plant help

[CukeTheExile]

i'm starting my new aquarium and i was wondering what some good plants would be for it. It's a 55 gallon it has right now a 40watt. power glo bulb, i'll be getting a better one soon, and im useing Fluorite as the substrate. Just curious as to what some good plants are to put in it.
thanks.

[JustOneMore20]

You don't have many options with 40 watts. Java fern, Anubias, and maybe Anacharis would just about it. Cryptocorynes might grow....they wouldn't thrive though. Out of those, only the last 2 would be planted in the substrate.

Since you are spending money on Flourite, you might as well upgrade your lighting so you will have more plant choices. A 108w T5 HO or 130w PC fixture would be good.

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by CukeTheExile

i'm starting my new aquarium and i was wondering what some good plants would be for it. It's a 55 gallon it has right now a 40watt. power glo bulb, i'll be getting a better one soon, and im useing Fluorite as the substrate. Just curious as to what some good plants are to put in it.

I do not understand
"i'll be getting a better one soon"

I believe that your tank is 21" deep?

With your existing bulb the following should work with your substrate*.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...780&pcatid=780
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...810&pcatid=810
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...53&pcatid=2553

The last is not substrate dependent.

*If you are are new to fish keeping as I was a couple of years ago the flourite should be approximately 2"thick, underlaid and overlaid by 1" of 1/2" gravel.

TR

[jones57742]

jom:

I was preparing my post while you were posting.

TR

[JustOneMore20]

Glad we are on the same page.

You don't have to top the Flourite with gravel....it may help contain some of the cloudiness though. Every time you disturb the Flourite, you will get a cloud of dust, but it will eventually settle.

[gil_ong81]

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20

You don't have many options with 40 watts. Java fern, Anubias, and maybe Anacharis would just about it. Cryptocorynes might grow....they wouldn't thrive though. Out of those, only the last 2 would be planted in the substrate.

Kristin,

how do you anchor a plant if you do not "plant in the substrate?"

also, what's that stuff in your avatar pic? love it!

[Ricker]

I just got these lights for my 55 CukeTheExile. I really like them. My plants are starting to grow way better in a week. Also makes them greener. 108w over my tank now.

https://www.petsolutions.com/Nova-Ex...01124+C33.aspx


gil_ong81

how do you anchor a plant if you do not "plant in the substrate?"

You tie them to rocks driftwood etc.... Also some are floating plants. I know you asked Kristen but I figured I would take a shot.

[JustOneMore20]

Originally Posted by gil_ong81

Kristin,

how do you anchor a plant if you do not "plant in the substrate?"

also, what's that stuff in your avatar pic? love it!

Like Ricker said, you tie it to a piece of wood or a rock with cotton thread, a rubberband, or some fishing line. If the plant has enough roots, you can bury the roots, but Java fern and Anubias have rhizomes that the leaves grow off of and you shouldn't bury those.

My avatar is an Apisto now....and was a Multi before. You mean my signature pic with the plants? Or maybe the green plant in my avatar?

[gil_ong81]

thanks for clarifying that, kristin and rick.

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20

My avatar is an Apisto now....and was a Multi before. You mean my signature pic with the plants? Or maybe the green plant in my avatar?

yeah. i'm talking about the green stuff on the bottom in this pic.

[JustOneMore20]

That is HC (Hemianthus callitrichoides), a high light, co2 needy, nutrient hog ground cover.

[gil_ong81]

well. that kinds rules it out for me.

i'm not ready for something so high-maintenance.

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by gil_ong81

well. that kinds rules it out for me.

i'm not ready for something so high-maintenance.

gil: A nice planted tank without high maintenance is very possible and please do not give up here.

TR

[CukeTheExile]

Originally Posted by jones57742

I do not understand
"I'll be getting a better one soon"

I believe that your tank is 21" deep?

what i meant by "I'll be getting a better one soon" is that I'm going to be upgrading the light soon.

and it is around 21" deep.

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20

You don't have to top the Flourite with gravel....it may help contain some of the cloudiness though. Every time you disturb the Flourite, you will get a cloud of dust, but it will eventually settle.

isn't that the truth, very cloudy substrate, but it does clear up moderately fast.

I'm not new to fish keeping, and I have MTS (don't we all?) This is just the first aquarium I'm actually going to plant, it's also my largest as of yet. I have two 20 gallon talls( hate them), and a 29 gallon long that everything froze to death in last winter( power went out to the outlet in the middle of the night, and my room is freezing in winter, needless to say the temp dropped to about 20 degrees F. And i had a pair of cute clown plecos in there too )

nice lookin tank Jones

[gil_ong81]

Originally Posted by jones57742

gil: A nice planted tank without high maintenance is very possible and please do not give up here

oh no. not giving up on a planted thank. will just need to look around for something that looks nice to me, and not be easy to look after.

Cuke: my sincere apologies for the hijack.

[Ricker]

oh no. not giving up on a planted thank. will just need to look around for something that looks nice to me, and not be easy to look after.

YA took me awhile to get into the planted world. Tell I saw some tanks on here thats is when man I have a 55 I can plant. Then was like man this is alot of money

[gil_ong81]

Originally Posted by Ricker

YA took me awhile to get into the planted world. Tell I saw some tanks on here thats is when man I have a 55 I can plant. Then was like man this is alot of money

i have the additional problem of not knowing how long we're gonna stay in the US. but you know what, you can't let things like this stand in your way of living a life.

[Ricker]

i have the additional problem of not knowing how long we're gonna stay in the US. but you know what, you can't let things like this stand in your way of living a life.

Ya I kinda know what you mean. We are moving in a month or 2 and I got my 55 set up it will be fun to move this summer lol

[CukeTheExile]

Originally Posted by gil_ong81

Cuke: my sincere apologies for the hijack.

absolutly fine with me