How hard is it to switch to live plants in an aquarium?

I'm at the point where I am sick of looking at phony plastic plants. The tank is cycled but I would really like to change the turquoise coloured rocks to a sand colour and add live plants. It is a 6 gallon Eclipse system and I only have one Betta in the tank. I have the temperature at 79 F - 80 F. What do you have to do to feed the plants? Will I need an algae eater? Any suggestions?

How hard is it to switch to live plants in an aquarium?
your tank is great for lots of smaller plants just the way it is --



anubias nana, anubias lanceolata, jave fern, java moss, cryptocoryne wendetii are all really good small low maintenance plants. the anubias and java fern and java moss shouldn't even be planted -- they do better tied to a rock or something. i usually just put a plant weight around the bottom and drop it behind a big rock or chunk of driftwood.



you can buy numerous fertilizers at the pet shop -- i would stay away from flourish excel because it kills back crpyts. its really too much for a simple tank.



i don't keep algae eaters. they usually need supplimentary food like algae wafers unless you grow crazy amounts of algae. you could keep a couple otos in a 6 gallon. you need to have established algae for them first though. anubias are prone to growing cyanobacteria and its easy to get off with a bleach solution of one part bleach to 20 parts water.



here is a great site for plant info --



http://www.plantgeek.net/
Reply:Generally Eclipses do not have adequate lighting for anything but maybe Java Ferns or a few other low light plants.



I would recommend a simple upgrade to a 6400 K T2 lighting fixture which can be place in your existing fixture (these are high output lights with 73 lumens per watt).



Other important points to consider are bio-available carbon which can come from fish respiration, but for many plants may need to be supplemented with products such as Flourish Excel or a CO2 system (the Floramat CO2 system is inexpensive and easy, although not up to the level of high end pressurized CO2 systems diffusers).



A good plant root bed can also be important depending on the plants you desire; this can also supply many of nutrients as well (such as Iron). I personally use Azoo Plant Grower Bed.



Finally I highly recommend reading more so as to know what kind of plants will grow in the environment you can provide based on budget and time.

This article is a good starting point for up to date Aquarium plant information:

http://americanaquariumproducts.com/Aqua...



You might read this article for lighting information as well:

http://americanaquariumproducts.com/Aqua...



As to Algae Eaters, I generally will keep Oto Catfish or SAE in my clients planted aquariums.



:~) C
Reply:Just buy plants and put them in there. It helps if you get the ones that are potted (the ones with the metal twisty holding them together won't do as well). Generally they require little maintenance/feeding, though they do make aquarium fertilizer if you need it. Be aware that some fish might eat the plants or root around in the gravel and uproot them. Algea eater is not necessary.
Reply:i dnt think its hard at all just make sure u have a powerful light no u do not need to get an algae eater. you only need to feed the plants light! u might need some sort of a vitamin or something like that!!! its not very hard! trust me im an EXPERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:OK to starts its a money bag, but as you go on you can improvise the cost. First of is the substrate, if you want a nice planted tank you need a good substrate like Fluorite which is $30. Now since your starting out, i will recommend you get good lighting. Get compact fluorescent light bulbs with a 6500k-10,000k. Now you can either buy another light canopy, or if you have screw -ins you can go yo places like Walmart. 1wpg of this lighting is low light-4wpg is super high. Depending on your wanting get the light to that wpg. I recommend you get 2wpg so you can grow most things. Finally will be Co2, but since your tank is small you Can look on the net to find out how you can make your own C02 for only about $5. Lastly, fertilizer, buy flourish and flourish excel when starting, best if you buy the whole set of flourish fertilizers(flourish,excel,nitrate,potas... and iron). Then look on the net for some plants that meet your needs.
Reply:I generally do not answer after Carl S



(I have not seen him here at YA in while) :(

But I would also like to add one more aspect as to available carbon; be aware of surface agitation, especially power head venturis or air stones. These however can be set to go on at night by using a timer when plants use oxygen, not CO2. Keep in mind that circulation is still necessary just watch the surface agitation where CO2 is exchanged for oxygen.



I will also add that the Flourish Plant tabs are nice for added nutrients as well (I also use Wonder Shells for a good GH too)



I recommend the Planted Aquarium site that Carl S recommends as well (in fact all of the articles that he write as this guy is quite the “aquarium Guru”).

Such as http://americanaquariumproducts.com/Aqua...

%26amp; http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/



Good luck with your aquarium plant decisions!!
Reply:it is not that hard just go out and buy some real plants i would make sure when you put the real plants in that your fish are out of the way
Reply:Its easy go to a pet store buy some plants.

Let them get use to the water like you do fish.

Put them in there put in some aqua fertilizer (ask about this at the pet store)

put this in once every 35 days - a month.

AFTER

your partial water change.

they will help oxygenate the water and keep alga away