jeez I just wanted a planted tank

[geoffish]

this is crazy! I have stuck java fern in gravel before but all this info is nuts! I was hoping to go heavily planted in my next tank (55) but now I don't know. I wanted it to have a green carpet of plants or grass plus some other plants but I don't even know what to do with all this info. can't I just use gravel and bright ass lights? lol so many substrate options my head is spinning. the fish can't fertilize the plants? I don't even know where to start. the more I look into it the more overwhelmed I get. anybody have a simple freshwater tank that's heavily planted without all the insanity?

 

[geoffish]

I mean, I had a tank addiction in the past that is coming back strong. I think I'm in it for the long haul now so I'll figure it out. But anybody have simple starter instructions for a green bottom? Ideas?

 

[Grinch]

Just let algae grow on everything?

 

[geoffish]

I guess what I'm looking for is pictures of a good carpet plant/plants that are hardy thick "pretty" and will help with tank health. Something that won't die when I vacuum.

 

[Grinch]

I don't know of any "easy" to grow carpet plants. If you want an easy stem plant, your best bet is Anubias. They'll grow under relatively low light conditions and are tolerant of being up-rooted.

 

[Hendre]

I don't know of any "easy" to grow carpet plants. If you want an easy stem plant, your best bet is Anubias. They'll grow under relatively low light conditions and are tolerant of being up-rooted.

They can't be rooted in substrate though.

For a good carpet rich substrate is essential, good lighting and co2 is practically necessary. There are things like dwarf hairgrass that are easier to grow and carpet well over time

 

[skjl47]

can't I just use gravel and bright ass lights?

hello; gravel = Yes. bright ass lights = maybe but not really needed. Too bright usually get you algae.

the fish can't fertilize the plants?

hello; yes for the most part. A couple of exceptions are the root feeders such as amazons.

simple freshwater tank that's heavily planted without all the insanity?

hello; Yes I have three set up right now. I will try to post pictures and later give info on the setups.

 

[Hendre]

Well here's mine, Java fern, elodea and christmas moss mainly. The low light causes the moss to grow upwards, not super attractive but eh

I would recommend ONLY using floating plants or stuff that doesn't root in substrate. Java fern and anubias for example

 

[skjl47]

Hello; These are two photos of my 55 gallon tank taken last January 2017. I use a small quartz gravel ranging in size from around bb size to small pea size. I like the gravel to be around four inches deep. In this particular tank I have air operated UGF's running that cover maybe 50% of the bottom.
The lights were pretty basic. I modified the hoods from 18 inch fluorescent tubes which were working well enough to screw in LED bulbs. I cobbled screw in sockets into the hoods. I was running four LED daylight bulbs ( sometimes called natural) at as close to 6500 K wavelength. I do not like the soft white bulbs.
One more note on the lights, I run them only about 12 hours a day. This helps keep down the algae. I will check but think the LED bulbs were the 13 watt replacement for 60 watt incandescent types.

I will try to get more recent photos of the other two planted tanks and more current pictures of the 55 soon.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; These are the modified light hoods. They use to hold 18 inch fluorescents but I changed the guts to take standard screw in bulbs. I used the round type LED for a time but recently switched to some LED "bright stick" bulbs simply because they fit much better. The bright stick are LED daylight general purpose non dimmable from GE. they yield 760 lumens while using 10 watts. They are a replacement for 60 watt regular bulbs. These are in the cool range at 5000K. I found them on sale at Home Depot in the clearance rack for maybe $2 each. Not sure how the cost is regular. They are on the 29 gallon high right now.