Live plants in first aquarium :)

[markacino]

Hi ladies and gents,

I have a question related to live plants. I have a very new aquarium (less than a week since set up). I went out and bought a couple of live plants to place in there. Unfrtunately I dont know the particular plant species (not very thourough purchasing by me I know).

Now the plants were really an after thought. I simply have gravel alone as a substrate. Is that sufficieent to sustain the plant life. Are there any additives I should be putting in the water for the plants, just as you have to feed fish.

Before adding any more plant life in the future I just want to be sure I know how to properly care for them

THanks for any help :)

[robflanker]

So you should be adding Excel to the water, and if they are root-feeding plants, you'll need some root tabs.

But without identification, there is no way of knowing how much they feed through the roots.

Pictures? Where'd you by them? Descriptions?

[markacino]

Hey,

Bought them from local pet shop, privately owned one, not a big chain like Pets Paradise which we have here in AUS.

Now I have a 60litre tank (i believe thats approx 15gal). 3 plants, 2 plants as tall as waters surface.

Cheers,

Here is a pic: (sorry about quality, taken then on phone)

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[Kaz]

If you are lucky that is a wisteria plant and you probably meet the requirements to keep it alive for a period of time.

If you are not lucky, it is a plant I haven't seen before that has much harder requirements.

How many watts does your light have? How big is you aquarium?

[markacino]

15 watt sun-glo light - 60litre/15Gal tank.

[robflanker]

So I dont think it looks like Wisteria. Also wisteria needs to feed through the roots, so you're current setup isnt appropriate unless you add some root tabs

"Wisteria is yet another example of a beautiful and undemanding plant that is suitable for your first aquarium. The plant grows quickly and also helps to inhibit algae growth. But Wisteria also sucks a lot of nutrients from the water. Pale leaves indicate that there is a shortage of nutrients in the aquarium, and that fertilizers need to be added to the substrate" - taken from here;
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[Kaz]

Hard to say, the one in the front doesn't look like it but the one in the back really looks like wisteria to me.

[robflanker]

It might be but it has an awful lot of red to the back one. It could be Wisteria with a lot of dead leaves or some junk on it, but it might also be a red ludwig

You are right tho Kaz, its hard to see

Markacino - why not call the LFS and ask them what they have been carrying recently? They might only carry 4 or 5 diff plants, and it'd help us narrow it down from a smaller list

[markacino]

I know you both have opposing views but are you talking about the plant to the right of the photo, with the darker leaves? From what you have said in your posts, I take it the leaves may infact be dead/dieing. SHould I remove it?

What would be some appropriate beginner plants for me to have in there? Perhaps some that would only require a water additive and light, as opposed too the tablets?

Rob - Will definately give them a call in the morning, late at night here atm.

[robflanker]

We don't have opposing views, just trying to figure it out. Its a tough picture to work from. I'd remove any dying leaves if I were you but if the plant is ok in general, then you should leave it.

The link I posted has a great article about beginner plants. Think about mosses, and java fern, and Amazon sword.

Root tabs are dead easy, and you should do them as well as water additives - you just put them in the substrate near the plants, and change them every few months.

Call them in the AM, or try and get a better photo - and we'll help as best we can!

[Ashley]

My favourite beginner plants are anubias plants. There are great varieties (here anyways), and they do well in low light situations. I also like vals, but they may not do well with your lighting. I use Seachem Flourish on my tanks, and I haven't had a plant die yet, and new shoots are growing. Plants will grow fine in gravel, and like dirty gravel (not to discourage gravel cleaning though, just not as frequent, but do water changes still). Java ferns are also a hardy first time plant and java moss.

[Kaz]

I know you both have opposing views but are you talking about the plant to the right of the photo, with the darker leaves?

Rob's right, it's not that we have opposing view but that the plant appears to be growing in 2 different ways.

My area of expertise is lowlight plants so I don't have a good chance of identifying it if it requries more light. Which it probably does.

Yes I am reffering to the plant with the darker leaves in the back right.

If that is a different plant then we could both be right.

I would not remove the dead leaves.

[markacino]

So I tried to take another picture, linked below.

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Hope that can help you guys out a bit more with the ID thumbs2:

[Kaz]

So I tried to take another picture, linked below.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Hope that can help you guys out a bit more with the ID thumbs2:

Alright!

Not wisteria then, because those leaves are naturally red...

[robflanker]

Does it look like this?
Rotala Magenta
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Agreed with Kaz - not Wisteria

[Kaz]

Does it look like this?
Rotala Magenta
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Agreed with Kaz - not Wisteria

If it is Rotala magenta your not going to have an easy time keeping it alive.

[robflanker]

Agreed. Needs 2+ WPG if IIRC and root-tabs + water additives + love

[markacino]

First off guys thanks for your time and effort, much appreciated :)

It does look exactly like the link you provided, nowhere near as thick, but same characteristics. I assume investing in some root tabs would be the way to go?

[robflanker]

Yah I would. Try and find these;
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Seachem Flourish Tabs - i know its a US-site but I'm sure you can find them Down Under.

Also for water additives, try this;
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Seachem Flourish

As ppl have stated, look at mosses, java fern, amazon sword, Wisteria is pretty easy if you have root tabs. I recently got some, and its really picked up quickly in the tank. Anubas would be a good start too. Read that link I posted, its got some splendid advice on beginner plants

*Edit - if you personal message (PM) Gemini - she lives in Aus and might be able to recommend some cheap websites or offer some local advice. Dunno where in Aus, but still more helpful than me living in Connecticut or Kaz in Canada!

[rich311k]

Looks like lucens/ludwigia in back and bacopa in front to me. Bothe will need a bit more light than 1 watt per gallon.

[markacino]

We do in fact have those products you mentioned here down under, so will go and pick some up ASAP.

Again thanks very much everyone for your time and patience, extremely helpful!!

Will definately have a look at some of the more beginner friendly plants you have mentioned there.

Cheers .

[robflanker]

Looks like lucens/ludwigia in back and bacopa in front to me. Bothe will need a bit more light than 1 watt per gallon.

I thought it was ludwiga at first, but the more I look at it - the less I think it is. I dunno, lol.

[Kaz]

Either way though, You're going to need a better light. Too bad because getting new lights is always the hard part.

I was being hopeful when I said wisteria. It never works out that way though.:11: