First planted tank - fertilizer?

[akkitten]

I am just finished up the cycling on my first planted tank, it is a 20gallon tall. Should I be adding fertilizer yet? I don't have any fish in the tank; but getting close. Would appreciate any suggestions on this!

 

[BigJim]

A little fertilizer wouldn't hurt. That's not mondo grass on the left side, is it?

 

[fort384]

What kind of lighting do you have on the tank?

Most likely, a robust fertilizing regimen is not going to be required at this point, but I agree with Jim, there might be some that will benefit your tank, depending on your lighting, and depending on what your future plans are for this tank.

 

[akkitten]

Yes it is mondo grass, is that bad? My lighting is led so I tried to plant low light plants to see how they do. Selection is limited where I live.

 

[fort384]

mondo grass is not aquatic...

 

[BigJim]

+1 Mondo grass is a semi-aquatic plant that's often sold as fully aquatic. It'll last for a while, but it'll rot eventually.

 

[akkitten]

Ok...so pull the mondo grass. You know, this learning curve is getting pretty darn expensive. Any suggestions for that corner? I may be forced to look at the little plastic tubes of plants at the large chain store, snail free selection is really limited.

 

[akkitten]

Should I put more anacharis in the other corner?

 

[BigJim]

Here's a link of non-aquatic plants: PlantGeek.net - Plant Guide I've come across anubias nana, amazon sword, and, I think, java fern in those little tubes. The rest of the tube plants are usually semi-aquatics that will die underwater.

You can get rid of snails with a 5% bleach dip or hydrogen peroxide. There's no need to stick to the snail-free stuff.

I like the look of the mondo grass in that corner. You could mimic it with italian vals.

 

[akkitten]

That all I have to do to get rid of snails? I like the look of the vals, wonder if I can find any. I have seen myrio green around, would also like like to find a chain sword for tie front. Can I use fishing line to attach the java fern to the driftwood?

 

[fort384]

yes on fishing line, yes on snails.

 

[BigJim]

Fishing line, cotton thread, rubber bands, zip ties, super glue, they all work if you're careful

 

[AaronH]

super glue? is that not toxic or is there and aquarium super glue that i dont no about. am new aswell.

 

[Emi929]

Correct, don't use super glue, use aquarium safe silicone glue. Super glue WILL leach chemicals, I lost a 2gal because I superglued a silk plant to a rock, the next morning my betta was dead, had water tested and they found many chemicals that are found in super glue.

 

[BigJim]

I've used super glue to attach most of my java ferns to driftwood. I either removed the driftwood from the tank or lowered the water level below the attachment point when I did a PWC. I use the glue sparingly and I prefer the gel over the liquid.