Plant newbie

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soulpatch

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 9, 2010
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Downingtown, PA
Hey all,

I recently upgraded to a 125 with my 2 oscars, green terror, and 2 pictus. I have driftwood, lava rock, and pool filters sand substrate. The tank needs some greenery and instead of going with fake again I figured I might try some real plants. Being as how I know nothing of such a thing I figured I would seek your advise.

I should note in advance that I am also running the new Marineland LEDs for lights and my room is fairly shaded as I keep the blinds drawn. I am running 1 XP4 for now and have a bubble wand in the back which of course will agitate the water top dispensing CO2 from what I have read.

I know Oscars can dig up plants but honestly mine have not messed with any of my decorations as of yet. So I figure while they are young I should try some plants. I was thinking of Java moss, java fern, and or Anubias. I figure I could attach it to the lava rock and piece of driftwood. Would I need to get anythign else for the tank? I have read that these are hardy plants and normally do not need fertilizer, plant lights, and other typical planted tank needs. Opinions?

Could I house silver dollars with the plants since they are herbivores or do they normally leave these types of plants alone?

I do know that I will need to trim these plants so that they do not take over my tank but anythign else I should know? Will the higher PH tank cause issues for the plants?

So please plant lords guide one of your new disciples. HA HA
 
Wow first thread without almost immediate response. I was planning on hitting up the store tonight so if someone could ping me before 6 I would appreciate it.
 
soulpatch;4478032; said:
Wow first thread without almost immediate response. I was planning on hitting up the store tonight so if someone could ping me before 6 I would appreciate it.
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Welcome to the planted section. very few people in this section compared to other sectionns on here. in addition Everyone here is too busy checking out peoples newly set up planted tank-type threads than to answer a question. but i digress.



MarineLand LED's are incredibly dim and might not even be bright enough for even the lowest light plants, you will just have to plant some low light plants (anubias, java moss, java fern.) and see what survives.


Silver dollars are a no-no they eat EVERYTHING green you put in your tank. Your tank will go from planted to bare in a matter of days.

Don't worry about co2 yet thats something that you will only have to consider adding if you get much stronger lights. If your not adding co2, surface agitation will help keep your co2 levels stable (in equilibrium with the air) It will not nessicarily remove any co2, but it may even add some if your plants end up using it up faster than your fish use it.
 
Odd about the lights as my double bright led fixture is way brighter then my single tube fixture. I will just stick to the low light stuff for now though thanks
 
soulpatch;4478352; said:
Odd about the lights as my double bright led fixture is way brighter then my single tube fixture. I will just stick to the low light stuff for now though thanks
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Yes trial and error works best for newbies when it comes to planted tanks. Buy some low light plants and if they all live work your way up till you find plants you cannot keep alive then you know your limit as far as light requirements are concerned.



LED's are a relatively new technology when it comes to aqaurium lighting theres no doubt that LED's can (and will be used more in the future) be used for planted tank lighting it's just when it comes to LED lighting units, the double bright Marineland falls short of being bright enough. just becuase it's brighter than a single flourescent tube dosen't mean it's suitable for plant's a single flourescent tube wouldn't be enough for most plants anyway. Atleast not on a tank of your size.
 
Thanks. I got some anubias and some java ferns for the tank and attached em to my drift wood and lava rock so we will see how it pans out. Cost only a couple bucks for the plants so if it doesnt turn out no worries.
 
Try some guppy grass. I added a tiny piece month ago in dimly lit tank and it has taken off and spreading . Underrated neat plant that just keeps on growing.

GUPPY GRASS.JPG
 
I am not sure. It seems to grow like a chain link fence each piece shooting out another.

I had a leaf of it in back of tank in pure shade and in month it has spread 8 inches and in all directions.

Fastest growing non bright light needing plant I have ever had. Java fern is great but grows slow.

If it grows to tall you can always trim it . I am sure others here will know how big it gets but its a cheap good plant and pretty.
 
cool plant, but it looks like something cichlids would make a mess of, pretty quick . . . I'd recommend you keep going the way you're going, with java fern (but not moss), anubias (all kinds) and maybe try some amazons in the background and cryptocoryne in the foreground

good luck . . . and let us know how those Marineland lights work out for you . . .
 
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