Planting once tank is full

[Cameron]

when i got my 29 gallon tank i just bought a few fake plants but i want live plants now so what would i have to do to plant them. I already have fish in there. So would i have to empty everything to plant or just like 30%, or more?

[dev]

No need to empty the tank. Just start planting.

If you have sensitive fish, you might want to move them out first - but I've never killed any while planting or replanting :)

If you feel you need some fertilizer in the substrate, you can use sticks or balls of laterite that you stick into the substrate near the roots of the plants who need it. JBL 7-balls is one product like that.

[Lady Hobbs]

I use the balls of Laterite. Sat around the house making a whole pile of them and baking them one afternoon. Gez. I don't even bake cakes. LOL

Only trouble is when you pull a plant out or move something you get little puffs of red dust that settles on everything but it's not a huge problem and a good solution to trying to plant an already established tank. I do wish I had a finer gravel, however. I like the small stones but it's harder to get the plants to take off in it.

[hungryhound]

when i got my 29 gallon tank i just bought a few fake plants but i want live plants now so what would i have to do to plant them. I already have fish in there. So would i have to empty everything to plant or just like 30%, or more?

As for the actual act of planting. You can do it with the tank full or with it drained 30 to 50 percent. Personally I prefer to plant mine with the water level at 50 percent.

How you plant depends on what type of plants you have.

Mosses= attach to decorations or stick under mesh.

Rhizome plants. Bury the roots but leave the rhizome above the gravel. (java fern, anubais)

Rosette Plants = Plant like a normal garden plant. Plant the roots and leave the leaves above the gravel.

Stem Plants = Plant like you were arranging flowers. Cut off a little bit of the bottom stem to promote nutrient uptake. Submerge the stem up to the first node.


If they grow or not will be based upon your light, substrate and dosing regimine.

[Cameron]

the rocks i have are probaly 1/4 in or less in size, but i will try to plant them when its full

[Bill Brasky]

I plant with fish in the tank at any water level. If I've got my hand in there long enough, my fish start nibbling on my arm... it tickles!

[Lady Hobbs]

I added more plants today with a full tank. Do it all the time.