Online saltwater plants

fishobsessed · 03-15-2007, 07:43 PM

Anybody out there order from online for SW plants? LIveaquaria has some but not a very large selection.

I also ordered some shaving brush from saltwater fish.com but they were in poor shape

,& they eventually died

Thanks!

Reefbabe · 03-15-2007, 08:40 PM

I have personally never ordered from Marine Depot but, I've only heard good reviews from people that do.

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/inverts--plants.html

Chitown1 · 03-15-2007, 09:02 PM

What are your water params?

How long has the tank been set up?

fishobsessed · 03-16-2007, 08:24 AM

Hi Chitown,my params are: PH-8.2 NITRATE-5 NITRITE-O AMM-O CALCIUM-480 ALK-3.5 PHOSPH-1.0 DKH-9.80.My tank has been set up since Nov./06.Thanks!

Chitown1 · 03-16-2007, 08:46 AM

You should let your tank become more established before attempting plants, generally 8-12 months seem the acceptable amount of time. I have been doing some research on planted tanks as it is one of the options for my newest addition a 220 RR. Plants also require a stronger light source than NO bulbs, many even require MH and the majority need at least T5's with a average of 4-5 watts per gallon. Macro algaes are a different story, you can use those in a less established tank and the lighting needs for most is much less and they come a many colors and styles, those may be a better option for now until you let your tank run for a few more months and have a chance to upgrade your lighting.

fishobsessed · 03-16-2007, 09:33 AM

Looks like a good site ill check it out thanks rbabe!

fishobsessed · 03-16-2007, 09:36 AM

Thanks Chitown i did upgrade my lighting to 65w daylights & 65w night,but if u think i should wait until the tank is fully mature ill take your advice,i dont want to loose any more plants right now i only have Caleurpa for lowering my Phos's & for maintaning low Nitrates. Thanks1

Chitown1 · 03-16-2007, 09:39 AM

BTW, I have dealt with Marine Depot and they are a great place to do buisness with.

fishobsessed · 03-16-2007, 02:31 PM

Ok, they have a good selection,but not many plants though,thanks!

Tommy Gun · 03-17-2007, 01:43 AM

I have ordered two halimeda plants from an LFS which are in a relatively new 29 gallon biocube...which only has about 2 or 2.5 watts per gallon of lighting built in. They have done very well in this tank with a couple of clowns and a pair of mandarin dragonettes. The key with them, as I understand it and have seen thus far, is to ensure that there is enough calcium in the tank for them. I have also kept one of the two plants in my larger tank, with many algae grazing fish and they nipped at it for a couple hours, and then left it alone unharmed. I did this for other reasons, but I have read that they can sometimes be kept with herbavores because they have a hard 'shell' to their leaves. It is possible that I have just experienced good luck so far though and I would agree with Chitown that an established tank would be best. As far as the lighting for at least my plants, I get along pretty well with low to very moderate lighting. I simply keep them a bit higher in the tank for the most part, however I did have them on the substrate for a while and they did not fare quite as well...but I am not sure if that was because of the transition to a new tank or if lighting was insufficient. I suspect a combination of both.