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Thread: How to manage initial planting?

  1. #1
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    How to manage initial planting?

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    It has been often repeated that beginner tanks should be heavily planted from the start to keep control of algae problem. Just not sure how to go about it. Does that mean i must buy all the intended plant at one go and plant them. That is not much of a problem. But i realise the problem is sourcing for all the plants within a day. Or is it that we just leave the plants in it original packing and collect them over a few days and then start planting. Please advise.

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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    Yes, that usually is an issue. One way is to order your plants from one shop, then you can collect them all at one go. This would be my preferred method.

    Another possibility is to start a nursery tank, as if you are selling plants like the fish shop. Or, just fill your new tank half with enough water and pop them in without removing the plastic pots and rock wool. For this, the plants should be the robust slow growers like Anubias, Crypts, Echinodorus, Water lilies (aka lotus), Moss, Java fern etc. Give them some hours of light per day. These will hold for a 2 weeks to a month without problems. A robust fish will be good to keep the mosquito problems away.

    Another way is to plant robust easy fast-growing plants in place of the ones you can't get on planting day. Or, plant more of the other plants you wanted first. These are usually stemmed plants as they are easy to remove and tend to grow fast.

    As you acquire the plants you want, you remove the stand in plants. This method is also good as the robust plants will help to take up ammonia/ammonium/nitrite during the initial cycling period and help to prevent algae bloom. You can actually leave these plants to float, so that they don't mess up the tank when you uproot them... but be careful that they don't shade out your other plants. Another possibility is to secure them to something heavy and let them 'stand' in vacant spaces without planting into the substrate.
    Vincent - AQ is for everyone, but not for 'u' and 'mi'.
    Why use punctuation? See what a difference it makes:
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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    Hi Vinz, thankful that you understood my predicament. I will try ordering my plants from one source failing which will use the quarantine tank option. Thanks

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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    @Vinz
    Then what about the mesh and plastic pots, rock wool.
    Do we remove them on actual planting?

    Had bad encounter with my hair grass and some of those background plants. So i ended up sinking everything into the substrate.

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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    Pots and rock wool, yes must remove.

    As for mesh, some people just toss them on the substrate or sprinkle gravel over them. Personally, I have not planted with mesh before, but I would remove them. The rectangular and flat shapes do not look natural.
    Vincent - AQ is for everyone, but not for 'u' and 'mi'.
    Why use punctuation? See what a difference it makes:
    A woman, without her man, is nothing.
    A woman: without her, man is nothing.

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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    Okay, will try and remove those i sunk into the substrate during the next water change.

    By the way, some of my plants is growing in a alarming rate BUT seems the leaves is now needle like instead of the roundish when i first bought.

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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    What plant is it? Some plants are grown emersed... i.e. out of water at the farm. (No algae, more robust for shipping, etc.)

    When planted in the tank, they convert to submerged form and many species have different type of leaves for each form.
    Vincent - AQ is for everyone, but not for 'u' and 'mi'.
    Why use punctuation? See what a difference it makes:
    A woman, without her man, is nothing.
    A woman: without her, man is nothing.

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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    Okay, i think i will need to test my photography skills abit then.
    Will try to get some pictures uploaded seems i won't be sleeping till 4.30am today anyways.

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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    You can order plants from C328, my guess other shop also accept order. C328 auntie normally will pass me the Oriental plants book, piece of paper and pen. Select which plant you want to order and the quantity. All the plant normally will arrive the next day unless auntie forgot to order.
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    Sorry again for hijacking.

    @Vinz - this is what i am talkign about

    The whole plant now
    http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g7...Picture004.jpg
    Initial Portion (round leaves)
    http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g7...Picture005.jpg
    New Grown Portion at the top (needle like)
    http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g7...Picture006.jpg
    Another one with similar situation
    http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g7...Picture007.jpg
    *The leaves at the bottom of the pictures is the state when i bought it.

    My 2ft Tank
    http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g7...Picture008.jpg
    Are these snails harmful?
    http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g7...Picture003.jpg

  11. #11
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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    It is normal, emerse leaf = round and submerse leaf = needle
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    Thanks, Shadow Bro.

    Thought my tank had something lacking(lights,Co2,nutrients) for them that they mutated..haha..



    *Shadow from Telok Blangah, Wu Hu's customer also?

  13. #13
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    Re: How to manage initial planting?

    Not really, most of the time I visit C328 during lunch time.
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

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