Newbie Plants

[khoile]

Hi,

I'm almost ready to make that first plant order. I'm a complete newbie and currently doesn't really care about the aquascaping part of the hobby and just want to grow some nice green plants. Which plants do you recommend for a newly setup 75G tank? I guess it would be lots of fast grower to lower the chance of algae. But I don't know enough to make the decision. Also would one of those plants assorment deal on http://www.aquariumgarden.com or http://www.freshwateraquariumplants.com a good starter package?

Thanks for your help.

[150EH]

It's really going to depend on your set up, lighting, CO2, substrate. I looked at the second site you listed and they asked the same question. Why don't you give them your set up and post the list they give you and we will kick out any bad selections.

[ThomE]

khoile,

I ordered from both, I'm very happy with them ... not to add to the mix but aquabotanic has an algae buster package too.

If it was up to me, would simply pick a couple out I like such as water sprite, wisteria, rotala indica, hygo, & pennywort. If you wanted to add others, either read up on them or ask us if they are not really for starters.

I would only order a few stems of each or see if anybody is giving them away. In about 2 months, they will overwhelm your tank. After 3 months, you can start switching them out for other plants that catch your eye.

[150EH]

These grow fast for me:

Aponogeton crispus
Anacharis
Ludwigia Peruensis
Hygrophila polysperma
Rotala Magenta
Rotala Indica
Hygrophila difformis
Water Sprite - this one grows really fast
Vallisneria gigantea

[khoile]

Thanks for the response,

I know my information still vague, I'm still looking up all the plants and their growth ability. I'll email both of those company to see what they recommend and post that.

Anyway, here's what I have so far:

All glass 75E aquarium
120lbs Eco-Complete, enough for 2+ inch I think
220 watts of light, Jebo cheap unit, with actinic light replaced by 2x 9.3k bulbs
Rena XP3 filter, will this by it-self provides enough water flow? (I guess it's an equiment question)
I plan to start with DIY CO2, but will move to pressurize asap

Thanks again,

[ThomE]

My 72 has two xp3 running. But I find that the plants seem to do better with more water flow. One filter only has floss in it.

Thats a great start with all the stuff you have.

[khoile]

Here's the list AquariumGarden.com gave me:

Amazon sword
Sword compacta
Sword ruffle
Sword Tropica - Rosette

Microsword

Anubias frazeri
Anubias congensis
Anubias barteri

Cryptocoryne ciliata
Cryptocoryne walkeri
Cryptocoryne wendtii - green
Cryptocoryne lucens
Cryptocoryne spiralis

Anacharis
Bacopa
Hygro - giant
Ludwigia repens narrow
Rotala indica

What do you guy think?

Thanks.

[khoile]

And, I this is a similar package from http://www.freshwateraquariumplants.com:

http://www.freshwateraquariumplants....llayout1a.html

R11 Rotala rotundifolia "Red" 3

C46 Ceratopteris thalictroides 3

A19 Anubias spec. barteri 3

C321 Cryptocorne Lucens 5

E177 Echinodorus Ozelot (1red, 1green) 2

C406 Crypt Wendtii Green 5

V30 Vallisneria spiralis 20

S30 Dwarf Sagittaria 10

S35 Sagittaria subulata 2-4

C230 Cryptocoryne balansae 1

I'll be doing some research on which of this package is better suit me, but nothing really beat years of experience provided by forum members. I guess my question is which package is better for newbie like me, which contains more hardy plants?

Thanks.

[ThomE]

Well, it's your tank and the best thing is you get to choose the plants that go inside it.

The plants from both list are great and make anybody happy . I would pick the plants that I think would look cool in my tank. As a base, start off with good amount of stems and a little cypts & anubias. To beat the algae rush. Just because the cypts and anubias are hardy they will be overwhelm by algae.

[Not Mister Green]

check this selection out from Robert at Aqua Botanic.

Its the "Hard to Kill 11" for tanks 55 gallon or larger:

2 xtra large Anubias

3 Anubias nana

2 Anubias coffefolia

2 Anubias gigantea

3 Java fern

2 Java lace fern

3 African Bolbitis fern

3 portions Java moss

12 assorted small Cryptocorynes

3 Cryptocoryne wendtii potted

20 Dwarf Sag (2 bunches)


http://www.aquabotanic.com/abstore/index.html