.
money- ah yes, the all important factor here right? sure all this info is good but how much do i dish out 2 get what i want?!? well that depends, u could pay $5 and get a plant, put it in the soil and let it die on u or u could spend $500 and get a co2 generator, 5 watts per gallon lighting, expensive plants, the best fertilisers, etc... but typically, 4 3 species of plants, 2 15 watt bulbs *with fixture* fertiliser and co2 injections... about $70 canadian *$45 US* which shouldn't be that bad, unless u want 2 skip the second bulb, or fertiliser, or co2 *which i wouldn't do!* but its ur choice, and it depends where u get the supplies from...
co2 and fertiliser- so why do i need these things? most plants can survive without them!..true, but 4 ppl that really want 2 enjoy their plants, make them look their best, and be healthy u need this stuff, so pick up a bottle of iron enriched fertiliser from ur LFS (local fish store) i use plant grow iron enriched aquatic plant fertiliser, that doesn't mean u have 2 get this kind, im sure u can get cheaper kinds that work just as good, but im saying that i've tried this stuff, and it works. co2 is what ur fish breath out (carbon dioxide) *the 2 in co2 is because most of these atoms r found in groups of 2, which is not important! as atoms r the smallest things in the universe, so far *insert alien music here* now if u want ur plants growing in no time, u need this stuff! otherwise they would be fine without it, but won't be as nice. so u can buy a fancy injector that will set u back $50 or more, but i made my own, heres how- take a 2 littre pop bottle *drink the pop first* and drill a hole through the top, now fit airline tubing through the hole and seal it on both sides *silicone is recomended, but i used a hot glue gun!* next, put 1 cup of sugar into 750ml of water and disolve *warm water will help, just don't use HOT water* next put 1/2 a spoonful of yeast *bakers yeast at ur local food store is good* and put into a small amout of water and disolve, next put both the disolved sugar and dislolved yeast into the bottle, the fill near the top will cold water *not all the way! because froth will be produced and may go up the tube and into the aquarium! add 1 spoon of baking soda 2 help produce less froth, and make it work longer, tighten the lid and put the tube into the aquarium *possibly use an airstone 2 produce smaller bubbles, but not a big air stone, the presure is not that great!* and in 15 minutes 2 an hour u will have ur own co2 supply! *unless u used ice water!* but put an air pump on at night, because at night plants breath oxygen and release carbon dioxide * do not try 2 stop the flow of co2 once it is being produced, other wise the presure will cause the bottle to explode! *
there r way more things 2 cover but with this info and equipment u should be able 2 keep some of the "beginner plants" such as
java fern *easiest plant ever* can be tied 2 wood or rocks and in 2 weeks will attach itself 2 what u put it on, and then cut the rope and it will stay!
java moss *very easy and undemanding* provides shelter 4 smaller fish and fry *baby fish*
anubias *great floating plant* can be expensive, but very good 4 beginners
green hygro *bunch plant* put in at least 5 together but dont tie them together, very nice in bigger bunches, when ready, cut off the top *not 2 much!* and plant it, the top will also grow roots and become its own plant!
hornwort *good beginer plant!*
there r others, but u will almost always be successful with these, thanks 4 reading this, but it will pay off, do more research. thes sites r some very good one's 4 beginners and contaan lots of details
www.aquabotanic.com/index2.cfm
www.aquariacentral.com/articles/plants.shtml
www.thekrib.com/Plants/kelly-intro.html
but with general knowledge u could still have a great garden *underwater garden* and be successful, try something new, differ from the rules, but be sure u know what ur getting into! and when u think u want some more info visit the general plants forum 4 a guide on the types of setups 2 choose from! *coming soon* but 4 now let ur brain relax and absorb the info, buy a book or 2 on aqautic plants, and enjoy yourself, because fish don't have 2 be the main attraction in a tank! hope this guide helps u, if u have any questions at all, email me, don't wait till its 2 late and ur plants r rotting at the top! enjoy the hobby! gamefreak28831@aol.com
lighting - one of the most important aspects of keeping plants r what lighting u have and/or what u will get. i will talk about 2 kinds of lighting, incandecent and flourecent *the others r 2 much 2 handle 4 newbs and u shouldn't worry about them 4 now!* incandecent lighting, (regular light bulbs) r good, 4 a regular tank w/ just fish, but if u want 2 grow plants, i highly suggest investing in something better *although i was able 2 keep some plants alive w/ a grow and show light, specially designed 4 plants, but do them a favour and get flourecent, ul be happy u did!* flourecent lighting uses tubes, instead of bulbs. they require their own types of fixtures 2 run them and can be a bit expensive. a general rule of thumb is 4 most enclosure having plants is 2 watts per gallon *minus 10-15% for displacement from gravel or sand, rocks, driftwood, ornaments etc...* although some plants prefer less and some more, but we won't use those plants 4 a first time plant owner! im not endorsing them, but hagen makes a good line of flourecent tubes 4 all tanks, planted, freshwater and marine/reef. another thing 2 look 4 is the k rating, the higher, the better *most come in the range of 6000-23000k* as they will beter simulate the required wavelengths that alow photosinthesis *plants making food using light* so a typical 20g could have 1 or 2 15 watt tubes in a canopy (regular top) or a glass top, glass being preferable, because u can always add another fixure on top of them. this would be adiquate 4 most aquarium plants
tank inhabitants- this is another important factor, because the fish that u r doing this 4 might just uproot them or tear them 2 shreds! most cichlids will make short work of plants, even if they r not in their regular diet! *exceptions r dwarf cichlids and some different species* most small fish r generally good with plants, and some bigger fish as well, but beware fish that have vegies in their diet! and sometimes the plant destroyer finds harmony with them while the innocent fish eats them up! its up 2 personality also!
