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Planting my 55Gal Community :) Plant types, will it work ok?

2K views 8 replies 4 participants last post by  angella 
#1 ·
Read more: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/...ng-aquarium-planted-info-88523/#ixzz1heYmQNuj


I had this on my thread in the freshwater fish area but I thought it might be more relevant here. So I have a 55gal long, planted some. Pics can be seen here: fishies pictures by puppydog7893848 - Photobucket
Possible fish in it will be cories, neon tetras, angelfish, gourami, guppies, and I think all of these are fine with any plant.
Filtration is an Emporer 280 Bio-wheel, I use the stuff with activated carbon but it's four months old. I just rinse it in the dirty fish water.
Ima do a 30% water change on fridays and use Flourish Comprehensive Supplement Saturday Nights.
I have two GE T8 18" full daylight bulbs, 6500k, they will be on for 8 hours a day, maybe more.

Right now the plants I think I have are.. Anubius, Java Ferns, Large Moss Ball (Java), and Amazon Swords.



Now the game plan is that once I get my flourish I want to add more gravel, I have maybe 2 in. in some spots now, deeper in others where I put it around the plants.

http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/profiles/amazon-sword/


Water Sprite (Some rooted/some free-floating, unless you just tie it to rocks/wood and don't root in gravel?)
Anacharis
Anubias Minima (tied to my lava rocks with fishing line, and driftwood if I get it)
Aponogeton crispus
Banana Plant
Cryptocoryne Cilitia
Cryptocoryne undulata
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Bronze
Dwarf Onion (you only plant part of the bulb, right? With some showing..)
Dwarf Sagittaria subulata (in the front, will it spread fast?)
Java Fern
Pennywort (possibly, I've heard it spreads but I would like a patch of it and then the rest in Dwarf Sagittaria subulata)
Sword Red Rubin (3)
Vallisneria Spiralis (Leopard)
Ludwigia

Pygmy Chain Sword (This or the Sagittaria subulate? Any opinions on which one?)


I'm also hoping my light would be sufficient to have all or most of these... :???: I'd be layering from back having tallest and the shortest in the front, but a few taller ones in different spots to mix it up some. I want the groundcover plants (Pennywort and Dwarf Sagittaria subulata) because I figure if I'm not going to be vacuuming the gravel I might as well put a lot of plants in there so they get the nutrients and stuff.

I have been wanting to get some driftwood for over a year, which my pet store has lots of, but I have heard it can mess with water parameters? Soo not sure what to do about that.

 
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#3 ·
I've tried most of those at one time or another. Some didn't do well, basically due to light being moderate (stem plants generally need more light for example). I think you will find this the case. Swords with green leaves should be OK, red leaf also can have light needs higher. Banana plants do not usually do well for anyone, rarely last a year if that. As for pygmy sword or Sag, I find the swords grow much faster and will carpet the substrate quickly.
 
#5 ·
Your tank is looking good - I like it!

and you future plans sound exciting.

When you add your water sprite go lite, not too many plants - mine has grown rapidly and created a jungle out of my aquarium but my fish love it so I'm not thinning it out...

I too really like frogbit, I think it looks great.

Keep us posted!
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#8 ·
Hi angella.

From personal experience I will tell you my opinions on a couple of your choices.

The dwarf onions are a pain. You only partially plant the bulb. It's not supposed to be completely buried. They tend to come out of the substrate and float to the top. I battled them constantly. If you can get some weights to tie to them until they root well it would serve you well.

Vallisnaria and the dwarf Sagittaria spread like mad. They're like a weed. The Vals grow tall and both shoot runners through the substrate and spread all over. It's a constant battle to keep them trimmed and pulled out or they will eventually over take the tank.

If you plan on using Seachem's Excel for your carbon source the Valls and Sag do not like it. It makes them melt.

Other than that the list looks great. Good luck.
Also: I don't mean to steer you from those plants, those are just my findings with those few.
 
#9 ·
Hi Harri, nice to meet you and thanks for your help! :)

Luckily I already decided against the onions, so that seems like a good decision that will save me trouble.

And I really hope my vals and sag spread like you say!! xD I want lots of them lol. And I was hoping for a tall plant to put along the back and partially up some sides, I'm hoping the vals will be perfect for that.

As for the Ecxel I'm not using it, I ordered some Flourish Comprehensive Supplement, as recommended by Byron and some others, a few days ago and should get in within 5 business days.

I also want to get a Tiger Lotus now.
Glad to know the others seem ok, and thanks again for your input ^^
 
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