Basic Ingredients
Water, Light, Sand
These are the three essential components that make up a planted tank.
The tank on the left is an example.
Nutrients
~25 elements are essential for life, shared among all organisms.
Thus, a complete organism is a source of complete nutrients if it can be efficiently stored in its entirety.
Fish food from whole fish is one example of such.
Based on Diana Walstad's book
How I Provide Nutrients
I feed fish food as the most basic complete source of nutrients. Plants can grow indefinitely off of this.
However, fish food tend to be high in nitrogen and phosphorus which may fuel algae growth in excess.
I experiment with boiled vegetables which may provide a better balance of overall nutrition.
Water
Soft or hard water can be used.
Certain plants may have a competitive advantage in certain waters. Below is a list of examples.
Best to bypass any filters, softeners, and avoid bottled water. They may contain minerals in unnatural proportions for plant life.
Light
Modern LED's have enough light output for most aquarium plants.
Some plants prefer to be in the shade, some prefer direct, intense light.
Mix low-light plants with high-light plants for best results.
Sand
A deep sand substrate provides the environment for decomposition and nutrient breakdown that will fertilize plant growth.
Complete decomposition may take months to a year. Therefore, plants may not grow much until a few months after aquarium setup.
The use of fertilizer and organic soil may supply these deficiencies, however I have not observed any differences from sand-only tanks.
| OPTIONAL: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mineral Rocks | Limestone, dolomite, crushed coral, and more | Excessive amounts will make water extremely hard. Use with caution. |
| Driftwood and botanicals | Dried leaves, aldercones, tree branches and more | Excessive amounts will soften and acidify the water. Use with caution. |
| Water Pump/Air Stone | Any aquarium pump/air stone | Some plants do better with strong water flow and some do not. Use accordingly. |
| Heater | Any aquarium safe heater | Temperature should be kept within tropical ranges. |
Optional for Planted Tanks
These items are optional, and may provide benefits in specific situations.
Caution: mineral rocks and botanicals will change the tank environment drastically if used in excess. Not recommended to use in large quantities unless one is familiar with the resulting water chemistry.
| Fast Growing | Slow Growing | |
|---|---|---|
| Hard Water | Hygrophila Corymbosa Java Moss Jungle Val |
Dwarf Sagittaria Subwassertang |
| Soft Water | Elodea | |
| Any Water | Rotala Rotundifolia Duckweed Riccia |
Java Fern Anubias Marimo Moss Ball |
Plant List
There are many plant species available in this hobby. I will list a small sample that grew well in my planted setups.
Other's experience may differ, feel free to contact me and share your planted journey.
Java Moss
This plant deserves special recognition, as it is popular among shrimp keepers.
I grow them under strong light and high water flow.
Nutrient input (feeding) must be kept extremely low, otherwise they will lose out to algae.
Co2 Injection
Plants can become carbon constrained, since other nutrients are provided in excess through fish food. I do not inject co2, aerial plants like Hygrophila Corymbosa are able to access atmospheric co2 once they emerge out of the water.
For submerged plants, they will simply grow slower.