Falstaf

Hi!!!

As you can see i'm new to this site, forum, and a new born acuatic plant lover.

So far... i don't understand a thing all thos abreviations and cientific names, also english is not my native language so add that to it!

Any way couls anyone of you can give me a quick list maybe a site with photos where i can look at the plants and see which i can add and mantain in my 60G tank?

I'm decided to get rid of all plastic plants and replace them with live ones since they RULE! so far i have a couple of crypts (took me an hour to find the name and a photo to know what kind of plant it was! Duh!), that are growing like crazy and i just love them!

Thanks in advance! congrats on the site and forums, i hope i learn fast and soon post a pic!

shannon

Hi Falstaf and welcome
Don't feel bad, we've all been where you are now..The Honeymoon A few of my favorite low tech (and low light tolerant as well), in thier common names are Java moss, Java fern and many of the anubias as well as many of the cryps as you've discovered..Good luck with your new love. Oh...Moss balls (or Marimo balls) are great too!!
Shannon

Art_Giacosa

Falstaf,

Bienvenido (welcome) a APC y el mundo de las plantas acuaticas (and the world of aquatic plants)!

Please look at our Album to see plants that you may include in your aquarium. We will soon have a plant database that you will be able to search. In the meantime, can you tell us more about your aquarium?

Saludos,

Sir_BlackhOle

Yes lets hear about that aquarium. Got any pics?

Falstaf

Hi!!! thanks for the warm welcome!

Sorry for all the typos! it was late i promise to pay more attention.

Ok here are some crummy photos (web cam) but they might give you an idea, i've marked the live plants i now have, the rest are silk or plastic.

The tank is 40x24x24 inches it holds 60G
The light is a 120V fluorecent light
The substrate is white marble gravel
PH is 7.8 constant
Temp: 82F
Fish in the tank:
3 Angels
5 betas (2M 3F)
8 Loaches (Yo-Yo, clown, Blue/ red tail, weather and hillbilly)
2 dworf gurami
4 mollies
3 Plecos (common, albino and lepard)
5 guppies
18 Neon tetras
4 goldfish (moore, lionhead, pearlscale)

Thanks for all your help you gys are great!

GRACIAS!

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Steve Pituch

Hi Falstaf,

How many Watts of lighting to do have?

Do you know the hardness of your water? The KH (carbonate hardness) and the GH (general hardness)?

Regards,
Steve Pituch

Sir_BlackhOle

Looks good. You might want to think about changing the substrate to something that would be beneficial to the plants, like flourite or laterite. It made a huge difference for me.

Falstaf

Hey!

Hmmmmm i don't know the hardness, the only thing i test for is PH and that's 7.5

And it's a 40W / 127V

Steve Pituch

Falstaf,

You should shoot for 2 watts per gallon for a low light setup. You only have .67 Watts per gallon. If you want to try co2 injection & nutrient addition (more of a hi-tech method), considering the height of your tank, you should try for 3 watts per gallon.

I would first try the low light approach. You've got to add at least one more 40 Watt bulb for a total of 80 Watts. I would try Java fern, various Anubias, and Crypts, because of your low light, as these plants generally tolerate low light pretty well, and are generally universally available.

Regards,

Steve Pituch

Art_Giacosa

Falstaf,

Do you use good old Mexico tap? Are you in the D.F.? You may want to call you water company to see if they can tell you what's in it. Use that as your starting point.

Also, I would second Spituch's recommendations on lighting and plant choices. Therefore, you need to focus on feeding the plants so they can grow.

Get yourself a good combination fertilizer like Flourish or Tropica's MasterGrow and follow the directions.