Planted Aquarium beginner

Dfrost1189 · 01-23-2012, 01:18 PM

I have a 29 gal. with a gold gourami and dwarf gourami, one Emerald Green Cory cat, and two snails. Plan to add more gouramis. I would like to start adding real plants to the aquarium but no sure where to start. I have maybe 2 inches of gravel in and PH is at 7 and the water temp. is at 80. I would like to have a plant to put up front with wide or thick leaves. What plant would you suggest and should i get more gravel?

Gizmo · 01-23-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dfrost1189

I would like to have a plant to put up front with wide or thick leaves. What plant would you suggest and should i get more gravel?

You'll need some root fertilizer tabs and liquid plant food if you'd like to keep plants in your existing setup. I would also suggest some CO2 fizz tabs (I know Jungle makes a good set). That's what I used to grow plants from bulbs in standard aquarium gravel like yours, with a standard hood light.

I would suggest a small piece of driftwood with some anubias tied to it in front. It'll look cool, and the anubias won't get very big very fast.

Dfrost1189 · 01-23-2012, 01:56 PM

How do you tie the plants to the driftwood?

Gizmo · 01-23-2012, 01:59 PM

I've used a rubber band, but anything really. Thread, fishing line, etc. They will root into the wood after awhile, then you don't have to worry anymore.

Dfrost1189 · 01-23-2012, 02:01 PM

Thats a great idea Thanks

beaslbob · 01-23-2012, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dfrost1189

How do you tie the plants to the driftwood?

if the driftwood is a square root you might need a square nott.

beaslbob · 01-23-2012, 02:06 PM

gee I wonder if anyone would take that seriously

if you don't have an undergravel filter you might consider taking the substrate out, putting in some sand and then replacing the gravel.

Plants will root much better with sand in my experience.

for plants I use anacharis, vals, small potted swords/crypts and a single amazon sword.

I do feel that you need to add quite a few and usually more than just one or two.

but that's just my .02

Dfrost1189 · 01-23-2012, 02:17 PM

Whats some good liquid fertilizers?

jrman83 · 01-23-2012, 02:18 PM

Just not more than one Amazon, if you even go that route. An Amazon Sword will outgrow most smaller tanks. Here is a pic of mine. Took a while to get there, but it will eventually. This one will be coming out one day soon.

beaslbob · 01-23-2012, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dfrost1189

Whats some good liquid fertilizers?

I do use some peat moss in the substrate.

and ocassionally dose very low levels of iron (ferris gluconate from drug stores).

but other then that I couldn't help. I use no ferts or any kind other then those.

my .02

Dfrost1189 · 01-23-2012, 02:22 PM

dang.

Gizmo · 01-23-2012, 02:30 PM

I used API LeafZone previously with good success

jrman83 · 01-23-2012, 02:36 PM

I used eco-complete mostly in this tank. Like peat, it has some nutrients but it won't take the place of fertilizers. I have also never used any root tabs in this tank.

Dfrost1189 · 01-23-2012, 03:00 PM

So if i go and get a piece of driftwood, a plant, and some Leaf zone. Tie the plant to the driftwood and then set in the water at the same time it shoulb be fine?

Gizmo · 01-23-2012, 03:07 PM

In a word, yes.

Dfrost1189 · 01-23-2012, 04:23 PM

I just found my new project.

sion342 · 01-23-2012, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaslbob

if the driftwood is a square root you might need a square nott.

Beaslbob that was sweet.Jajaja

sion342 · 01-23-2012, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrman83

I used eco-complete mostly in this tank. Like peat, it has some nutrients but it won't take the place of fertilizers. I have also never used any root tabs in this tank.

Ok,I bought some First Layer Pure Laterite from API. It's ok to pour that in a Tank with live stock already? Or I have to got out the fish and then pour it .

jrman83 · 01-23-2012, 09:37 PM

Never used laterite. From what I hear, it needs a lot of rinsing. The great thing between it and Eco is Eco doesnt need rinsing.

holly12 · 01-23-2012, 10:40 PM

Ben, that is oooone big sword! I've got 2 Amazon's that I've had in my 10g and moved to my 20g and they haven't grown... but, I also have a baby Amazon that I took of a parent plant and also a Melon sword started from a baby, that have grown very fast! Weird. I did notice that the 2 that grew fast were in the eco-complete/gravel mix, while the 2 that haven't grown much are in plain gravel....

01-23-2012, 01:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dfrost1189 Dfrost1189's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Planted Aquarium beginner I have a 29 gal. with a gold gourami and dwarf gourami, one Emerald Green Cory cat, and two snails. Plan to add more gouramis. I would like to start adding real plants to the aquarium but no sure where to start. I have maybe 2 inches of gravel in and PH is at 7 and the water temp. is at 80. I would like to have a plant to put up front with wide or thick leaves. What plant would you suggest and should i get more gravel?

01-23-2012, 01:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dfrost1189 Dfrost1189's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner How do you tie the plants to the driftwood?

01-23-2012, 01:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner I've used a rubber band, but anything really. Thread, fishing line, etc. They will root into the wood after awhile, then you don't have to worry anymore. __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

01-23-2012, 02:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dfrost1189 Dfrost1189's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner Thats a great idea Thanks

01-23-2012, 02:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
beaslbob beaslbob's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3,325 My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 339 Times Said "Thanks" 32 Times Was Thanked 835 Times in 761 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner gee I wonder if anyone would take that seriously if you don't have an undergravel filter you might consider taking the substrate out, putting in some sand and then replacing the gravel. Plants will root much better with sand in my experience. for plants I use anacharis, vals, small potted swords/crypts and a single amazon sword. I do feel that you need to add quite a few and usually more than just one or two. but that's just my .02 __________________ fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden Last edited by beaslbob : 01-25-2012 at 09:12 AM.

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01-23-2012, 02:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
Dfrost1189 Dfrost1189's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner Whats some good liquid fertilizers?

01-23-2012, 02:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner Just not more than one Amazon, if you even go that route. An Amazon Sword will outgrow most smaller tanks. Here is a pic of mine. Took a while to get there, but it will eventually. This one will be coming out one day soon.

01-23-2012, 02:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
Dfrost1189 Dfrost1189's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner dang.

01-23-2012, 02:30 PM	#12 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner I used API LeafZone previously with good success __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

01-23-2012, 02:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner I used eco-complete mostly in this tank. Like peat, it has some nutrients but it won't take the place of fertilizers. I have also never used any root tabs in this tank.

01-23-2012, 03:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
Dfrost1189 Dfrost1189's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner So if i go and get a piece of driftwood, a plant, and some Leaf zone. Tie the plant to the driftwood and then set in the water at the same time it shoulb be fine?

01-23-2012, 03:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner In a word, yes. __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

01-23-2012, 04:23 PM	#16 (permalink)
Dfrost1189 Dfrost1189's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner I just found my new project.

01-23-2012, 09:37 PM	#19 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner Never used laterite. From what I hear, it needs a lot of rinsing. The great thing between it and Eco is Eco doesnt need rinsing.

01-23-2012, 10:40 PM	#20 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Planted Aquarium beginner Ben, that is oooone big sword! I've got 2 Amazon's that I've had in my 10g and moved to my 20g and they haven't grown... but, I also have a baby Amazon that I took of a parent plant and also a Melon sword started from a baby, that have grown very fast! Weird. I did notice that the 2 that grew fast were in the eco-complete/gravel mix, while the 2 that haven't grown much are in plain gravel.... __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

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