help me make my planted tank look legit

[devder1]

i have decided i dont have the money or the time right now for a really nice planted setup i am just going to wait for what i have to grow and maybe try some easy fast growing plants
thanks for the help everybody

 

[marine_hawaii]

i have decided i dont have the money or the time right now for a really nice planted setup i am just going to wait for what i have to grow and maybe try some easy fast growing plants
thanks for the help everybody

I'd be worried that without the CO2 addition, your tank will be more conducive to algae growth than plant growth...

Have you checked on Craig's list (etc) for used C02 systems? There was a guy in Florida giving one away some time ago...

Also, for that "3D" effect, you might try to use some rocks to create an area in the middle of the tank which has a thicker layer of gravel. By building up a mound, you'll get kind of a 3D effect. It won't match that picture in your first post (you'd need a much larger aquarium)... but it would make a nice effect.

Still, I'd reconsider doing anything if you don't have CO2. That's a "must have" for planted tanks IMHO...

 

[movitt]

you dont have to inject co2 to have a nice planted tank....but it really cuts down on what you can do if you had it.if you have high lighting you have to inject unless you want to grow algae. all i used in this tank is seachem's liq fert line,which in a smaller tank really is not exspensive, and excell. also has eco complete which worked for me.Now this tank, i think, is nice.BUT with injected co2 this tank def. would be nicer. i even was pulling off dwarf clover in there. grow slow but was spreading.

 

[sostoudt]

i have decided i dont have the money or the time right now for a really nice planted setup i am just going to wait for what i have to grow and maybe try some easy fast growing plants
thanks for the help everybody

you dont have to have co2 for most plants.
the hairgrass should work for a carpet effect. it wont spread very fast but it should still spread with out co2.

 

[devder1]

you dont have to inject co2 to have a nice planted tank....but it really cuts down on what you can do if you had it.if you have high lighting you have to inject unless you want to grow algae. all i used in this tank is seachem's liq fert line,which in a smaller tank really is not exspensive, and excell. also has eco complete which worked for me.Now this tank, i think, is nice.BUT with injected co2 this tank def. would be nicer. i even was pulling off dwarf clover in there. grow slow but was spreading.

wow that is a very beautiful tank

 

[devder1]

ok well the plants have grown out a bit and i have been rooting cuttings to wood and rocks so the tank is starting to look nicer. i also added some new plants yesterday so i will see how it goes
btw sorry for the poor pix the tannins make this tank impossible to take pix of

 

[Freezekougra]

If you can't afford a C02 injector, you should try a DIY one. Lots of info on it on google, but you basically add yeast, water, and sugar in a bottle. Then put airline tubing w/an airstone into the tank and the yeast will make c02 for you.

i tried it, but i've only had plants for a few days so i don't know how well it works

 

[FSM]

How much light do you have on that tank?

 

[devder1]

How much light do you have on that tank?

two 24" natural daylight f18T8 bulbs

 

[devder1]

If you can't afford a C02 injector, you should try a DIY one. Lots of info on it on google, but you basically add yeast, water, and sugar in a bottle. Then put airline tubing w/an airstone into the tank and the yeast will make c02 for you.

i tried it, but i've only had plants for a few days so i don't know how well it works

ok thank you for the suggestion i will look into that!