[Dveha]

I currently have a 20 gal unplanted freshwater tank. I have some plastic plants, but was reading that my molly might like some Vallisneria.

(1) Can I put plants in an already established tank?
(2) What are the basic pros/cons of planted/unplanted?
(3) Can I have a combo of fake and real plants?
(4) Is there a certain amount that I should have?

 

[Boredomb]

1). Yes there is no problem with that.
2).Pros would be plants do wonders to the cleaning the water plus to me look nice. Cons. Well I personally don't see any but they require a lil extra care.
3). Yes you can have both if you like. There is nothing wrong with and all about how you want to setup the tank.
4). No certain amount is needed. You can plant a tank as lightly or as heavily you want. All depends what look you are after.

Back to the extra care part. When I say extra care it isn't anything bad or that takes effort. Plants do need a certain amount of nutrients. So dosing fertilizers is usually best. There are a few exceptions to take (kinda). There are a few slow growing plants that can survive on what's in the water column and waste from the fish and fish food. Anubias comes to.mind here and so does Java ferns. Through it still wouldn't hurt to add fertilizer for those. Second plants need light. The light will depend on the plants you want. You have low light plants (like the ones I mentioned above are low light) meaning they don't need bright lights. You basic fixture that comes with a tank will work for them. Then you have medium light and high light plants. This can be where you have to change the bulb in the fixture or even the fixture itself depending on what you got.

So my question to you is what kind of light fixture do you have (T8, LEDs, or T5s)? Also what kind of bulb(s) are in there?

Vallisneria are heavy root feeders as well. Meaning you will need to add root tabs (a type of fertilizer you put in the substrate near the plant.).

 

[Dveha]

My tank came with LED lights in the hood, so that is what I am using currently. They are fairly bright, so I normally just let the natural (indirect) sunlight illuminate the tank most of the day. I'm currently working to fix a small ammonia issue -- how do plants affect ammonia levels?

 

[JDM]

My tank came with LED lights in the hood, so that is what I am using currently. They are fairly bright, so I normally just let the natural (indirect) sunlight illuminate the tank most of the day. I'm currently working to fix a small ammonia issue -- how do plants affect ammonia levels?

Plants use ammonia for the nitrogen which takes that ammonia out of the nitrogen cycle. I have lots of plants and my nitrates never go above 5ppm and are often zero without the water change.

Your ammonia issue could easily be resolved by dropping in some floating plants, fast growing ones are best. I like duckweed as it is easy (others would argue otherwise) to keep under control but grows quickly, doesn't need tons of light and is easy to "prune". I have added it when I was adding more fish to help offset the ammonia loading and it works well.

Jeff.

 

[beaslbob]

I currently have a 20 gal unplanted freshwater tank. I have some plastic plants, but was reading that my molly might like some Vallisneria.

(1) Can I put plants in an already established tank?

yep

(2) What are the basic pros/cons of planted/unplanted?

see below

(3) Can I have a combo of fake and real plants?

yep

(4) Is there a certain amount that I should have?

A lot. LOL.

plants consume ammonia (and then) nitrates, phosphates, carbon dioxide and return oxygen and fish food.

So basically the recycle fish wastes into fish food.

Or from the plants perspective, The fish recycle plant waste into plant food. :shock:

You get the idea.

and in the process the entire tank becomes much more stable in operations.

Say something goes bump in the night and ammonia jumps up.

the plants immediately start consuming that ammonia over nitrates in the tank.

Preventing dangerous parameter spikes and preventing tank crashes.

then when things return to normal the plants go back to consuming the requlting nitrates.

Plus a heavily planted tank can become a net consumer of carbon dioxide and producer of oxygen each 24 hour period.

So basically it's a win win win all around situation.

I start a 10g with 4-6 bunches of anacharis, 4-6 vals, 4 small potted types and a single amazon sword.

Actually that would be good for a 20g as well.

For an existing tank, I would drain the tank and save the water and fish.

The add substrate and plant the plants.

And refill the tank with water poured over a dish.

for a substrate I use 1" peat moss (1'x1'x3' plastic cube $10 or so), 1" play sand (50 pound bag $3), 1" pro choice select ($7 for a 50 pound bag) (can substitute gravel), each layer wetted and leveld then the next layer added.

then don't add any food for a week so things can settle in.

my .02

 

[Dveha]

For an existing tank, I would drain the tank and save the water and fish.

The add substrate and plant the plants.

And refill the tank with water poured over a dish.

for a substrate I use 1" peat moss (1'x1'x3' plastic cube $10 or so), 1" play sand (50 pound bag $3), 1" pro choice select ($7 for a 50 pound bag) (can substitute gravel), each layer wetted and leveld then the next layer added.

then don't add any food for a week so things can settle in.

Thanks for your help. I have gravel in my tank currently. I'm seriously considering this, but as a beginner, I am nervous that I am biting off more than I can chew. After your post and reading this helpful guide: How to Setup a Low-tech Planted Tank: A Guide for Planted Aquariums, I might be willing to try it.

How long should I keep the fish out of the tank for?
Will a planted tank affect my filter?

 

[Chesh]

Hey, Dveha!

