New Tank Pics/Questions

[Dan White]

Hi. I am a newbie since my last tank 20 years ago as I've said before, and
after a few weeks of having this tank, some questions come to mind, mostly
about plants I guess. I've done some research and googling, so I hope you
don't think I'm being lazy! I took some quick pics here:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/qstroker2004/album?.dir=/877e

It is a 55 gal tank, and I haven't put any background up yet. The water
from the tap is around a 7.8 ph (hard to tell because it is off the scale)
and hard. I conditioned the water with a pH modifier with phosphates, and
it is a 7.0 pH now with slightly lower hardness. Actually I forget the
units on the hardness tester but it was around a 15, which was second to the
highest hardness on the tester. So here are some comments and questions for
anyone interested in lending a hand:

1. What do you suggest for plants? I have a "standard" 40 watt light
fixture with a full spectrum light installed. I do not have any CO2
generators or anything like that. I don't know how to characterize this
amount of light on a low to high scale, but from what I see in the stores
and on some plant websites I would call this low light, although it seems to
be what most aquariums are equipped with. Are underwater ferns easy enough
to grow in this light? I am sure I could grow vallisneria, but I don't care
for it much.

2. What plants do I have there now? My father picked them up but he didn't
know what they were called. I was told that broad leaf plants do better in
low light, but the plant to the far right seems to be dying off (see fuzzy
detail pic). On the other hand, the other broad leaf plant seems to be
doing well, although I'm waiting to see if the new leaves which are starting
to come out end up being as large as the original ones.

3. What kind of plant is the sword-looking one, and is it suited to these
conditions? It seems to be browning out at the tips and I don't see any new
shoots coming out (see detail photo).

4. That red dwarf gourami was just a little lethargic (had been in the tank
about a week and not eating that much), but when I added the betta 2 days
ago, he became the life of the tank. Now he eats vigorously and chases the
betta all over the place, but not 24/7. Is there a territory issue that I
can fix by adding plants or rearranging things? I'd like to keep both fish
but I might get rid of the gourami if he doesn't cut it out. The betta has
even taken to hiding in the small cave I created beneath the middle rock.
For such a fierce fighter he can still be quite a wuss.

5. There are 7 black neon tetras, 6 cardinals, one cory, the gourami and
betta. All seem to eat well and I haven't lost any yet. I am feeding the
betta regular Tetra Min and he eats a few pieces and then that's about it.
I had another betta years ago and he seemed to do fine on this diet, along
with occasional frozen or live food.

6. Another comment: The gourami picks at all the small leaved plants and
has yanked some stalks out of the ground, which are now floating around
where he continues to strip them bare. Is this normal for a gourami, and do
these fish like some lettuce or cucumber?

7. Should I be putting some kind of plant fertilizer in there, or is it
enough to find the right plant for the conditions?

Thanks for any comments and for looking.

dwhite

[Dan White]

"Dan White" > wrote in message
. net...
>
> 2. What plants do I have there now? My father picked them up but he
didn't
> know what they were called. I was told that broad leaf plants do better
in
> low light, but the plant to the far right seems to be dying off (see fuzzy
> detail pic).

Oops, I seem to have lost the fuzzy detail pic of the plant on the far
right. The leaves are starting to die off, and it is curious because the 2
other broad leaf plants seem to be doing OK.

dwhite

[Sue]

At least two of the plants in individul pictures are not aquatics. One is a
spathephyllum ( peace lily) and the other is a rush or some kind.
Some broad leaved plants tolerate lower light levels but many have very high
lighting requirements as do most pink leaved and many feathery plants.
Some plants, esp. Cryptocorynes die back one planted - they will often
regrow.
Sue

"Dan White" > wrote in message
. net...
> "Dan White" > wrote in message
> . net...
> >
> > 2. What plants do I have there now? My father picked them up but he
> didn't
> > know what they were called. I was told that broad leaf plants do better
> in
> > low light, but the plant to the far right seems to be dying off (see
fuzzy
> > detail pic).
>
> Oops, I seem to have lost the fuzzy detail pic of the plant on the far
> right. The leaves are starting to die off, and it is curious because the
2
> other broad leaf plants seem to be doing OK.
>
> dwhite
>
>

[Dan White]

