Low tech plants

[MELLO]

I just set up my low tech planted tank. I used eco complete for substrate and I have a 3 bulb t5 ho fixture for my lighting. Currently running 2 10,000k bulbs would add another 6700k to replace the actinic that came with the fixture. Tank is 57 gallon standard 3 footer. Planning to keep tetras, barbs, rams basically just small community fish.
My goal is to have a low tech easy maintenance planted tank. Any plants that you guys recommend that are easy to maintain? Also is there any red plants that are low tech? What temp do you guys keep your tank? How long should I leave the lights on? Ferts that i need? Only have a 2 liter of flourish excel to start.
Thank you in advance!
Mello

[Chappy]

So you've got it set up already, eh? Wow - you don't waste time when you put your mind to something I'm sure this will end up being a show tank in no time. Hopefully you'll get some advice from some of the plant gurus on here, like Stuart, and Ed and everyone else. I'm completely useless with planted tanks so I can't help you at all. Good luck with it and I'm looking forward to seeing pics

[monkE]

Mello, good to see another planted tank getting up and running!

Sounds like you've got a pretty good start. Right off the bat, how high do you keep that light fixture off the top of the tank? With the 3 T5 bulbs you might end up with some algae issues pretty quickly. I keep my light about 6" off the surface and I actually want to raise it further.
Also I keep it on for 4 hours then off for 4 hours and back on for 5 hours. The siesta during the day keeps the power bill down a bit and allows me a longer period to stare at the tank blankly when i get home from work.
My tank is right around 80 degrees.
The eco complete and excel will do you great. I would also suggest getting a jug of Flourish Comprehensive to cover the ferts for your plants.

A few plants to start with would be Wisteria, Java ferns, crypts. and see how those grow for you. Stay away from Vals or aponageton species because they dont react well with excel.

I've got plenty of java fern and some wisteria that you could take if you'd like to help you get started.

[Chappy]

Oh, and Mike can help you too Thanks, Mike

[2wheelsx2]

I would not run the third bulb. 2x39w is plenty of light with a T5HO setup with proper reflectors. I am growing Ludwigia repens which have reddish hues, in my cube, but there are not too many plants which are red for low tech. Another one is the Tiger lotus. Both are growing well in my tanks. I don't do java fern anymore because it's just too much of a weed. I would do Anubias. Slow growing and great in low light. Crypts would do well, but it depends a bit on your temp. In my cube which was at 29.5 C it wasn't growing much at all. I've seen lowered the temp to 28.5 and will likely go to 28 to get the plants to grow better. I had the temps so high to get all the wilds eating, but now that they are, I don't want them to eat so much.

[MELLO]

So you've got it set up already, eh? Wow - you don't waste time when you put your mind to something I'm sure this will end up being a show tank in no time. Hopefully you'll get some advice from some of the plant gurus on here, like Stuart, and Ed and everyone else. I'm completely useless with planted tanks so I can't help you at all. Good luck with it and I'm looking forward to seeing pics

Yes it is setup and running now...still learning from the pros how to do this planted setup right. Why waste time we only live once

[TomC]

2 liters of excel will last a while. I always lower the dose once my plants have reached the size I want.

[MELLO]

Mello, good to see another planted tank getting up and running!

Sounds like you've got a pretty good start. Right off the bat, how high do you keep that light fixture off the top of the tank? With the 3 T5 bulbs you might end up with some algae issues pretty quickly. I keep my light about 6" off the surface and I actually want to raise it further.
Also I keep it on for 4 hours then off for 4 hours and back on for 5 hours. The siesta during the day keeps the power bill down a bit and allows me a longer period to stare at the tank blankly when i get home from work.
My tank is right around 80 degrees.
The eco complete and excel will do you great. I would also suggest getting a jug of Flourish Comprehensive to cover the ferts for your plants.

A few plants to start with would be Wisteria, Java ferns, crypts. and see how those grow for you. Stay away from Vals or aponageton species because they dont react well with excel.

I've got plenty of java fern and some wisteria that you could take if you'd like to help you get started.

Thanks for the good advice. The fixture I have is the same Canadian Aquatics are selling. The light is 2" above water. A fellow member told me about that too I might have algae issues with the lighting. I like the way you set your lights 4 on 4 off and 5hours back. I might do that too. For sure I'll take some plants off you and thank you!

[MELLO]

I would not run the third bulb. 2x39w is plenty of light with a T5HO setup with proper reflectors. I am growing Ludwigia repens which have reddish hues, in my cube, but there are not too many plants which are red for low tech. Another one is the Tiger lotus. Both are growing well in my tanks. I don't do java fern anymore because it's just too much of a weed. I would do Anubias. Slow growing and great in low light. Crypts would do well, but it depends a bit on your temp. In my cube which was at 29.5 C it wasn't growing much at all. I've seen lowered the temp to 28.5 and will likely go to 28 to get the plants to grow better. I had the temps so high to get all the wilds eating, but now that they are, I don't want them to eat so much.

Thanks! I definetely will put anubias as I had them in my discus tank before and they were easy. I dont know if I'm gonna be putting any discus in this tank wanna keep smaller community fish rightnow. But you never know I really your cube setup.

[MELLO]

Here's what it looks like rightnow. Just bought a bunch of plants from Crs and at KE today. The only plant I know the name here is anubias.