Please recommend starter plant for newbie?

**mikeang** · 13th Apr 2010, 13:57

Hi,

Decided to start a new thread here. My plan is to set up a small shrimp tank.

Tank = 1 feet.
Using CO2.
Soil = GEX 3 kg
2 small driftwood and a couple of stones.
1 Feet 7w * 2 Aqua lights

What are the plants that is simple enough for a newbie like me? Intend also to moss a bit of the driftwood.

Many thanks.

Michael

**Aquanoob** · 13th Apr 2010, 14:05

Hi Michael, you can try the anubias family like the Nana, Nana petite, Nana Gold. They have low light requirement and very easy to take care. Just need to have some algae eaters as they grow quite slow and may have algae on their leaves. Crypto family like Crypto parva and wendtii are also good for beginners.

**mikeang** · 13th Apr 2010, 14:12

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Here's a newbie asking another silly question. Hope you don't mind.

C328 have these plants right? Would the name be written on the plant or do I have to ask the shop keeper (whom I just realised aren't really vocal and does not seem to understand much english, and i can't speak chinese).

I also saw some plants already grown on some coconut husk, drift woods and even metal plates. Do I have to remove all to plant it into the tank?

Thanks again

Michael

Originally Posted by Aquanoob

Hi Michael, you can try the anubias family like the Nana, Nana petite, Nana Gold. They have low light requirement and very easy to take care. Just need to have some algae eaters as they grow quite slow and may have algae on their leaves. Crypto family like Crypto parva and wendtii are also good for beginners.

**Aquanoob** · 13th Apr 2010, 14:22

Some of the plant will have their name written in red marker on their containers or plastic bags, for those with no name, you can ask the shop-owner's son who is available on Saturday.
I think you are referring to those moss tied on the coconut husk and dwiftwood, which I did saw selling as a pack by itself. You can check with c328 auntie.

**mikeang** · 13th Apr 2010, 15:18

Thanks!

Btw, I don't have a chiller yet.. neither do i have a fan for the tank. Do I need them for the plants?

**Aquanoob** · 13th Apr 2010, 15:51

Actually, you need not to have a chiller for a plant tank, it is like having and giving steroid to the plant if you have one. I heard this from Adrian (Blue33) or is it from Michael (Blue Whale) before. But I just realised that you are planning for a shrimp tank, so I can't really comment much as I never keep shrimp before. I am sure that a shrimp expert will come in and help you with the setup. As a general guideline, it will be good to keep the water temperature as low as possible.

**mikeang** · 13th Apr 2010, 16:42

Thanks. I will get a fan for my tank then. Luckily I stay near C328. Everything I need are here.

**eviltrain** · 13th Apr 2010, 16:52

what is the temperature of your tank without a fan now? if its around 27, you don't need any chiller. just a fan will be enough.

**mikeang** · 13th Apr 2010, 17:24

oh the other 1 feet tank that contains my goldfish constantly read 29.5 - 30.5 degrees ... even at night... but that's without fan...

i just bought the fan.. maybe will try to see if that bring the tank temperature down or not...

if not, looks like i have no choice but to get a chiller ahead ... was thinking of only adding the chiller after the plants have stablized.

**Sword** · 14th Apr 2010, 14:28

Brother, do consider the moss call "US Fissiden", it's a easy and tough moss to grow, even without CO2.

**mikeang** · 15th Apr 2010, 20:18

hi guys.

decided to go for a CO2 setup on a 2 feet tank. Understand that more water means more constant variables and the CO2 would help.

I will certainly still go for the easier plants such as the US Fissiden. It tooks nice. And also bought a ANS3000 fan to cool the tank. My experiment on the small fan on my other 1 litre goldfish tank showed that it really dropped by 3 degrees. It now reads around 27 -28 degree at night. Not bad.
Will consider chiller only when necessary.

If there are other plants to recommend, please do so. I greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

**neverwalkalone** · 20th Apr 2010, 09:43

Michael,

I have found that Shrimps simply love Mosses, so if you just want a simple tank to get started, they will do. I personally don't think CO2 is necessary for mosses, unless as the others have stated, you want fast/lush growth. Mosses are very hardy, they will grow nicely without CO2 and fairly 'warm' water (29-30deg) [with adequate light].

You may want to visit some LFS that are known to sell good Shrimps (eg CRS Haven, Colourful etc) to get an idea of what plants they use in their display tanks.

As for the use of a chiller, again IMO, you don't need one unless you intend to breed CRS. My Sakuras/Cherries are breeding like crazy even in a tank without CO2 nor Chiller, just a fan that keeps it bet 27-30deg (on hot days)

All the best!

**mikeang** · 22nd Apr 2010, 14:26

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I have changed to Co2 and am now cycling the tank. I bought some mosses and fissiden and some backgroun plants...

Will probably get an algae eater and then a few shrimps to try out first..

**Wahlin** · 26th Apr 2010, 14:15

What shrimp you intend to keep will decide on whether a chiller is require. And what plant you want to have will decide on whether CO2 is necessary. You probably have to plan ahead before starting to invest on equipments that may not be needed.