Wanting to get a tank a little planted.

[Mulisha]

Hi everyone I have thought about it and what to turn my new 5ft tank into a nice planted tank not heavily though just the back and one end were i dont feed the disucs.

The tank is 280L and has at the moment 2x 36w 10,000K tubes on it and i want to add about 10 new plants to the tank and then go from there.

I also don't really want to add heaps of ferts and defiently no CO2.

These are the questions i ask you all:

What plants to use in a large tank that will cope with high temperture water and also will grow large and busy (provide shade etc).

How much lighting is good and how much is to much?


Can you tell me if these plants would be a good choice:
Wisteria
Water Sprite
Ambulia
Anuabis
Amazon Swords

If anyone can make a list of what they have tryed in there tank and had luck with them in 30 - 32 degree water please let me know.

Thanks everyone for your help.

[duck]

To keep it simple i would add 1 more light maybe 2,Those plant's listed are ok,The sprite will be big and bushy.
Other people will/might disagree with about the sword not really been a low light plant it's more like med light,While it will grow it will not become HUGE by any means,More like a stunted sword.

[Mulisha]

Cheers Duck if i added another 2 floro tubes to it would this stress out the disucs becuase that would mean i would have 144w of light on a 280L tank.

Do u think adding heaps of plants then adding the extra light would be better and maybe cause less stree to the disucs?

Thanks everyone

[Trebs]

Wisteria and ambulia will burn/melt at those temps.
IMO Anuabis grow too slowly and tend to get covered in algae.

You can get okay results with swords under lower light conditions but you really need to provide some form of root fertiliser. I'd be inclinded to plant them in glass or terracotta pots. Mix vermiculite ($7 for 2-3litres from bunnings) and sandy loam (not potting mix - it's too rich) and top with gravel. Adding some fern sticks will also help. they are available from Big W and Woolies for $2-3 for a packet that will last a long time.

[Mulisha]

OK Thanks guys

[ml29]

IME wisteria will grow in 28 - 29 degrees. I had mine for about 6 months and it started to take over the tank. I pulled it out to give my other plants a chance. As duck mentioned lighting may be an issue.

[Mulisha]

Hmmm

Well tommorow i'm going to buy to more light which will give 4x 36w that will take me to 2WPG do you think that would be enough to grow the plants i mentioned in my above post ^^^

Having 2WPG in that tank will this cause algae if not adding any ferts at all as the fish are my main aim..

One more thing those plants i stated above in my other post will any of these suck up any nitrates and small amounts of ammonia from the fish between w/c?


Thanks in advance...

[duck]

Hmmm Well tommorow i'm going to buy to more light which will give 4x 36w that will take me to 2WPG do you think that would be enough to grow the plants i mentioned in my above post ^^^

yes

Having 2WPG in that tank will this cause algae if not adding any ferts at all as the fish are my main aim..

Light's don't cause algae,But you need to add some fert's sometime's,Need to feed the plant's.

One more thing those plants i stated above in my other post will any of these suck up any nitrates and small amounts of ammonia from the fish between w/c?

Yes they will,But not all the nitrate's,Not unless you go full blown planted tank then you need to add nitrate's

[duck]

Cheers Duck if i added another 2 floro tubes to it would this stress out the disucs becuase that would mean i would have 144w of light on a 280L tank.

I have 220watt's on a 250 liter tank with discus,They'll be fine.

[Mulisha]

Ok thanks Duck i see what you mean with sucking up nitrates

For example if i got 10ppm of nitrated between w/c would adding those plants to the tank help lower that between w/c as i need them for look but won't them to help me out when i got a 10 day holiday in about 3 weeks time LOL


Thanks again and i spoke to a few people today and they said the Wisteria and the ambulia and water sprite will die becuase i have my tank at 30.5 degrees but may rise in temp over my holiday can u shead any light on that?

Thanks