Anyone have planted tanks?

[Steve]

Anyone here keep a planted tank? I am thinking of doing a planted tank out of a 29g I just got and have many many...MANY questions This will be my first planted tank.

[Helloitsme]

What do you need to know?

[Steve]

Lot's of questions but I'll try to just ask a few at a time so it isn't just a huge list of things....

First and foremost...from what I have been reading, most "successful" planted tanks use CO2 injection it seems. I did see where some people are able to keep things like Java fern or anubis without CO2 but seems anything other than those two needs CO2?

And if so then I have been looking at some of the CO2 "kits" at Dr F&S and see they sell a few different ones. The one from Fluval (I think it was) is only about $60 but it usues tiny 88gram CO2 bottles and I would rather use at least a 5lb bottle. I see they have a system that uses a 5lb bottle for about $150. Is it best to just buy the kit, or should I buy it pieces by piece to get the best I can afford?

[danielratti]

Make your own with a 2 liter bottle some sugar and yeast. then all you need is a diffuser, airline, control valve, and a check valve and you will be in business.

[Steve]

I read about that last night and saw a video on doing it, but I'd rather use an actual system that has a regulator/check valve and automatic shut off at night to save CO2. Plus I have a gas supply place just a couple miles from me where I get my welding tanks filled so it's easy for me to get tanks refilled.

[African cichlid Keeper]

I have a 29gallon planted tank and i use seachem liquid co2

[GrizzlysDad]

Steve, as with anything, it's all relative to what you want to accomplish. Judging by your talented aquascapes I believe you will try to go to the extreme. If you want "Amano" looking tanks that are picture perfect and golf-course-groomed, then go with co2.
I personally prefer a more natural look with algae growth and normal leaf deterioration on my plants.
I have attached several pics of my 50g breeder that I kept when I lived in Garden City. This tank was done without using co2.
I had a double lamp T-5 fixture with an additional 8hrs of natural sunlight via the window, a thick layer of clay-based gravel with flourite, and a boat load of fish supplying plenty of fertilization.  The tank had well over 200 fish!!! And, as you can see, there were a ton of plants to balance the entire ecosystem.
When I was a kid, I actually had a similar tank set up without any added electric devices. No heater, no filter, and no lights.
That to me, is an accomplishment when you can manage to balance those factors....quantity of fish, plants, natural sunlight.
I didn't even have to feed that tank prepared foods.

[Helloitsme]

It depends on what you consider "successful". I have 10 tanks. Most are planted and doing quite well, all I am using is light and fish poop. For example I have a ten gallon tank growing a Madagascar lace plant, Moss balls, an unknown Cryptocoryne species and some Valliseneria. Its got a single tube flo. cover and a sponge filter. Fish inhabitants are Guppies and Bristlenose plecos. Most "successful" Aquatic plant people I know and have known don't use CO2. There should be many plants available at the MCAS auction next week. www.MotorCityAquariumSociety.com

[Steve]

Steve, as with anything, it's all relative to what you want to accomplish. Judging by your talented aquascapes I believe you will try to go to the extreme. If you want "Amano" looking tanks that are picture perfect and golf-course-groomed, then go with co2.

Grizzly you have me pegged pretty much dead on Your 100% correct, I am shooting for a really green and trimmed type planted tank. The ones that have the VERY lush green plants and some small rocks such as Seiryu Stone with a white sand "path" up the center of the tank...those are the ones that I love the looks of and am going to attempt with mine.

I really appreciate all the replies, they are very helpful.

My next question is on cycling/when to add the plants. I'm guessing you don;t want to cycle a planted tank with the plants correct? wait to add them once it is cycled?

[danielratti]

If the plants are coming out of a tank that has already been cycled they will have good bacteria colonies on them to boost your cycle

[Steve]

What about the plants that places like Petco and such sell that come in the little sealed tube, I'm guessing those don't have any sort of good bacteria on them so if I were to use those should I wait to plant after the tank is cycled? I just don't want to do anything that might now be good for the plants like subjecting them to dosed ammonia of 4ppm or a huge nitrite spike that happens during cycling. But then again I have never had plants so not sure if that hurts them or maybe not?

[linuxrulesusa]

A lot of the plants from Petco or Petsmart in the tubes are not 100% aquatic plants.  E.g. many are normally only partially submerged (emersed???).  Some are, some aren't, you have to read the labels closely and look up the scientific names and hope they are correct.

The ones from Petsmart that are in the tanks like the fish are usually aquatic plants.

[Steve]

Thanks, I'll have to look and see next time I am there what it says on them. I think the ones I was looking at were all submerged type though (I think)....I was looking at Java Fern, Anibus, Hair Grass, and then the other one was "sword something" but can't remember for the life of me what it was exactly.

[GrizzlysDad]

Hey Steve,
This is another Michigan based website and many of the members here/there have accounts with both sites.
The site is a dedicated planted aquarium site.
http://www.miapg.com/forums/index.php?

[Steve]

Awesome thanks Tony! Was not aware of that site but I'll join that today