Plant ideas for low tech tank?

[Xia0_No0bZ]

Hi all!
sorry just joined... wondering about what kinda plants to use in my tank

have a small GEX 5 plan tank about 35 cm across; with FL lighting about 6 hours/day; filter running dolphin H230 i think (the medium sized one --> think overkill for so small tank) dam noob setup sorry no CO2 weekly water change 20% no fert yet hahahaha temp like 27-28

substrate is some black sand thing dunno what that is also...

currently having 5 bee shrimp and like 15+ cherry i gave up counting the babies

flame moss and ricca; flame seems to be doing well nice n green but no pearling for ricca

thinking of adding some foreground plants but glosso and HC seem to be quite hard without CO2 i hear...

any ideas for plants or changes to setup i dun really want CO2... ideas for fert?

[aquascaping1982]

Hi there,

Without co2 ricca won't pearl at all and without co2 you do not need to change your water weekly as it would invite algae but since you are rearing shrimps and shrimps need clean water I suggest to you that do not overfeed and keep the livestock low in numbers.

Since it is a 35cm tank, maybe you can try petite nana, narrow java fern, windelov and as for foreground try E.tenellus. Hope that my answer can help you.

[Xia0_No0bZ]

hahaha thanks so much! did some reading after tt post...
making a DIY CO2 now with a 500mL bottle n attached a valve to the cap after drilling with sealant... maybe i'll plug it in and hope tt the ricca starts to pearl...
petite nana looks kinda small though... is tt for foreground?

at this rate i might as well use my empty tank to do dry start method with all the changes...

Thanks so much!

[Aquaria One]

with Diy co2 you need a co2 flipper or a c o2 reactor to diffuse co2 effectively. Diy co2 is just not strong enough to go through a ceramic diffsuer.

[Xia0_No0bZ]

can will prob get co2 flipper... once confirm...
any ideas if DIY CO2 and 11w light for 12L 5 plan tank enough to keep glosso or hc if i use tom barr's dry start method with excel + flourish? hahaa asking lots of qns before i fork out money...

[wenwei]

hi,
tried using ceramic stone with DIY co2, just need to wait a little longer for the pressure to build up. Controlling the bubble per sec is quite a hassel but can be done.

[WiNd08]

i've heard NA got those mini CO2 cylinders which looks like some "missile silos" why not use that? it'd definitely be better looking than a 1.5L coke bottle !

it's very rewarding to see your plants bubbling away


i've experienced growing hairgrass w/o fert and with CO2 and my lights are like 50W for a 1.5ft tank. they spread very very well, now at work or else i'll post a picture of it for you. anyway thats at least 4-5yrs ago

[Xia0_No0bZ]

thanks but what's NA?
wow 50W for 1.5 foot? isn't that a bit overkill though?

thought 2-3 wpg should be enough...

[FishFan]

Er.. just in case you are still wondering, NA refers to Nature Aquarium at Balestier Shopping Centre near Novena.

[WiNd08]

yeah i didn't know the WPG rule then, so i just placed a light as long as it's white