To plant or not to plant?

[Dwane]

Hello,

I am new to the aquarium world and and this website has been great so far.

Now I am trying to figure out if I want to have live plants or not and would like some advice from you to nudge me in the right direction. I don't want to put any money into lighting or CO2 and don't want anything that is going to require much maintenance.

Would a low light set up be a good idea for me and if so what substrate and beginner plants do you recommend? My tank hasn't been set up yet but here is what I have Fluval Vicenza 180 Bowfront Aquarium System. 180 Liter tank. Fluval 205 external canister filter and 2 x 22" 24W GLO T5 bulbs.

Some advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[joejeff]

Organic potting soil capped w gravel or sand... But a lot of low light plants do ok w normal gravel if u use ferts like flourish ... Java ferns or acubias do good n low light... No co2 needed really. Plants have a ton of benefits. Oh wistria. My fav plant. Grows like a weed under a range of environments. And as far as lights I get not wanting to buy new fixture but get a bulb w either a 6700 or 10000 k rating. Wats ur set up now.

 

[bruinsbro1997]

Hi there,

A low light setup would be fine for you. I'm not sure about the bulbs, all I know is that T5s are good though IDK how much light it is though but you should have enough light from looking at this chart:

edit: credit goes to Hoppy, member of http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/li...t5-t12-pc.html



Any substrate should be fine. As for beginner plants, try java fern, java moss, anubias, crypts, water wisteria, hornwort and pennywort, and see where it takes you.

 

[joejeff]

Planys have a ton of benefits for water quality and beauty. What type fish u keep. Wats tank size. Current lighting... Etc

 

[Dwane]

I don't have any fish yet as this is a new setup but I want to set up a tank with peaceful community fish, probably some glowlight tetras and harlequin rasbora etc.

Here is what I have so far Fluval Vicenza 180 Bowfront Aquarium System. 180l/48Gal. Fluval 205 external canister filter and 2 x 22" 24W GLO T5 bulbs. The bulbs are in the hood that came with it and it has a built in timer.

 

[joejeff]

If u buy 67000-10000 k bulbs that is great lighting for plants... The before mentioned plants will be fine. Consider a quality substrate. Like the organic soil capped.. or a flourite from lfs or an Eco mix from lfs. Some chem ferts Amd frequent water changes... If u get a lot of plants u can make DIY co2 systems using old coke bottles and sugar and yeast...or use Excel in place of co2... But a lot of low light plants don't need co2. Its a trial and error thing. Community fish do awesome in planted tanks... And its so awesome watching them swim around a natural looking environment.

 

[Dwane]

I bought some bags of fluorite black sand and I'm rinsing it now, this stuff is incredibly dirty I think I will be busy for a while. I am painting my tank background black while I wait too, hopefully it won't be too much black.

 

[joejeff]

No black makes plants pop