Nice, low light plants

[Nortzy21]

I currently have a 20g planted tank with the following:

Eco complete substrate

CFL lightbulb with dome fixture

HOB Marineland penguin 200 filter

auto top off system

Using seachem flourish and planning on getting seachem root tabs as well


FYI I have 8 guppies in there also with 3 cherry shrimp. I ordered a nice piece of driftwood online to spice up the tank a little bit and I'm looking for a nice moss-like plant that will grow on the driftwood. I also need some more ideas on what other plants to get (ferns, anubias, etc.) ANY advice is appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam

Heres a pic of the tank btw:

<a href="http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Shamster12/media/0513B88A-7EDC-4338-AA75-706679A45539_zpsl9zohgh0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p542/Shamster12/0513B88A-7EDC-4338-AA75-706679A45539_zpsl9zohgh0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0513B88A-7EDC-4338-AA75-706679A45539_zpsl9zohgh0.jpg"/></a>

[Fresh2o]

Edit - Hopefully the pic will show here:


http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Sh...ohgh0.jpg.html
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[Nortzy21]

Originally Posted by Fresh2o

Edit - Hopefully the pic will show here:



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Thanks for the edit. Its showing up for me. Can't remember how to embed photos, its been a while since I posted

[Fresh2o]

I posted an edit. The link will take you to the image.
The driftwood will be a nice addition.
There are various mosses (such as Java, Taiwan, Christmas, flame) that can be attached to the driftwood (using dark string, fishing line, or super glue).
Crypts such as wendtii green or wendtii red would done well in that lighting provided they are given ample root fertilizers.
As for stem plants, Bacopa caroliniana is a fast growing, bright green stem plant does well with low-ish light.


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[Sk3lly]

Cant go wrong with crypts for low light!

When was the last time you cleaned the tank and performed a water change? Out of curiosity


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[Nortzy21]

Originally Posted by Sk3lly

Cant go wrong with crypts for low light!

When was the last time you cleaned the tank and performed a water change? Out of curiosity


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Just did a 50% WC this past weekend. I'm actually going to start using RODI water instead of tap water because I still have an RODI system from my old saltwater tank. Hoping that the switch to RODI water will cut down on algae.

Also, looking to possibly upgrade my filter. Looking for a relatively inexpensive canister filter that works well for a 20g tank. The current marineland HOB doesn't give me enough versatility with filter media.


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[Nortzy21]

Just did a 50% WC this past weekend. I'm actually going to start using RODI water instead of tap water because I still have an RODI system from my old saltwater tank. Hoping that the switch to RODI water will cut down on algae.

Also, looking to possibly upgrade my filter. Looking for a relatively inexpensive canister filter that works well for a 20g tank. The current marineland HOB doesn't give me enough versatility with filter media.


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[Nortzy21]

Just did a 50% WC this past weekend. I'm actually going to start using RODI water instead of tap water because I still have an RODI system from my old saltwater tank. Hoping that the switch to RODI water will cut down on algae.

Also, looking to possibly upgrade my filter. Looking for a relatively inexpensive canister filter that works well for a 20g tank. The current marineland HOB doesn't give me enough versatility with filter media.


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[evil Nick]

Ive read elsewhere RODI water isnt great for freshwater because it removes a lot of the particulates plants need. You might be able to re-balance with ferts and additives but then you are getting algea regardless.
I was just telling a buddy this cause he finally started plants. You WILL get algae. You are starting to dose ferts into water with minimal plants to use it, all thats left is algae to suck it up. reduce your dosing and light until your plants catch up enough to use all the nutrients and light before the algea does.

Get some wisteria, it grows like mad, looks great, actually does some strange leaf transformations and will use almost everything you put in, but be prepared to trim often.
Java moss will grow on drift wood pretty easily and is pretty accessible.

[Nortzy21]

Originally Posted by evil Nick

Ive read elsewhere RODI water isnt great for freshwater because it removes a lot of the particulates plants need. You might be able to re-balance with ferts and additives but then you are getting algea regardless.
I was just telling a buddy this cause he finally started plants. You WILL get algae. You are starting to dose ferts into water with minimal plants to use it, all thats left is algae to suck it up. reduce your dosing and light until your plants catch up enough to use all the nutrients and light before the algea does.

Get some wisteria, it grows like mad, looks great, actually does some strange leaf transformations and will use almost everything you put in, but be prepared to trim often.
Java moss will grow on drift wood pretty easily and is pretty accessible.

Ya I was thinking about the lack of nutrients in RODI water and whether that would matter. I think the main problem is that I'm not doing water changes enough plus I need to reduce light like you said. How many hours a day do you think I need the lights on? 6? 7? 8?


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[Fresh2o]

Another problem with RODI is the lack of buffers. Eventually the buffers in the tank water will become diluted to the point where keeping a stable pH may become an issue.
Tap water is fine unless it is extremely hard, salty, or contains excessive chemicals. The nutrients that do come from tap water won't cause an algae problem. The number of hours the lights are left on (as well as the intensity) on the other may cause a problem. 6-8 hour per days is fine; decrease or increase as needed.


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[Nortzy21]

Originally Posted by Fresh2o

Another problem with RODI is the lack of buffers. Eventually the buffers in the tank water will become diluted to the point where keeping a stable pH may become an issue.
Tap water is fine unless it is extremely hard, salty, or contains excessive chemicals. The nutrients that do come from tap water won't cause an algae problem. The number of hours the lights are left on (as well as the intensity) on the other may cause a problem. 6-8 hour per days is fine; decrease or increase as needed.


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Ya I'm not worried about my tap water as I live right by Lake Erie. Thanks for the help.