"Sue" > wrote in message
...
> At least two of the plants in individul pictures are not aquatics. One is
a
> spathephyllum ( peace lily) and the other is a rush or some kind.
> Some broad leaved plants tolerate lower light levels but many have very
high
> lighting requirements as do most pink leaved and many feathery plants.
> Some plants, esp. Cryptocorynes die back one planted - they will often
> regrow.
> Sue

Thanks, Sue. This plant thing is so confusing! I don't want to become a
black belt in aquarium ecology just to have some live plants, but it looks
like you almost have to! I'm thinking to just load up on vallisneria, which
I think is pretty much indestructive.

thanks,
dwhite


>
> "Dan White" > wrote in message
> . net...
> > "Dan White" > wrote in message
> > . net...
> > >
> > > 2. What plants do I have there now? My father picked them up but he
> > didn't
> > > know what they were called. I was told that broad leaf plants do
better
> > in
> > > low light, but the plant to the far right seems to be dying off (see
> fuzzy
> > > detail pic).
> >
> > Oops, I seem to have lost the fuzzy detail pic of the plant on the far
> > right. The leaves are starting to die off, and it is curious because
the
> 2
> > other broad leaf plants seem to be doing OK.
> >
> > dwhite
> >
> >
>
>

[luminos]

"Dan White" > wrote in message
. net...
>
> "Sue" > wrote in message
> ...
>> At least two of the plants in individul pictures are not aquatics. One is
> a
>> spathephyllum ( peace lily) and the other is a rush or some kind.
>> Some broad leaved plants tolerate lower light levels but many have very
> high
>> lighting requirements as do most pink leaved and many feathery plants.
>> Some plants, esp. Cryptocorynes die back one planted - they will often
>> regrow.
>> Sue
>
> Thanks, Sue. This plant thing is so confusing! I don't want to become a
> black belt in aquarium ecology just to have some live plants, but it looks
> like you almost have to!

You do. Sue is correct. Plants are far more difficult than fish, IMO.

[Sue]

> >> Some plants, esp. Cryptocorynes die back one planted - they will often
> >> regrow.
> >> Sue
> >
> > Thanks, Sue. This plant thing is so confusing! I don't want to become
a
> > black belt in aquarium ecology just to have some live plants, but it
looks
> > like you almost have to!
>
> You do. Sue is correct. Plants are far more difficult than fish, IMO.
>
But they are easier than houseplants - at least the under/over watering
problem is removed!

Vallis is easy as are java ferns.
If you want pinky/browny/red try waterlily bulbs.
Look through this site - click a pic & the requirements show up ;o) (but
even here some are not true aquatics.)
http://www.microrepairs.glowinternet.net/catalogue.htm

Sue

[Dan White]

Great site. Thanks!

dwhite

"Sue" > wrote in message
...
>
> > >> Some plants, esp. Cryptocorynes die back one planted - they will
often
> > >> regrow.
> > >> Sue
> > >
> > > Thanks, Sue. This plant thing is so confusing! I don't want to
become
> a
> > > black belt in aquarium ecology just to have some live plants, but it
> looks
> > > like you almost have to!
> >
> > You do. Sue is correct. Plants are far more difficult than fish, IMO.
> >
> But they are easier than houseplants - at least the under/over watering
> problem is removed!
>
> Vallis is easy as are java ferns.
> If you want pinky/browny/red try waterlily bulbs.
> Look through this site - click a pic & the requirements show up ;o) (but
> even here some are not true aquatics.)
> http://www.microrepairs.glowinternet.net/catalogue.htm
>
> Sue
>
>

[NetMax]

mid-posted...

"Dan White" > wrote in message
. net...
> Hi. I am a newbie since my last tank 20 years ago as I've said before,
and
> after a few weeks of having this tank, some questions come to mind,
mostly
> about plants I guess. I've done some research and googling, so I hope
you
> don't think I'm being lazy! I took some quick pics here:
>
> http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/qstroker2004/album?.dir=/877e
>
> It is a 55 gal tank, and I haven't put any background up yet. The
water
> from the tap is around a 7.8 ph (hard to tell because it is off the
scale)
> and hard. I conditioned the water with a pH modifier with phosphates,
and
> it is a 7.0 pH now with slightly lower hardness. Actually I forget the
> units on the hardness tester but it was around a 15, which was second
to the
> highest hardness on the tester. So here are some comments and
questions for
> anyone interested in lending a hand:
>
> 1. What do you suggest for plants? I have a "standard" 40 watt light
> fixture with a full spectrum light installed. I do not have any CO2
> generators or anything like that. I don't know how to characterize
this
> amount of light on a low to high scale, but from what I see in the
stores
> and on some plant websites I would call this low light, although it
seems to
> be what most aquariums are equipped with. Are underwater ferns easy
enough
> to grow in this light? I am sure I could grow vallisneria, but I don't
care
> for it much.

