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newbi looking for idears !!

benjamin

benjamin

Seedling
Joined
30 Nov 2011
Messages
18
evening all !!now let me start by saying that iv never had a planted tank ,lol i know i know :crazy:
but since iv been to the aquatics live show i now know that i need to keep plants !!.
i realy am a novice so im looking for some idears and help on what to do .so i was thinking the best way to get some idears and help was to tell you guys and girls what i have and let you give me idears .
a few rules i guess
1,i need to start of on plants easy to keep
2,i cant drill the tank i have
3,my pockets are as shallow as a puddle at the moment !!
ok the gear i have!!
the tank 84x39x36
pumps 2x fx5s and 2x 1500ltr ph powerheads
lighting 2x twin arcadia halide's or 4 x 6ft tubes (but with standard house hold tubes)
sub, 150ltrs of aquasoil ,50kg of gravel 6-8mm dia rounded ,and loads of sand
loads of big bog wood and plenty of rocks on a big scale
i am happy to look into co2 but only know the basics .
if you know what you would do given the info above ,and remember im a newbi !!id love to see wheat you would do
thanks all
ben
ps big thanks to foxfish , danmil3s and Alastair
 
Heres a list of easy aquarium plants too keep - http://www.fishgeeks.com/fishforums/vie ... 16&t=73750

1. Hornwort or CeratoPhyllym Demersum - you can even leave it floating if you don't have any strong current. Good as hiding space for fry especially livebearer.
2. Elodea or Egeria Densa - you can even leave it floating if you don't have any strong current. Good as hiding space for fry. Good as hiding space for fry especially livebearer.
3. Java Fern - There are a few varieties or sub-species including Philippines Fern, Windelov, etc. You don't need substrate to keep this plant. Just tie it to a driftwood.
4. Moss - There are various types of moss such as Java Moss, Taiwan Moss, Christmas Moss, Weeping Moss, Spiky Moss, Flame Moss, Singapore Moss, etc. Some are easier to grow than others but they're generally good for beginners. The only problem is keeping them neat, clean and free of hair algae.
5. Duckweed - Most of us will eventually grow to hate it because it grows like weeds blocking the light from other plants.
6. Anubias - There are several varieties such as Anubias Nana, Anubias Nana var Petite, Anubias Nana var Marble, etc. You don't need substrate to keep this plant. Just tie it to a driftwood. Best to keep them sheltered by other plants.
7. Cryptocoryne Wendtii - the easiest Crypt to keep
8. Cryptocoryne Retrospiralis - this is an easy Crypt suitable as background plant.
9. Potamogeton Gayi - This is an easy background stem plant.
10. Riccia - Most of us will eventually grow to hate it because it grows like weeds and it's hard to keep it tied to the driftwood or rock because it's naturally a floating plant.
11. Marsilea Quadrifolia - The easiest carpet plants to keep. Will grow taller if the light is insufficient.
12. Corkscrew Vallisneria - As long as the substrate is rich in nutrients..even fish poo will do, it will grow and produce runners very fast. Suitable as background plant.
13. Subwassertang - Just tie it on a driftwood/rock.
 
Reading all the articles in this board will have plenty of good info. The first port of call will be to read up on lighting, I would say that's the single most important thing if you are unsure about other stuff like fertiliser and co2. The amount of light you put over the tank will dictate what you need to do about the other things. Less light requires less ferts, possibly not even co2 and more room for errors.

Don't think that high lighting will give better results, it can if not run properly cause major algae issues. Plants will grow just as healthy under lighting just slower. Differentiate between a show competition tank that needs to be ready in three month and something with healthy plants that look nice in your home.
 
Hi,

How about trying to grow some plants first, not bothering too much about proper scape.
I would suggest a rather dutch-style tank first to learn how to grow and maintain plants. Also you would be able to identify if your CO2, light, filtration and all the rest is in sync.

Maybe something similar to this:
http://www.aquascapingworld.com/forum/a ... aping.html
 
I'd say just look at as many pictures of planted tanks a possible and figure out what you want yours to look like. The journals page is a good place to start.
And figure out whether you want to be constantly tinkering with the tank, or just set it up and let the plants and fish do they're thing.

It sounds as though you've got plenty of kit and hardscaping components for a low to medium tech set up - low if you do without CO2, medium if you add a bottle of gas. But don't get fixated on CO2 - you don't need it, there are pros and cons.
 
some top advice !!! thanks all :thumbup: im on the case and doing my reserch .
any links you think on this site to others setups that look like good reading for a newbi are realy handy for me .i cant belive how much info is on this site !!!!
thanks for all the idears and info so far :clap:
ben .
from the post's so far iv decided to go for a low light setup whith no co2 but whith a mind of upgrading light's and adding a co2 at a later date if all goes well .
 
benjamin said:
from the post's so far iv decided to go for a low light setup whith no co2 but whith a mind of upgrading light's and adding a co2 at a later date if all goes well .
Click to expand...

If you add co2 it doesn't mean you need to upgrade your lighting. Upgrading lighting would almost force you to inject co2.

Your tank size is good so the usual suspects would be good choices. Swords, Crypts etc.

Back to your original questions, plants don't require tank drilling. :shh:
 
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