I just bought a 40 Gallon Breeder tank and I have 3 goldfish I will be putting into it. I would like to add some plants in it. Some on the bottom for "grass" and maybe a few more growing on decorations to liven things up. Is there a beginners guide to doing this or shouldI hit up barns and noble for a book?
Aquascape for beginners?
- Thread starter hammmp90
- Start date
Do some research online and look at tanks you like and then find out what plants are what...
Some will only require low light (A good enough desk lamp will do kinda deal) while others will need stronger lights like T5-HO and pressurized Co2 to really get growing
Some will only require low light (A good enough desk lamp will do kinda deal) while others will need stronger lights like T5-HO and pressurized Co2 to really get growing
40 gallon breeder has good dimensions for a planted tank. What lighting do you have? A single t8 tube fluorescent tube probably won't cut it for a grass type plant. Look into anubias and java fern, both will attach to decoration if you tie them on. They're both low-light plants as well. Look into dwarf hair grass as a grass plant, kind of a pain to manage though. Some other plants that'd probably do well are various species of valisneria and crypts. Stem plants like elodea would probably do well. Goldfish like to eat plants though. Keep this is mind. You could probably get away with anubias and maybe java fern, perhaps an amazon sword if it grows faster than they nibble. Let us know your substrate and the lighting you have on the tank. Lights are the most important. Check out the plantedtank.net as a good online resource for your planted aquarium.
The only way you're probably going to get a decent carpet of any plant is if you get it established before you introduce the goldfish. Like Fish Squish said, goldfish are destructive. I don't see hairgrass standing a chance, but something like dwarf baby tears (Hemianthus callitrichoides) or Glossostigma elatinoides might work. You'll most likely need high light and CO2 for any carpeting plant, as well.
For background plants, I'd say look into sturdier species, like Hygrophila (H. difformis, H. corymbosa, H. polysperma, etc.), Aponogeton ulvaceus, Vallisneria, Ludwigia, etc.
For background plants, I'd say look into sturdier species, like Hygrophila (H. difformis, H. corymbosa, H. polysperma, etc.), Aponogeton ulvaceus, Vallisneria, Ludwigia, etc.
Here's a guide for aquascaping...
http://fish-etc.com/aquascaping-main/aquascaping-a-planted-aquarium
http://fish-etc.com/aquascaping-main/aquascaping-a-planted-aquarium