Compatible Fertilizer
Any tips on decorating a tank with live plants?
I’m buying a 55g, going to get a few angels and then add some random fish(making sure they’re compatible first), based on whatever I see at Petco or a LFS 
I want to add some driftwood and some live plants to my tank, and ideas on what I should get and how they should be placed to look nice? How many can I get without paying too much for fertilizer/a co2 injecting system?
Btw, approximately how many watts of fluorescent light would I need per plant or is not not necessary unless I put a LOT of live plants in my tank?
You generally need fertilizer, but it is very cheap; you can just use houseplant fertilizer like miracle gro if you want (the kind with no copper or zinc). Fish waste will contain nitrogen compounds and phosphorous, but plants also need iron. So with only a few plants and no CO2 you will not need any extra fertilizer except, perhaps, iron (no, nails won’t work).
CO2 is not needed, regardless of what anyone tells you, if you have fish in the tank, since they breathe. Sites dedicated to planted tanks will be full of people using CO2 because they want their plants to grow 10 feet per day and have $300 lighting systems, but if you just want some plants in your fish tank, don’t use CO2. You can, however, make your own with airline tubing, yeast, sugar, and a bottle… practically free. Still… I don’t suggest it unless you run a high-light tank and plant it like a jungle.
The amount of light you need DOES NOT DEPEND on the number of plants until they entire tank is a jungle, but rather, the number of gallons (because both area and depth are important). Low light plants need around 1-2 watts per gallon; medium light plants need more than that (say, 3-4), and you will not be able to grow high-light plants without an expensive or custom lighting system. Is suggest you plan on low-light plants, and cheap medium-light plants that you won’t be too upset if they die. Nothing will do well under 1 watt per gallon.
a 55g tank is 48″ long which is nice because you can buy, for $10-$20, a “Shop Light” at a hardware store that covers it completely and has 2×40 watt T8 bulbs – you can hang this over the tank from the ceiling. That gives you about 1.5 watts per gallon. A normal hood only supports a single tube which will be insufficient for most plants. If money is not a problem you can get an acrylic lidded top and a dual-strip light on top for maybe $150, or a nice raised 4-tube T5 light for maybe $200. Please note that if you buy a “shop light” you will need to replace at least one of the “soft white” bulbs with a bulb made for plants and/or freshwater aquariums. Having 2 different bulb types is ALWAYS best because that gives more different phosphors for a better color spectrum.
This is an excellent resource: http://www.plantedtank.net/
By the way, read up on substrates. They are important. A good, cheap one is “Lesco Soilmaster Select” or similar expanded clay soil additives; $12 for a 50-pound bag. Normal aquarium gravel is not very good for plants.
Semillas Project
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AeroGarden Compatible Nutrients Plant Fertilizer 2 lb $20.99 |
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AeroGarden Compatible Nutrients Plant Fertilizer -1 lb. $13.99 |