Welcome to the wonderful world of planted tanks! ^.^

Mollies are such sweet fish <3 They do like plants, sometimes like nibbling on them, too - naughty things! I'm not sure that mine have ever shown a specific preference for Vals, though from what I've read long grassy plants and thick floaters (water hyacinth) is often where they can be found in the wild. Most fish do seem to feel more comfortable in a planted tank, though there is some debate over if the plants have to be natural or if plastic serves their needs as well.

You can put plants in an established tank, no problem. The plants will only have a positive effect on the tank, provided they are healthy. They'll be able to help with your ammonia problem, for sure, but if you don't mind my asking. . . how long has your tank been set up, and how many Mollies do you have in there? In a fully cycled tank, you shouldn't see ammonia, typically. Adding plants is always a good idea - but I'm wondering if there isn't something at the root of your problem that we might want to look into, as well?

Did you mention what kind of substrate you already have in there? Everyone has their own way of doing things, I'm still on the newbie side of tanks, but I'm currently running *counts* 6? planted tanks, and only one of them has anything other than a plain old sand or gravel substrate - plants are all thriving. So you *can* do this without tearing things apart - if you want to. There's more than one way to plant a tank, I've experimented with only a few!

Do you happen to know the hardness of your water? I ask because I haven't killed *too* many plants in my year and a half, lol, but Vals don't like me They seem to do better in harder water, and mine is very soft (also in MD - hollah!)

Here is an article that helped me out when I started, if you want to give it a look-through, might help!






@ Bob - I've never used this method before, curious: Does the peat under the cap bring down Ph any? Might have to set up another experiment tank.

 

[Dveha]

how long has your tank been set up, and how many Mollies do you have in there? In a fully cycled tank, you shouldn't see ammonia, typically.

My tank has been set up a while but I've only had fish in there for 3 weeks. I cycled it prior to adding fish and it appeared to be ammonia free. In retrospect, at that time I was using test strips and now I have upgraded to the liquid test which seems to be more accurate.
I currently have 2 mollies, 2 platys, & 1 guppy.

Did you mention what kind of substrate you already have in there?

I have natural colored aquarium gravel currently.

Do you happen to know the hardness of your water?

my pH is 8.0

 

[Chesh]

Just checking in on you, girl! I can't figure out which thread to post on ^.^
How's the tank, and the plant search, going!?

Hope all is well!

 

[Dveha]

My tank now has some plants!
I used root tabs like you suggested in the substrate. Its fairly lightly planted still, but my fish seem to like hiding in them already.

Um, how do I clean the gravel now that I have plants?

 

[spreadtoothinly]

You know we're going to demand pics, so give em up!:whip:

 

[Dveha]

I have a photo in my Aquariums but I am not sure how to link it in here. If you click on Aquariums under my name though, its there too

 

[spreadtoothinly]

Nice!

 

[newtchaplin]

My tank now has some plants!
I used root tabs like you suggested in the substrate. Its fairly lightly planted still, but my fish seem to like hiding in them already.

Um, how do I clean the gravel now that I have plants?

only do water changes do not disturb the substrate. If you see clumps of poop then lightly suck it up. With all the nutrients in and around the plant you do not want to disturb it.

 

[Dveha]

I'm amazed at how fast my plants seem to be taking to the tank. I thought it would take a week for them to start showing signs of growth, but when I looked in the tank this morning I noticed new shoots and leaves starting to form already on many of the plants.

 

[newtchaplin]

I'm amazed at how fast my plants seem to be taking to the tank. I thought it would take a week for them to start showing signs of growth, but when I looked in the tank this morning I noticed new shoots and leaves starting to form already on many of the plants.

Some say never put an aquarium near sunlight, but I'm one that says different. I want a greenhouse to set up a business. I will be using natural sunlight to grow all plants, and to light all aquariums.

 

[beaslbob]

Thanks for your help. I have gravel in my tank currently. I'm seriously considering this, but as a beginner, I am nervous that I am biting off more than I can chew. After your post and reading this helpful guide: How to Setup a Low-tech Planted Tank: A Guide for Planted Aquariums, I might be willing to try it.

How long should I keep the fish out of the tank for?
Will a planted tank affect my filter?

Little bit late but hopefully you just put the plants in and everything is fine.

On initial startup I let the plants condition the tank for a week then add (10g) 1 fish.

the second week I add no food.

then stock up the tank more fully and start very light feeding like 1 flake per day.


For an established tank I would think you coule return the fish immmediately after planting as the tank already has matured a bit.

I use no filter other then that plants themselves.

my .02

 

[beaslbob]

wwwopies.

 

[beaslbob]

...







@ Bob - I've never used this method before, curious: Does the peat under the cap bring down Ph any? Might have to set up another experiment tank.

I does initially but after the tank matures with my no circulation method, pH rises to above 8.4 (api high range test kit).

What does seem to be different is KH stays at 4 degrees or so. With just a sand substrait kH rises to 19 degrees and higher.

my .02

 

[beaslbob]

I'm amazed at how fast my plants seem to be taking to the tank. I thought it would take a week for them to start showing signs of growth, but when I looked in the tank this morning I noticed new shoots and leaves starting to form already on many of the plants.

And that is a good sign.