Craving a Planted!!!!

[MikeTag]

I want a planted tank...simple as that, getting there is the hard thing. I cant afford a CO2 injection system, this hobby is expensive asready. I can do liquid fertilizer, a substrate like eco-complete, and my fish :goldfish: of course. I need hardy plants. I was looking at java fern, have any other ideas for hardy plants?
any suggestions, please post:22:

[Alfcea]

My tank is pretty low tech. It is not very heavily planted, but I do have some plants. Other than Java fern (different varieties), I have anubias, Java moss and hornwort. Yo ucould also add elodea (aka anacharis). They all do fine in lower light, no CO2 and no fertz other than fish food. I suggest you give them a try too!

[smaug]

What kind of light do you have at the moment,wattage and type ie fluor or incandecent.

[PostalPenguin]

Brazillian sword, anacharis and ludwigia are doing well in my tank. Its only fertilized with liquid ferts and 2.8wpg of CF.

[Gemini]

You can do DIY CO2 for tanks less than 29G I think. All you need is a couple of soda bottles, air tube, yeast, and sugar. Theres a few threads around on how to do it.
Java ferns, anubias, some vals, java moss will grow in low light and no CO2 added.
Have you got a tank yet?

[MikeTag]

You can do DIY CO2 for tanks less than 29G I think. All you need is a couple of soda bottles, air tube, yeast, and sugar. Theres a few threads around on how to do it.
Java ferns, anubias, some vals, java moss will grow in low light and no CO2 added.
Have you got a tank yet?
I thought of that idea also. I have 2 tanks, a 29 lol, and a 10 gallon.

[Gemini]

I thought of that idea also. I have 2 tanks, a 29 lol, and a 10 gallon.
Well DIY is a definate option for you then if you go for plants that need a bit more.
You don't have to have heaps of fancy stuff for java ferns etc - I have them growing, albeit slowly, in my fry tank that has no light, no substrate and no added anything but water.

[MCHRKiller]

Definatly go low-light/low-tech. Its easier to keep up with especially if your not into constant pruining and balancing ferts and lighting and co2 and all that.

Go for around 1.5-2WPG, in the range of 5000-7000K for best results. I would actually avoid EcoComplete as they have just been to unreliable lately as far as substrate quality goes, Flourite IME is a better option you have more color options and its consistant. I added a new bag to my 55G tank and its the same grade, color, and quality as my previous 3 bags.

Try to get alway with the least amount of ferts that you can...initially I would just do root tabs and half doses of Flourish Comprehensive. Id avoid Excel Ive seen to many plants suffer in its useage than benefit even plants that are supposed to do OK with it. Some good plants are Rotala rotundifolia, Crypts, Abubais, Amazon swords, Melon Swords, Tropica Swords, Java ferns, Vals, Onion plants, floaters, Wisteria, Hornwart, Anarchis, Apon. species, Mosses