Tommy Gun

Hey all!

Well, I have to admit that I am absolutely sure that I bit off more than I could chew with 'transforming' my 90 gallon tank into a planted tank. While I have had short periods of success, I have been thrown for a loop a couple times, to say the least. While it is not really in my nature to give up or back down, I have come to the realization that between working 60 to 70 hours a week while I am mid-stride in earning a Master's Degree simply does not allow for much time to monitor a larger reef and planted tank at the same time.

Like I said though, I am not one to give up so as a comprimise to myself, I am going to 'downsize' my planted tank ambitions and set up my currently empty 29 gallon biocube as a planted tank. I think this is a good idea because it is not only already equipped with about 2 watts per gallon of lighting (with a change of the actinic bulbs anyways) and gives me the ability to provide good water flow, it is small enough for me to keep tabs on and more affordable for me to use RO water in since my water bill is already sky high from making about 40 gallons of RO water for saltwater use a week.

So far, I have found a new home for all of the fish that have been in my 90 gallon tank...which is quite a few and I admit, very hard fish to part with. However, I have kept, and plan to keep for as long as I can, my rainbow shark (one of the first fish I bought a couple years ago), my pleco (small variety...not sure exactly which just yet, but definetly not growing like the larger versions would be) and my very very favorite freshwater fish, a cockatoo cichlid. Aside from the rainbow shark, which will probably stay in my 90 gallon, now unplanted tank, the pleco and cockatoo cichlid will be in the 29 gal planted tank. At this point, I only have those two fish planned for the tank, but might think about adding a female cockatoo, or maybe a small school of neons or something...but that is far in the future for sure.

So, my question now is...after keeping a lot of big, tall plants in my 90 gal tank, what plants would be a good choice for this smaller tank that will allow me to catch up with the learning curve? I love glosstigma and that would probably be my ground cover once I get things heading in the right direction, but other than that, I am not sure what other plants might be a good choice for me here. Any suggestions?

Jay

I would take a look at Anubius, perhaps some of the smaller Crypts, Hydrophila Difformis.

They are not expensive plants and will let you bulk up the tank and get off on the right foot.

Jay

Tommy Gun

Thanks Jay. By the way, speaking of crypts, I have somehow gotten the impression that crypts are particularily difficult or sensitive plants. Is this true? Are there some which are more difficult than others? If so, which might be the best, or at least better to start with?

Jay

I've never had much problem with them at all. They fuss about being replanted and sometimes go into decline over something. IME If you leave them alone they come right back.

Having said that I would buy them potted from a good plant dealer.

Jay

Tommy Gun

...makes sense to me! I will start looking around at my LFS to see what I can come up with.

P-Daddy

Tommy and I are often on the same wavelength,

I have been considering doing the same for my desk with something like a Nanocube or Aquapod, probably around 12 gallons, and now that I have tried my hand at planted tanks I really have no desire to go back to artificial.

Andyoybna

Well, for smaller tanks, how about java fern, java moss, dwarf hair grass, and micro swords?

I also saw a good article in the August 07 FAMA magazine, about minimalistic aquascapes in planted tanks, basically just using some rocks/driftwood to make structure and sticking to 2-3 different plants, 1-2 groundcover plants, and 1-2 mid-backround plants. IMO, it looks good, and it is the direction I have started to go in with my 90, just sticking to cobomba, my red plant things, and ground cover... which hopefully I can get to grow better.

Good luck!... and feel free to mail me that 90 whenever you get a chance I'd be glad to free up some space in your livingroom!

__________________