What the best way to start a planted Fish tank?

Question

i have a 20 gallon tank and want to start adding plants but im all confused on what to do. I was considering just to use java moss and java fern. but the whole Co2 is confusing.

Answer 1

This might sound stupid but go to Petsmart they are very helpful they will tell you how to do it and what to buy.

Answer 2

Plants make co2 which is oxygen. I would cycle the tank to remove nitrites and ammonia which is harmful to plants and fish. Then use a bulb like a 15 watt aquarium bulb. Leave the light on for 8 to 12 hrs. Since most plants use photocynthisis. Goodluck!!!

Edit

Talking to petsmart workers won't do anything its like asking a mc donalds person about nutrition facts and harley ever learned science and java moss and ferns are plants, Duh!!!!!!

Answer 3

Your ballast on that tank is probably 15-18 watts.

Get a fluorescent tube like a hagen life glo 2 or any lamp that puts out 6700k or anything close in that range like 6500k

Don't get a bulb that says for growing plants unless it states that K rating.

I take it you have gravel in the tank...thats Ok for low light plants.

As for liquid fertilisers you will probably need nothing as water changes weekly bring in new nutrients.

See light is your plants gas pedal and CO2 is the fuel. If you have low light, the plants will find the Co2 they need in the water. You don't need to add any but the plants grow very slowly which is fine.

If you feel they need at least a little help with CO2 use flourish excel. But dose carefully and Vals don't like excel but I think everything else does.

High light makes the plants go into overdrive One of my tanks is 5 wpg. Plants convert CO2 into glucose (sugar) for them and O2 for the tank. Nutrients are like vitamins to them.

If one of these is out of balance the plants stop there engines and then algae is allowed to use the nutrients in the water to create more algae.

Hope that helps....

Good luck!!!

Answer 4

Depending on what kind of plants you are talking about there are different things they might need.  Some plants require a lot of CO2 and other not so much. Others need a special substrate and lighting, others can thrive in gravel and little lighting.  PH and water hardness can also play certain factors for different plant species.  Not to mention depending on what kind of fish you put in there the types of plants and substrate will differ greatly.

Typically however you could use a fluorite  or something like Eco Complete for plants or they sell stuff at places like Petsmart called "First Layer" for planted aquariums.  Other things you can use might be nitrogen supplements or CO2 systems.  

Good Luck

Also I don't know what this person before me is talking about " plants make CO2 which is oxygen?"

Answer 5

get fish

Answer 6

You should be fine using only java moss and fern with no Co2, since they do not require an intense amount of light.