changing to planted

[2manyFish]

I just bought my first plants. I got 2 amazon swords, 2 amazon compacta, 2 java fern, and 3 water wysteria. And I wanna add more. Should I wait in between like with fish? Also am I going to need to use anythin differant for the plants?

 

[jetajockey]

No, you can add them as you please. You should however look into using root tabs for your swords and wisteria, as well as start researching EI or PPS pro dosing routines. If you keep it relatively low light, you may be able to get by with just root tabs and a weekly flourish comprehensive dosing instead of the ei/pps pro dosing.

Those swords are going to take over your tank if you let them, they get massive. It's nothing to a pair of scissors, though :]

 

[2manyFish]

Yea Im planning on keeping it low light. Wats the best kind to put on drift wood and stuff? And how deep should my substrate be? Is switching to planted at once going to affect my fish?

 

[Rivercats]

The best tying on DW plants would be Anubia's especially Nana or Nana Petite, Java Ferns (narrowleaf, trident, wendilov, etc.), Bolbitus, and any of the many mosses.

Plants have no affect on fish and you can have as few or many as you like.

 

[2manyFish]

Wat about "baby tears"? Are they low light?

 

[Sillyfishies]

Wat about "baby tears"? Are they low light?

Not at all

 

[2manyFish]

**** I really wanted some. Wat else beside java fern is low light and carpet-like

 

[2manyFish]

***java moss

 

[Sillyfishies]

Well depending on your lighting, you could get hydrocotyle sp. Japan or 4 leaf clover

 

[2manyFish]

What about riccia moss?

 

[tropicalmackdaddy]

Wat about "baby tears"? Are they low light?

Dwarf baby tears requires high tech, normal baby tears AKA hemianthus glomeratus is possible in low tech

 

[Rivercats]

Giant baby tears (Hemianthus umbrosom) and regular baby tears (Hemianthus micranthemoides) both do best in medium light. In low light they are going to grow scraggly and leggy.

 

[tropicalmackdaddy]

Ya but you can't really expect any plant to have compact growth in lowtech

 

[jetajockey]

There are a few that will. Marsilea is one.

 

[Oohitsae]

Dwarf Sagittaria is a low light carpet plant if you wanted to go that route

 

[chipmunk]

Dwarf Sagittaria is a low light carpet plant if you wanted to go that route

I have a few in my low tech tank.. They're doing well, if you want a carpet why dont you glue moss onto stainless steel mesh? I used fissidens in my tank.

 

[2manyFish]

I want a good lookin moss type to tie onto my drift wood to make it look like a real tree

 

[2manyFish]

And my lights r 7watts a piece. Is that a good amount for most plants?

 

[tropicalmackdaddy]

And my lights r 7watts a piece. Is that a good amount for most plants?

I would stick to low light plants, ferns, moss, anubias, swords, floaters, pennywort..etc

 

[chipmunk]

I want a good lookin moss type to tie onto my drift wood to make it look like a real tree

java moss is pretty common... I have Christmas moss and it looks pretty cool but needs to grow in