Getting started with planted tanks

[Wisegy84]

So I'm thinking I would like to get started in planted tanks. I want to convert my 38G into one and I have a spare 10G that I would also like to make planted when I set it up. But I've never kept plants in a tank before and don't really know where to start. I have a book on the subject, which is helpful, but I find that tips from experienced people on a forum are useful, too.

My 38G has 96W over it and the 10 will only have 19W so I am looking to stay low-light and would prefer no CO2. My 38G has play sand for substrate and the 10 will be the same. Fish in the 38 are in my sig. For the 10G I would probably do 1 Honey Gourami, 6 Slender Rasboras, 6 Cherry Shrimp, or some setup similar to that.

Any tips you can give me for getting started would be much appreciated!

 

[irishspy]

Do you have driftwood or rocks in the 38? If so, you could attach some java fern, anubias, and bolbitis to them and make a pretty arrangement. They're all low-light and easy to care for. There's a good list of low-light plants here. Since you've got 2 wpg, take a look at the medium-low (<-- link) light plants there, too.
:read:

 

[Wisegy84]

Thanks, I'll take a look at those links. I do have one rock and a fairly large piece of mopani wood in the 38 that should work. Would it work to plant anything directly in the sand?

 

[irishspy]

The sand itself is inert, but, depending on what you've had in there so far and what you've fed them, there may be enough detritus built up in there to feed rooted plants. More likely, you'll want to get fertilizer tablets for plants that feed through the roots. Oh, and don't bury the anubias or java fern in the sand -- their rhizomes will rot.

 

[Wisegy84]

So either of those plants would just need to be anchored or attached to rock or wood of some kind, then? Thanks for all the help!

Oh, are there fertilizer tablets that you would recommend?

 

[Wisegy84]

I'm thinking that I will want to get my 10g set up and add plants first and then fish later. I am planning to cycle the 10g with an extra filter that has been running on my 20g. But will I need to move the filter when only the plants are in there or can it wait until the fish are there, too? If I do move it with just plants will there be enough going on in the tank to keep the good bacteria alive and kicking?

Thanks!

 

[irishspy]

But will I need to move the filter when only the plants are in there or can it wait until the fish are there, too? If I do move it with just plants will there be enough going on in the tank to keep the good bacteria alive and kicking?

I'd add the filter when you set the tank up and then add plants and let it cycle for a few days before adding fish. As for the bacteria, the lack of "input" from fish will probably reduce their numbers to what can be supported by the fishless tank, but you can do what's called a fishless cycle (<--link). Do a search here on AC and you'll find plenty of information about that. Alternatively, add just a very few fish each week or so until you hit the number you want. This will give the filter time to establish. Just make sure to check your ammonia and nitrites daily and do a water change as needed.

As for fertilizer tabs, I use Seachem's, but only used them once when I set up my 10g. I haven't needed them since.

 

[Wisegy84]

Thanks. My whole reasoning for having the extra filter on my other tank was so that I could move it without having to actually go through a cycle. I know that no matter what I will be doing water tests daily and water changes as necessary until it is more established, but I was hoping that moving the filter from the larger tank to the smaller would be enough to support at least a small bioload at first and then I would add new fish slowly.

Why didn't you need to use the fertilizer tabs any more? Just curious as to what is working in your tank.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[irishspy]

Oh, I imagine your cycle will go faster: it just that, with no fish in there at first supplying ammonia, the number of bacteria will decline and you'll experience (just my guess) a small cycle. I could be wrong, though.

As for the root tabs, they last for six months and, by that time, my plants were doing so well I didn't think I needed them.