My own approach towards plants has always been to stock with a variety
and spread the survivors around. While you are varying your water
conditions, the plants will be confused and their growth may be limited.
Excessively hard water will reduce your choices and chances, but there
are always some types which will adapt and prosper, though they might not
be your best choices in terms of looks. I've found *some* Vals do well
in hard water (not all) and generally Amazon swords & Hornwort do well if
the light is high enough.

> 2. What plants do I have there now? My father picked them up but he
didn't
> know what they were called. I was told that broad leaf plants do
better in
> low light, but the plant to the far right seems to be dying off (see
fuzzy
> detail pic). On the other hand, the other broad leaf plant seems to be
> doing well, although I'm waiting to see if the new leaves which are
starting
> to come out end up being as large as the original ones.
>
> 3. What kind of plant is the sword-looking one, and is it suited to
these
> conditions? It seems to be browning out at the tips and I don't see
any new
> shoots coming out (see detail photo).
>
> 4. That red dwarf gourami was just a little lethargic (had been in the
tank
> about a week and not eating that much), but when I added the betta 2
days
> ago, he became the life of the tank. Now he eats vigorously and chases
the
> betta all over the place, but not 24/7. Is there a territory issue
that I
> can fix by adding plants or rearranging things? I'd like to keep both
fish
> but I might get rid of the gourami if he doesn't cut it out. The betta
has
> even taken to hiding in the small cave I created beneath the middle
rock.
> For such a fierce fighter he can still be quite a wuss.

Welcome to the comedy of the community tank.

> 5. There are 7 black neon tetras, 6 cardinals, one cory, the gourami
and
> betta. All seem to eat well and I haven't lost any yet. I am feeding
the
> betta regular Tetra Min and he eats a few pieces and then that's about
it.
> I had another betta years ago and he seemed to do fine on this diet,
along
> with occasional frozen or live food.
>
> 6. Another comment: The gourami picks at all the small leaved plants
and
> has yanked some stalks out of the ground, which are now floating around
> where he continues to strip them bare. Is this normal for a gourami,
and do
> these fish like some lettuce or cucumber?

Could be boredom to snacking. More fish to more veggies in their diet
might help, but don't get your hopes too high.

> 7. Should I be putting some kind of plant fertilizer in there, or is it
> enough to find the right plant for the conditions?

If not finished cycling, don't bother with ferts. If cycled, it's up to
you. Results can vary tremendously. I prefer to see what natural
equilibrium I can reach with no additives, but many people use ferts.
Basically plants need a mix of mineral and nitrogen products, so any
single constraint will stop or reduce growth, and they need light to
photo-synthesize. I think that higher light levels improves their
efficiency/ability to get trace minerals which they would not access
under lower light, so raising your light level is usually a good first
thing to do. With good light and a well-fed fish load providing the
nitrogen products, I'd be tempted to just see what grows, and work with
that.
--
www.NetMax.tk

> Thanks for any comments and for looking.
>
> dwhite
>
>

[Dan White]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> mid-posted...
>
> "Dan White" > wrote in message
> . net...
>
> > 7. Should I be putting some kind of plant fertilizer in there, or is it
> > enough to find the right plant for the conditions?
>
> If not finished cycling, don't bother with ferts. If cycled, it's up to
> you. Results can vary tremendously. I prefer to see what natural
> equilibrium I can reach with no additives, but many people use ferts.
> Basically plants need a mix of mineral and nitrogen products, so any
> single constraint will stop or reduce growth, and they need light to
> photo-synthesize. I think that higher light levels improves their
> efficiency/ability to get trace minerals which they would not access
> under lower light, so raising your light level is usually a good first
> thing to do. With good light and a well-fed fish load providing the
> nitrogen products, I'd be tempted to just see what grows, and work with
> that.
> --

Thanks for the comments. I agree that less is better if you can get away
with it. I bought a nice bronze wendtii, which is supposed to like low to
moderate light, so we'll see about that. If it does well, I like it as a
mid ground plant.

dwhite