I have a 12 Gallon Eclipse that I would love to plant.. but, I don't have much money, :-[ so its one of those, 1 plant at a time, type of deals, it'll take a while. Anyway, any suggestions on how to go about this, to save time/money? I would like to have it grown in by christmas if at all possible, but if I don't its not really a big deal. I was thiking low light plants, because I'm mechanically inclined, so, I'm stuck w/ the bulb I got until it dies... Anyway, I'm open for ideas on prefured plants, ect. I have ferts. for my planted 1 Gallon Betta, but I have gravel in all my tanks. Thx!
Slowly Planting an Eclipse
- Thread starter Pooky125
- Start date
You can purchase plant bulbs (organic plant bulbs, not electrical light bulbs) from some LFS stores, and plant them into your gravel. They should sprout within 1-2 weeks. They grow pretty well. I found some at Wal-Mart for 2-3 bucks for about 4 to 8 bulbs per pack in the pet section. Amazon swords don't need much light, but will grow pretty big, It will also sprout stems with smaller plants on it, like a spider plant. You can use these also when they're big enough, just a little plant fertilizer is all that needed to help. "Plant Tabbs" work pretty well, just watch for acidity when using it. A buffer is recommended to stabilize the Ph of the water. Read buffer directions though, some stump plant growth, as read on one bottle I found. As for lighting, your Eclipse should be good enough, about 10-12 hours a day should work. Just by a wall plug in timer. Good luck with plants! *thumbsupsmiley*
Java moss, fern, hornwort,elodia(anacharis), hygrophilla sperma,are some I recommend. These are mostly feed off your water and not the substrate. Making the plant tabs very not needed.
There are some plant tabs that have too high of the middle number which is phosphates. Plant tabs by aquarium pharms I believe are one of these . Plant spikes and Jobe spikes are much better, but I don't feel you need this yet.
Buffering I feel is only really needed when you have Co2 added. Otherwise , don't mess with the PH. Usually you have enough Gh to buffer anyways.
If your PH is below 7, you probebly have a low GH and that isn't so bad cause your in the clear with the fish waste because it is in the form of ammonium(instead of ammonia). Plants like this, and also live of of nitrates when not ammonia/ammoinium is present.
Remeber to change the florescents every 10 to 12 monthes. The bulb starts to die and promote algae.
I honestly dont reccomend an Amazon with the lighting you have. I feel amazons require more light than a low level plant, and their root system requires deep gravel.
Also like said, they can grow quite big.
I wouldn't add too much ferts to the water with low light plants. Especially adding them one at a time. You will never use what is in the water (according to the dosages on the bottle) until you get a pretty stocked tank.
Of course this is my opinion.
How many watts are on that eclipse anyway?
There are some plant tabs that have too high of the middle number which is phosphates. Plant tabs by aquarium pharms I believe are one of these . Plant spikes and Jobe spikes are much better, but I don't feel you need this yet.
Buffering I feel is only really needed when you have Co2 added. Otherwise , don't mess with the PH. Usually you have enough Gh to buffer anyways.
If your PH is below 7, you probebly have a low GH and that isn't so bad cause your in the clear with the fish waste because it is in the form of ammonium(instead of ammonia). Plants like this, and also live of of nitrates when not ammonia/ammoinium is present.
Remeber to change the florescents every 10 to 12 monthes. The bulb starts to die and promote algae.
I honestly dont reccomend an Amazon with the lighting you have. I feel amazons require more light than a low level plant, and their root system requires deep gravel.
Also like said, they can grow quite big.
I wouldn't add too much ferts to the water with low light plants. Especially adding them one at a time. You will never use what is in the water (according to the dosages on the bottle) until you get a pretty stocked tank.
Of course this is my opinion.
How many watts are on that eclipse anyway?
good luck planting your tank! its gonna be really pretty. Just keep on cleaning Smudge's cat box, and you'll have enough money in no time. (I can buy u sum live plants for your b-day if u want just tell me the kind u want) good luck
~*Katie*~
~*Katie*~
As for the pant tabbs & referred to, they dissolve into your water, not placed into the substrate, as I think MaleRubyBarb is speaking of. Its called "Plantabbs" by Aquarium Products. Cost about 1.89 where I live. Rated at 11-15-20 as far as a fertilizer. As for buffering, they recommend it. It helps from keeping water going acidic, which is what happens in a heavy or any plant tank after awhiile. I think what some people don't realize is that plants use CO2 in the water & release oxygen, ONLY is the presence of light. They use oxygen & release CO2 when lights are off. Thus there is always the presence of CO2 in your tank. More so at night, which will affect your PH readings depending on when you take your reading, night or day. And your fish are always using oxygen & releasing CO at all times. Excessive CO2 will make water more acidic, but it all really depends on each tank setup. So I recommend that you at least try a certain setup or product and see what your results are. Ase far as a Amazon plant, I have 2 in my Eclipse Two setup (2 15 watt 18" bulbs) are they are just fine. *thumbsupsmiley*