Piranha / real plants or plastic???

[AFelony]

I have a 45 gallon tank with a Fluval 405. I am picking up a few red bellies froma friend this week around 2-3" and was thinking of putting in real plants. Anyone have any thoughts this would be my first time using real plants not sure if ok for piranhas being thhey nip at the leaves or if ishould stick with just palstic. I use gravel right now with a earth look.

Thanks

 

[jp80911]

Welcome to MFK~!

Isn't piranha illegal in NY? or maybe just in NYC and need permit in the other areas? should look that up before you get them.

anyway, piranahs should be fine with live plants, many members here have live plants in their tank (I'm one of them). Piranhas do not like bright light so you may have to select plants that can grow under low-mid light condition or create enough hiding spot for them.
How many are you getting? 45gallon is too small for red bellies if you plan to keep them in there for live.
You may also want to put the plants in first give them time to root so they won't get dig up so easily.

 

[AFelony]

You are correct they are illegal in NYC i live right outside NYC and have not had any issues I live in Yonkers. I have owned them before to be honest i think there is much more for the police to worry about than fish ! lol

Yeah this will be my first time using live plants. Good idea to start with the plants first I will research and see which ones do not require to much light. They red bellies will not be in here for ever I am planning on getting a 90 gallon sometime within the next 18 months. I am going to get them small and by the time they start getting big for the tank I will be able to move them to the 90.

Thanks for the help and the welcome. What kind of plants do you currently have?

 

[jp80911]

How many are you getting?
they grow very quickly (depends on food and water parameters), so the sooner you can upgrade the better, for 90 gallon you can have ~5 for life, maybe couple more if you want to go over stock a bit like ~7. just make sure the filturation can keep up. over filter is always better.
I have java fern, amazon sword, some java moss and some other plants I can't name.
a lot of members here has awesome planted tanks, just use the search around and you should be able to find their posts. ie. JoeDizzleMPLS, Joe has one of the best aquascape and awesome piranhas http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131588
here's an other sweet setup from France.
http://translate.google.com/translat...n&safe=off
gives you some idea on how to work on your tank layout.
45g footprint isn't that great, if I were you I would plant one size of the tank and leave the other size open to create some area for them to swim.

 

[AFelony]

thanks so much for taking time to help. Great info !!! I will be researching thanks again

 

[Ransom]

i just sold my P's this weekend i kept them in with fake plants
you really do need a very good filtration i fed mine prawns and beefheart but they are very very messy feeders i would suggest very regular water changes of 20/3-% or at least just to clean up the bits of food that are left