Plant N00B

P

pat

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I am setting up a sweet tank for some N. v. v.'s and I want to use real plants. I've always used fake before. I've already got some Pothos, and I need some under water plants.

So, particularly for Elodea or Anachris. Do I just float them in the aquarium or do they need to be planted in gravel or soil? Do I have to worry about CO2 or anything like that or can I just set it in the tank and let it be?

I am also thinking of Java Moss, I hear you just have to lay it somewhere in water or on driftwood and it will take care of the rest, but I am still wondering about the whole CO2 thing.

OK, so my tank is probably going to get no direct sunlight but it will get some indirect sunlight, I'd say medium to low light, is this ok for these plants?

Lastly, am I forgetting anything?

I know I ask a billion questions but I really am a big N00B when it comes to this stuff (I have had newts before but I used a really simple setup and didn't really do alot of research, it's amazing they lived so long and so well). Anyway, thanks for all the help you guys have given me so far.
 
How about java fern? They're pretty and low maintenance. I use java moss, but I prefer not to just float it in the tank. Instead I use it sort of as a "carpeting" on my land ares platforms that I have created. The newts like it alot. I haven't worried about the CO2, although in speaking with a person in the pet shop I frequent, he told me about creating a CO2 canister/injector of sorts. I haven't seemed to need it since plants seem to be doing ok.
 
I've found that anachris needs higher than ambient light, or it dies. Java fern, java moss, pothos, moss balls, anubias, and others all seem to work pretty well.
 
I have had good luck with my java moss, but I anchored it to the driftwood first with some thread because it takes time for the plant to attach itself. But once anchored (and that did take a couple of weeks, maybe months) it has done really well. Also looks cool growing on my styrofoam floating island, all hanging down on the sides. My newts hide under the island in the moss more than climb out on the island. Oh, and my elodea/anachris started to die in low ambient light, too. So I have a flourescent light now. Have fun planting the aquarium, I think live plants really add to any tank
Heather
 
Hey, thanks for all the advice, I think I will go get some java moss, and java fern this week (maybe some anubias). I do have a florescent light for the tank but I don't really want to use it unless I have to because the hood is not newt-tight and I don't want to modify it right now. So, I think I'll just start off with those and see where that takes me. I can't wait until this tank is finished, I'll post a picture when its done (unless it turns out not looking that cool, heh).
 
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