Plants in a 5 1/2 gallon tank

[An t-iasg]

Hi everyone,
I posted a question on this topic before, I think in the general discussion forum. Anyway, now I'm ready to order the plants. I would like 2 plants. I'm considering a java fern, an ozelot sword, and maybe an anacharis.

My light is maybe not the best -- a strip of 3 25-watt halogen undercabinet lights. I turn the lights on low. They really aren't that bright, I don't think, but they give off some heat. The tank is stable at 82 degrees.

I'm going to order from LiveAquaria.com. I talked to them briefly before, and they said an anacharis may be burned by my lighing, even though the catalog said high light. Also, the halogen lights may promote the growth of algae -- true? In that case, I could get an algae eater (been looking for an excuse to get one anyway!) I think in another topic, a cherry shrimp was suggested. Will this work for me? 5 1/2 gallon divided tank with 2 bettas. Could l have 2 shrimp (one with each betta)? Will the bettas and the shrimp get along? Will this be too great a bio-load for this tank -- 2 bettas, 2 plants, 2 shrimp?

What about substrate and plant nutrients? I just have plain colored gravel in there now. I'm a little confused about all the substrate and plant supplement choices on LiveAquaira.com (or actually, DrsFosterSmith.com). I did read that if you don't feed the plants, they will pull what they need from the general hardness of the water, the pH will fluctuate wildly, and the fish will suffer.

So...should I get some plants and shrimp? My tank is just fine now -- it cycled ok, and the fish are fine and happy (yes, I can tell that they're happy!) Should I try this idea or just leave well enough alone?

[tkos]

Halogen lights really won't cut it. They are just really bright incandescents and therefore won't help in the plant growth. The java fern will do okay as it doesn't need a whole lot of light. Plus Halogens put out a ton of heat. You really need flourescents to grow aquarium plants or halides, not halogens. It isn't just the amount of light but the type of light.

Substrate depends on the type of plants. Plants that depend on roots need rich substrate, either flourite, laterite or else gravel or sand with added nutrients such as root tabs. The plants will predominantly eat the nitrogen in its various forms in the water, but they also need other elements mainly iron but also calcium, phosphates, potasium etc... You can generally buy an all purpose fertilizer that you can add during water changes and it will help keep your plants happy. Making plants thrive and explode with growth is a whole other story.

As for the shrimp it depends on the type. If you are talking small ghost shrimp or amano shrimp (maybe a couple of inches in size) then there will be no problem. Bigger shrimp might attack the betta, don't know as I have never kept the bigger ones. Shrimp bioload shouldn't be a problem, especially with plants helping to filter the water.

Plants are always a great idea. But with your setup I would stick with only low light plants. Java Fern is just perfect and the bettas wil love to swim in it and rest on it. Just stick the roots into the gravel and you will be fine. The shrimp are also cool. Just get the cheap tiny ghost or glass shrimp or amano shrimp if available.

I'm considering a java fern, an ozelot sword, and maybe an anacharis.

Java fern and anacharis are fine, but ozelot swords get HUGE! Mine is so big it dominates an entire side of my 90 gallon tank. I'd think again on that one.

[An t-iasg]

Hi tkos, Thanks for the great advice! Your posts always help me a lot! I did a little bit of research about lighting. I was looking through my DrsFosterSmith catalog, and I could get a strip light. The strip lights say that they are to be used over a covered aquarium, not over open water. I already have an All-Glass Versa-Top, so that would work out. The catalog says they can be operated on a timer too. My versa-top doesn't fit snugly into the tank top because of the divider. Would that matter, if I got the strip light? Are fluorescent lights ok for the fish? I guess they are, but they seem so bright to me!

Another thing to consider if I get the strip light is that the halogen light I'm using now does give off heat, so I would have to adjust my heater. The heater is set to 80 degrees, and the halogens bring the temp. up to 82 degrees. The heater runs mostly at night, but in the morning the temp. is always 82 degrees, nice and warm and stable!

I saw some ghost shrimp today at the pet store. They are pretty cute. The [acronym:0d0cbd7d46="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:0d0cbd7d46] guy said that the betta may nip at the shrimp. He suggested a cory catfish. They're nice too, but I thought they were schooling fish. I didn't think just one could be by itself. One of my bettas flares kind of a lot. I wonder if he would nip at the shrimp.

Thanks also, corvuscorax, for your comment about the ozelot sword. That's what LiveAquaria.com recommended! I'm sure I told them I only have a 5 1/2 gallon tank. I will not get that one, then, if it's huge in your 90 gallon tank!