Freshwater Puffer Planted Tank Help

[RedEye1995]

I need help figuring out how to run a planted tank. Id like to have the followoing in my tank : TAXIPHYLLUM BARBIERI, MONOSOLENIUM TENERUM, ELEOCHARIS ACICULARIS, BOLBITIS HEUDELOTII. I need to know how you guys mix your substrate and if you use fertilizers to jump them off. I do not want to have to use CO2 so lets leave that out please id also like to know how deep to make my substrate =D thanx in advance for all the answers.

[RTR]

The first two plants you list are quite easy and largely un demanding. The first, commonly known as Java Moss can become a pest and clog filter intake and infest other plants by becoming entangled in them. But other than requiring periodic removal of excess plant mass and the chore of capturing the loose fragmernts, it is indestructible. Many planted tank folk discriminate against it due to its habit of entangling other plants, but it is one of the best plants for nurseries and grow-out tanks for small fry. It is one of the best for such use.

The second plant you list is a bit trickier. Formerly known as Pellia (in error), it too is easy, but is very easily disturbed and dislodged. Curerents must be quite low and the fish rather on the sedate side. It can form attractive tufts or a somewhat uneven carpet which is attractive with the right fish and current. In a tank with much current or bottom-feeding fish it is extremely difficult to handle. Cory catfish and most other such bottom dwellers will tear this plant apart and dislodge it totally - it has no true roots.

The so-called dwarf hair grass is easy in the right conditions, but is more demanding than the previous two plants. It needs decent light, more than the other two, and for me requires CO2 for good growth. Personally I would not attempt it in a no-tech or non-CO2 supplemented tank. The other two plants listed before this one will become entangled in this plant, potentially a mess. But with rather low tech it can be a great carpet .

The forth plant plant, commonly known as African fern, is easy but slow and IME will not do well without good to strong current. That makes it a poor tank mate for the Java moss or former Pellia, because both those plants will become entangled in the Fern. African fern is rather slow-growing but can get quite large and even grow emersed if the humidity is quite high. It can be pruned.for control.

In sum, you have two easy and two slightly demanding plants listed, but I would not try to use them together - the conditions they need or require are too different.

You need to define what the tank is to house and then what current etc. will be appropriate before you try to select the plants.

HTH

[RedEye1995]

The Current from the filter itself is none except right under the filter, i only want the Java Moss to cover a piece of driftwood and nothing else, i want the dwarf hairgrass for carpet but it it requires CO2 then i may as wells forget it. I can add a powerhead if needed because i have one on spare but the current wont carry all the way across the tank because its relatively small. So id like to so a carpet of Hairgrass with a java moss covered piece of driftwood ( a large piece, my main and prob only decoration which i havent gotta yet but i am gonna get some "Reptile Driftwood" from my LFS that has been out drying and soak it before adding) so id like a plant that can grow into a semi underwater forest that can reach the top of my tank water level and come out just a tiny bit. Also, can you give me a sebstrate combo please and how to do it and if i need fert's or Nitrate minus (something the youtube video suggested)

[Flutter]

For low tech, substrate doesn't matter. Our high tech tank just has sand. You can use sand or a finer gravel. If you have extra money and like the look then you can do a plant substrate such as Fluorite or Ecocomplete. We have a 5gal with fluorite and I like it. When we redo the puffer tank it will be in Fluorite instead of the white sand that we have now. That's in the future though when we feel rich.

Java fern should do fine on your wood, just need to tie it down until it attaches to the wood. The moss will be fine too. Take a look at crypts. They're pretty natural for the puffers and they do well in low tech setups. I would stick with those 3. If you want you can add some val too.

We have a hard time keeping nitrates in our puffer tanks. One is planted so that causes problems. We have to add fertilizers to that tank. Buy them as salts from a hydroponics store and $20 will last forever. You may not need them but I think you will if you feed appropriately. Mine are in a higher density and we need to fertilize. This is one of the reasons I suggest 2 females and 1 male (I know that our females are not aggressive to each other at all, they're very laid back and all are adults).

[RedEye1995]

In the youtube video, they suggest Nitrate Minus to get rid of Nitrate, i think il use it, also whats a good starting fertilizer?

[Flutter]

Don't. Please do not use any products like that. They're a waste of money and could harm the puffers. Add nothing but dechlorinator. Water changes will take care of any pollution. Nothing else. Just water changes.

You'll have to have your tank running for a bit before you'll know if you need fertilizers. Depending on the plant you can add root tabs if you're worried.

[Pufferpunk]

http://www.yamatogreen.com

[RedEye1995]

I belive im gonna do some Dwarf Hairgrass as carpet and some of the African Fern. I think il go all natural with the Driftwood so i dont gotta worry about the Java Moss.

[RTR]

Just a reminder - if you want to try dwarf hair grass without CO2 supplement, don't buy enough for the whole tank. Test a patch first with only 2-3 pots of it. If it thrives for you add more, but it commonly requires CO2. So it would be prudent to test it before spending enough for the whole tank.

For substrate I use either Flourite or a smallish natural gravel.

African fern does need current. I am not certain it is dense enough for DPs. But it does quite well attached to wood if its roots can reach the substrate.

I very strongly agree with Flutter's comment on the use of nitrate remover - that is a boodoggle and potentially deadly to your tank. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by use of such garbage products. You correct water conditions by doing water changes. It makes no sense whatsoever to add something to the water in order to remove something from the water.

[RedEye1995]

Alright thanx alot for all the help guys. You guys are better than any other forum i have joined before and i finally got alot of my plant questions answered. Is it safe to use plant fertilizer while the Puffers are in the water?

[RTR]

I have never had any problems with plant supplements affecting the fish at all.