Help needed

[Bagstar]

Im new to fish keeping and have purchased a few live plants for my tank which is 155 litres. I would like to know how is the best way of keeping these plants alive?

I have sand in the tank at present but im thinking of changing that to a fine gravel tomorrow. The plants that I have got came in little pots but I don't know wether I should keep them in the pots or take them out and plant them in the gravel. Any help would be good.

 

[fishcatch22]

you have flourscent lighting, right? how many watts? what do they look like? I think you should plant them. no need to switch, really. don't.

just like fish, it a very bad idea to buy plants you know nothing about.

 

[Bagstar]

2x25w, 1x20w lighting, the tank is an aqua style 850. http://www.aquaone.co.uk/prod_details.php?id_no=52024sv

 

[fishcatch22]

that's good for most low to moderate light species.
give us a pic of your plants or a clear description. I can't help you on the plants unless I know specifically which ones you have.

 

[Bagstar]

I think one is a Black Sword, not 100% sure though and the other is like a long grass plant. I will post pics tomorrow.

 

[fishcatch22]

hmmmmm...... if it's a sword of some kind, your light is a bit low, but I wouldn't sweat it. the grass plant may be giant hairgrass or vallensernia.

 

[WyldFya]

Step one to healthy plants, get a better light. You are sitting with basically 1 wpg considering for the low intesity of the florescent tubes. Do need to change the substrate, however it is a good idea to get root tabs if you only have sand or gravel. The pot needs to be removed, and the rock wool that surrounds the roots will also need to be removed.

Now to answer the best way to keep them alive. Well, alive, and thriving are two seperate things. To survive, a body of water something to root in, and light are all that are needed. To get them to thrive, they need to have no surface agitation (no HOB filters, no bubblers, no powerheads moving the surface), CO2 (reaction, or pressurized), high quality substrate (laterite, flourite, eco-complete, ADA soil, flora-base), good ferts (dry(Greg Watson) or liquid (sechem florish line)), high intensity lighting, and controlled amounts of nutrients in the water (the use of fert to raise certain elements, or RO water to lower others).

 

[WyldFya]

hmmmmm...... if it's a sword of some kind, your light is a bit low, but I wouldn't sweat it. the grass plant may be giant hairgrass or vallensernia.

The sword may grow fine in low light like that, but most do not. The grass plant could be one of many, vals, crypts, b. japonica, as well as several other, plants.

 

[fishcatch22]

The sword may grow fine in low light like that, but most do not. The grass plant could be one of many, vals, crypts, b. japonica, as well as several other, plants.

I know, he should have more lighting.

yes, it could be one of a thousand species. I was just listing the most common ones that it could be.

 

[Bagstar]

Ok so if I don't have powerful enough lighting am I able to change it on the tank I have? It has a built in cover with lighting, filter and power head all fixed. My tank is an Aqua style 850 http://www.aquaone.co.uk/AquaStyle_aquarium.php

Im guessing but maybe wrong, if I want to keep my fish happy I need to keep filtering the water through my power head. So is my best bet just to forget about plants altogether?