dedication 2 the hobby- now im not saying that its bad 2 have high maintenance fish, but some ppl, *like me!* would rather do the odd thing here and there, but 4 the most part let the plants be, which is ok 4 some plants, but other need special attention, and pruning *most bunch plant cuttings will grow roots themselves and be able 2 grow on their own*so getting some plants over others can make all the difference, and some low maintenace plants can look just as good or better than specially grown plants
space- no i don't mean how they will be able 2 go 2 mars! i mean the room ur tank has in it. now don't think that by having a 10g u can only grow 1-2 things, because i have seen 10g tanks that look way bigger than they r in real life! but some plants like the amazon sword do require a little space 2 grow, while others like bunch plants usually r planted in groups of 5 or more *hence the name "bunch"plants* so space can play a factor, but that won't limit everything.
money- ah yes, the all important factor here right? sure all this info is good but how much do i dish out 2 get what i want?!? well that depends, u could pay $5 and get a plant, put it in the soil and let it die on u or u could spend $500 and get a co2 generator, 5 watts per gallon lighting, expensive plants, the best fertilisers, etc... but typically, 4 3 species of plants, 2 15 watt bulbs *with fixture* fertiliser and co2 injections... about $70 canadian *$45 US* which shouldn't be that bad, unless u want 2 skip the second bulb, or fertiliser, or co2 *which i wouldn't do!* but its ur choice, and it depends where u get the supplies from...
co2 and fertiliser- so why do i need these things? most plants can survive without them!..true, but 4 ppl that really want 2 enjoy their plants, make them look their best, and be healthy u need this stuff, so pick up a bottle of iron enriched fertiliser from ur LFS (local fish store) i use plant grow iron enriched aquatic plant fertiliser, that doesn't mean u have 2 get this kind, im sure u can get cheaper kinds that work just as good, but im saying that i've tried this stuff, and it works. co2 is what ur fish breath out (carbon dioxide) *the 2 in co2 is because most of these atoms r found in groups of 2, which is not important! as atoms r the smallest things in the universe, so far *insert alien music here* now if u want ur plants growing in no time, u need this stuff! otherwise they would be fine without it, but won't be as nice. so u can buy a fancy injector that will set u back $50 or more, but i made my own, heres how- take a 2 littre pop bottle *drink the pop first* and drill a hole through the top, now fit airline tubing through the hole and seal it on both sides *silicone is recomended, but i used a hot glue gun!* next, put 1 cup of sugar into 750ml of water and disolve *warm water will help, just don't use HOT water* next put 1/2 a spoonful of yeast *bakers yeast at ur local food store is good* and put into a small amout of water and disolve, next put both the disolved sugar and dislolved yeast into the bottle, the fill near the top will cold water *not all the way! because froth will be produced and may go up the tube and into the aquarium! add 1 spoon of baking soda 2 help produce less froth, and make it work longer, tighten the lid and put the tube into the aquarium *possibly use an airstone 2 produce smaller bubbles, but not a big air stone, the presure is not that great!* and in 15 minutes 2 an hour u will have ur own co2 supply! *unless u used ice water!* but put an air pump on at night, because at night plants breath oxygen and release carbon dioxide * do not try 2 stop the flow of co2 once it is being produced, other wise the presure will cause the bottle to explode! *
there r way more things 2 cover but with this info and equipment u should be able 2 keep some of the "beginner plants" such as
java fern *easiest plant ever* can be tied 2 wood or rocks and in 2 weeks will attach itself 2 what u put it on, and then cut the rope and it will stay!
java moss *very easy and undemanding* provides shelter 4 smaller fish and fry *baby fish*
anubias *great floating plant* can be expensive, but very good 4 beginners
green hygro *bunch plant* put in at least 5 together but dont tie them together, very nice in bigger bunches, when ready, cut off the top *not 2 much!* and plant it, the top will also grow roots and become its own plant!
hornwort *good beginer plant!*
there r others, but u will almost always be successful with these, thanks 4 reading this, but it will pay off, do more research. thes sites r some very good one's 4 beginners and contaan lots of details
www.aquabotanic.com/index2.cfm
www.aquariacentral.com/articles/plants.shtml
www.thekrib.com/Plants/kelly-intro.html
but with general knowledge u could still have a great garden *underwater garden* and be successful, try something new, differ from the rules, but be sure u know what ur getting into! and when u think u want some more info visit the general plants forum 4 a guide on the types of setups 2 choose from! *coming soon* but 4 now let ur brain relax and absorb the info, buy a book or 2 on aqautic plants, and enjoy yourself, because fish don't have 2 be the main attraction in a tank! hope this guide helps u, if u have any questions at all, email me, don't wait till its 2 late and ur plants r rotting at the top! enjoy the hobby! gamefreak28831@aol.com