School Me….Swap fake plants for live?

[Jexnell]

I don't believe that Vals can be trimmed, as the tip is the growing point of the very grass-like plant, I could be wrong tho. As seen here some of mine have grown well past 5feet in length.


I recently had to pull all the plants to be able to catch all the HRP'S that spawned over the 10 months of growth.

I ended up removing the Amazon Swords, and stem plants. Also removed 1/3 of the Vals and my tank still looks like this.


If you really want to go heavy into plants I suggest getting Caribsea planted substrate, buy it local not online to make sure the bags are still sealed with all the liquid ferts still present. I also really suggest the Finnex Planted Plus 24/7 LED light. I have tried plants before and all just slowly died off. This time I made sure I had the right equipment and it payed off in spades.

 

[Kustrud]

Ok, got it! Learned a lot as well! Love all the planted tanks but I’ve decided my personal preference is the “super clean” look so I’ll stick with that and forgo live plants.

Any suggestions on brands for the best looking fake plants?

 

[Trouser Cough]

Flourish / Excel

It's bioavailable carbon and will make your initial process a little easier. Once you've figured out the balance associated w/ light / nutrient / water parameters and such you may be able to throttle back on the Excel.

 

[Iwhoopedbatman]

Only plants my GTs will abide are crypts, vals and floating plants. They sometimes bury the crypts and sometimes kill the runners from the vals. They will decide where the plants are allowed to grow.

 

[JackEmerson]

I would try one of the swords. I have success with Echinodorus parviflorus Rosette Sword. I get mine at YFS. https://www.yourfishstuff.com/collections/aquarium-plants/products/echinodorus-parviflorus