ok...after going through all the pics...i want to try planted tank. i will be having some rams in a 30 gallon tank probably 4 or 5 of them....what kinds of plants are really easy for beginers? do i need to get a new light now? CO2 stuff? whatever that is...and how do you clean your tank with plants in it? i always vacum...so do you still do it? or can you stop vacuming after plants? so assume im an idiot and explain in great detail. i want something that is small...easy, and wont get out of control. btw how do you keep them under control? prune? anyway help me out peeps. i am going to take the big step!!!! lol also does having plants take away from fish that i could have? any info would be great.
ok i want to try plants..now what?
- Thread starter hotpod
- Start date
first, what kind of substrate? gravel? sand?
Second, lighting. You might have less than optimal lighting, in which case, you will either need a new hood (store bought or DIY) or modifying your exiting hood for more wattage. For help with the lighting area and what you would need, visit this website (thanks mgamer) http://woo.gotdns.com/Aquarium/Lighting.htm
Third, Vacuming. You will have to vac the substrate, in my sand bottom tank, I even go right over the plants (debris likes to hide in the plants). If you still have gravel, then gravel vac in areas were you do not think that roots are.
Fourth, fish limit. If anything, plants increase the fish limit because they feed off of ammonia and nitrates. ever since I have had a decent amount of plants, I've had 0 nitrates.
Fifth, Plant options. This is kind of tricky because we don't know what kind of lights you have. Good ones would be Cobomba Caroliniana, Cryptocoryne wendtii (bronze), some java fern, moss, bannana plants, and some other plants that I cant think of. Visit Mgamers low light plant sell off for some ideas.
Second, lighting. You might have less than optimal lighting, in which case, you will either need a new hood (store bought or DIY) or modifying your exiting hood for more wattage. For help with the lighting area and what you would need, visit this website (thanks mgamer) http://woo.gotdns.com/Aquarium/Lighting.htm
Third, Vacuming. You will have to vac the substrate, in my sand bottom tank, I even go right over the plants (debris likes to hide in the plants). If you still have gravel, then gravel vac in areas were you do not think that roots are.
Fourth, fish limit. If anything, plants increase the fish limit because they feed off of ammonia and nitrates. ever since I have had a decent amount of plants, I've had 0 nitrates.
Fifth, Plant options. This is kind of tricky because we don't know what kind of lights you have. Good ones would be Cobomba Caroliniana, Cryptocoryne wendtii (bronze), some java fern, moss, bannana plants, and some other plants that I cant think of. Visit Mgamers low light plant sell off for some ideas.
[recycled from a previous post of mine]
Do some reading before you go planted. A good, first decision to make is to go either "high tech" or "Natural Planted Tank (NPT, also called El Natural").
High tech tanks require more work and $ up front, but they also yield much higher growth rates and can support a huge variety of plants. NPTs require less work (a lot less) and there are some plants that shouldn't be attempted in NPTs - but they can still be just as nice looking as high tech tanks. You won't have as many cuttings to trade as some other planted tankers, but that isn't always a bad thing.
plenty of NPT & high tech info here - for a more fundamental look at what planted tanks need, check Rex's guide to planted tanks, it's a very good, short read. [/recycle]
PS - for a 30 (I'm assuming tall...), until it's heavily planted, more than 1 male Ram is probably too many.
Do some reading before you go planted. A good, first decision to make is to go either "high tech" or "Natural Planted Tank (NPT, also called El Natural").
High tech tanks require more work and $ up front, but they also yield much higher growth rates and can support a huge variety of plants. NPTs require less work (a lot less) and there are some plants that shouldn't be attempted in NPTs - but they can still be just as nice looking as high tech tanks. You won't have as many cuttings to trade as some other planted tankers, but that isn't always a bad thing.
plenty of NPT & high tech info here - for a more fundamental look at what planted tanks need, check Rex's guide to planted tanks, it's a very good, short read. [/recycle]
PS - for a 30 (I'm assuming tall...), until it's heavily planted, more than 1 male Ram is probably too many.
ok so i gues i want to do the natural thing....having some java moss and java fern? what else is very easy and uses low light...i dont want algae problems so how do you prevent that?