Pet Forum / Aquaria / Plants / March 2006

I just read that CO2 can cause a drop in pH levels so buffers may
necessary. I already add buffers and my KH is still only 3DH. If I were
to buy a CO2 system, would I be putting my fish at risk for a pH crash?
-Christie

I've always enjoyed aquatic plants in my aquariums but haven't really
ever taken it seriously. Aside from some crypts and java moss that have
been growing beautifully my other plants don't really do well. Even my
java ferns have browned over time.

Well, I finally got my planted tank set up and I'm now onto thinking
about some fertiliser for it.  Can anyone recomend some good products
(both macro and micro nutrients) which I could use?  (Available to the
UK would be absolutely fantastic :) )  Also, if anyone has any good

Does anyone know of any aquatic retailers who have a good selection of
plants anywhere near me (I live in England, UK, between London and
Cambridge.)?  I've been to 5 places in the last week and none have
anything I can use for carpeting and most have non-aquatic plants on

I've looked for this info everywhere, and I'm getting mixed messages.
I'm hoping someone has experience with it to tell me the real effects..
I have a fish suspected of saddleback disease (columnaris).  I am in
the process of removing the affected fish (2 gouramis) to the

I'm starting a new 10Gal tank for Earl, my rope fish. I want to use
live plants. So should I just use the potted ones from the my local
garden center, where they are set in regular potting soil, have well
established roots and need washing? or do I go to a pet store and hope

I have seen these replacement bulbs for regular lampshades at the
supermarket, those curly ones.  2 for 10 dollars, daylight it said on the
box.  If I remember correctly there were small ones (17 watts= to a 60 watt
) and large ones (27 watts = to a 100 watt) They just plug into ...

Similar to another post, my anacharis is growing very very fast but
isn't very leafy. I have to cut the stalks back once a week as they
curl over when they hit the surface. The leaves are all very small
though. I like the look of thick dense anacharis, not the long stalky

One of my favorite plants in "red marble val" also known
as "crystal red val" and "tiger val". It really is red and
tiger striped when fed and illuminatd properly.
It's also big. Very big. The last time I had it one

I'm planning my first planted tank (well, fully planted tank - I've
always had some plants in previous tanks) and I'm really struggling to
work out how to supply the lighting I need.  I'm going for a 2ft tank
and the only plant I'm absolutely hooked on growing is Riccia, because

My Amazon Sword (Rose) seems to be going all to stems. There must be at
least eight inches between the substrate and the start of the leaves.
There's not much in the way of new leaves, just the beanstalk syndrome. At
this rate the fish will be climbing out of the basement.

I'm trying to choose a substrate for a 2 ft square planted tank.  I'm
going to be using 55Watts of T5 compact lighting (21 " Daylight lamps)
and a RedSea Turbo CO2 Biosystem, along with an internal filter and
run-of-the-mill adjustable tank heater.  The choices I've look at so

I've currently got 240w of 48" T12 lighting (3 shoplights) over a 55g.  
Considering the poor reflectors on the shoplights, will changing them out to
2x55w Bright Kit from AHSupply.com give me the equivalent lighting power or
should I get 4x55w kit?

Hi all, I need some recomandations on some plants for my clown loaches I
have 1 juvi and 2 I guess teens. I have some plants in there tank and
well out of 8 or so bunches of spiral vails I now have 4 and a clump of
root. what are some good plants to keep with them I don't mind ...

    Friends something has happened in the last months or so with my 55 gal
planted tank.  2 Discus, 10 assorted neon's, 4 oto cats and three Cordy ones
together with  a dwarf flame gourmie.
    The fish seem and look healthy, but even with 30 to 50 % water changes