Help please!! I just got live plants

I just got live plants in my 60g tank. I just wanted to put some color in my tank. What is the pro's and con's of live plants. What do I have to do to keep them healthy? They look like they are starting to wilt alittle. Do I need to get a certain kind of light? Thanks

In short, a planted tank requires quite a bit of care that should, if possible, be planned on beforehand.

Lighting. A minimum of 2 watts per gallon is recommended, depending on the type of plants. Some can thrive on much less, some require more. So, with normal flourescent tubes, you'll need about 160 watts of total light.

Fertilizing. Most tanks will require fertilizing. For a beginner, I'd recomend Kents, or Seachem Flourish, used according to package directions.

I'd also recommend that you subscribe to rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants. There are many aquatic plant enthusists there that have years of experience on me. Also, read http://faq.thekrib.com/plant.html .

hth

I'm fairly new to plants too but what I've learned from here and other web sites is that you need 1.5 -2 watts per gallon so you're looking at 90-120 watts.

Your light tubes are only good for about 12-18 months. Even though they still emit light, they become ineffective for your plants. So, make sure you change your tubes each year.

You'll need to purchase some fertilizer for your plants. I put some in mine each water change (once each week).

Do not use an UGF for your filtration. It takes away food and nutrients from your plants roots.

I've also been told not to use standard flourecent light tubes (like you'd buy at Home Depot or Walmart) but to use tubes rated for aquariums from your LFS or online pet store. I don't know what the difference is but I learned that from this newsgroup so I'll trust it.

- J

Try home depot for cheap lights.....

I just put two Flourex 65 at fluorescent lights on my 55 gallon. Model 9265 with 6500K bulbs. Not quite what I'd like long run but at 1.99 each (with PG&E at checkout counter rebate) not bad. You have to wire a cord onto then. They look good.

They are a good cheap quick fix until I can buy or build a custom hood.

Check'em out.

fertilize..... With my over loaded tanks, I get algae anytime I don't add traces and nutrients (except nitrate I've got more of that than I need). Additional nutrients allow the plants to utilize the nitrates. Try DIY CO2. It helps.

Bob

the floating plant sounds like it could be hornwort or cabomba. the hornwort is great as earlier mentioned, plus you will eventually get tons! it doesn't need too much light, but becareful that it doesn't shade your tank too much later on. It makes a great baby nursery too! For plants like swords, make sure you have a solid fertilizer neer the roots, and add more when the leaves start to brown: they can't absorb fert. from the water. Have Fun!

Hornwort is an easy plant to grow so long as you just let it float. If you don't want to mess with fancy lighting, you can grow low light plants like java fern and java moss, Anubias varities, and crypts. Probably the spelling is all wrong, but you can find the plants on Ebay or Aquabid. All of the low light plants grow slowly, and they may experience transplant shock. For rooted plants you can supplement the gravel substrate with laterite or fluorite. Live plants benefit water quality and the nitrogen cycle. If you're like me and unable to grow the more exotic plants, stick with the easy, low light ones. You can always add some plastic plants for color.