5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Growing Rooted Aquarium Plants

Find out the 5 things I’ve learned so far about growing stem plants, carpets, swords, bulbs, & more.
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MATERIALS I USED
▶ Plant weights: amzn.to/2Cno2PA
▶ Eco-Complete planted aquarium substrate: amzn.to/2THqgUr
▶ Flourite black sand for planted tanks: amzn.to/2F5KcGw
▶ Live aquarium plants: www.aquariumcoop.com/collecti...
▶ Easy Green fertilizer: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Flourish Advance: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
(As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from the links above.)
RESOURCES
▶ 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting a Planted Aquarium: • 5 Things I Wish I Knew...
▶ Guide to Planted Aquarium Substrate: www.advancedplantedtank.com/s...
🦐 CONNECT WITH ME to get extra updates
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ATTRIBUTION
Music by / ikson
Aquatic Plant Centre clip by Dick Antonio • AQUATIC PLANT CENTRE C...
Cryptocoryne converting from emersed to submersed growth spec-tanks.com/transitioning-a...
River rock by BorealisSeaGlass from etsy.com
River rock substrate by arbitrarysquid from / new_river_rock_substrate
Aquarium Co-Op cryptocorynes • Aquarium Fish Unboxing...
Thoughts from Rae’s Aquaria on Caribsea sand for plants: • Video
Fertilizers used by Aquarium Co-Op to convert plants: • Why do people LOVE Gol...
#aquarium #plantedtank #aquascape

[@GirlTalksFish]

*What are the best planted tank tips that wish you'd known as a beginner?* I've learned so much from you and will be collecting the top comments for Part 3 of this series. If you missed Part 1, watch it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/invIdImGapKAfZI

[@kathydubya18]

I did exactly what you said not to do in your first point. I bought immersed plants from Petco and felt like a failure when they melted back. That was a few years ago before I discovered the fish tank community on KZbin. I enjoy your videos and love how you credit your fellow FishTubers by name! 👍

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! And yes, I'm still very much in the learning phase too. Definitely gotta give props to other people who have taught me so much!

[@coolasrc]

I think a tip would be to give your plants as much light as they need but don’t over do it as it will cause an algae bloom. Also maybe something about snails how some eat plants and some help clean algae off plants. Nice video btw👍👍

[@GirlTalksFish]

@@coolasrc Yes! I'm still learning to dial in lighting myself. Probably should dedicate a whole video to that.

[@ryansucks-sucks395]

As always great video! I recommend you try rotala it is so cool to see its rapid growth. :]

[@attitudealive8690]

i take a pinch of dirt from an unmarked grave and spinkle it into my substrate on a moonless night. some people say also use gypsy tears , but they are hard to get.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Lol! Sounds like a plan. :D

[@Supernaturalman92]

Dont forget dirt from a crossroad and rattle snake skin. Goofer dust works wonders for a planted tank

[@attitudealive8690]

i used to channel the dreams of the unborn using a giant antenna i stole from an indian graveyard (pajeets not geronimo), but this is ussually not going to make a difference if you follow all the other steps.

[@genmockify]

There are gypsy center's in each state where you can offer a bribe for tears. Just look for the adults that always dress like they are going clubbing.

[@renegadebikersol2936]

Don't forget the ground up beak of a one legged chicken. Otherwise you risk Stockholm syndrome.

[@MasterBlek]

"Don't move it"... I tell that to my rabbit snails but it's like they don't understand me. XD

[@GirlTalksFish]

😂

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Using the glue trick (like you do for annubius) on stem plants works also. Glue some of the roots/stem, to a small rock, bury the whole thing, it will hold it down until the roots get established, do not over do it with the gel superglue, less is more. Very effective for stem plants, baby crypts etc... I use small lava rock, since the roots can bound to the porous structure. Hope this helps!

[@GirlTalksFish]

Whaattt? Mind blown! That's an awesome trick; never heard that before. Will definitely have to try it.

[@robinsonjared1297]

Which glue do you use?

[@sschario60]

Just used this idea to re-re-replant a Vallisneria root cluster in my substrate of pool filter sand/aragonite. Will also give Flourish Advance a try with my weekly Easy Green dose. Thank you both!

[@yoshigeddon4892]

One thing i wish i knew when getting into planted aquariums is how to tell what nutrients your plants may be lacking

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh my goodness, you're right! That's a very important topic. Okay, I'm definitely writing that one down as a future video idea.

[@yoshigeddon4892]

@@GirlTalksFish substrate is another one, my current substrate is play sand and it is suffocating the roots

[@GirlTalksFish]

@@yoshigeddon4892 Oh no, very good to know!

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

@@yoshigeddon4892 I'm using Quickcrete brand general purpose construction sand, comes in a 60 pound bag from Menards, just gotta rinse it real good, it has some clay in it. Has a good mixture of grain sizes and is a nice natural color.

[@victoriawhyte5379]

@@GirlTalksFish yes yes yes

[@jacklandismusic]

A good stem plant tip: If your stem plants don’t have roots, don’t plant them right away. If you stick an elodea stem into the gravel, it could very easily just rot and break. Instead, let your stem plants just hang out and float for a while. They’ll grow roots eventually, and *then* you can plant them. Or you can leave them where they are, and the roots will eventually find the gravel on their own, and your plants will be anchored where they are near the top of the tank.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Ooo, this is a great tip! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@Mittzie]

This + toss a pothos cutting off the side of the tank, pothos produce a lot of the natural rooting hormones and they put it off into the water

[@Saternoc]

This is the definitive guide to planted aquariums! Concise and informative! I've watched countless videos on KZbin on this topic that didn't offer this much information in less than 10 mins! I'm done with moving my plants for good for now on.

[@bifuriousaf]

I have found that there is such a thing as too much light for some low-light plants. My anubias (from nana petite to nangi, etc) can struggle in my higher light aquariums where they're outcompeted by faster-growing, high light plants. Meanwhile, they thrive and grow much faster in my low light, blackwater tank along with java ferns!

[@gwrachfel]

I'm just starting out, using real plants for the first time. I really appreciate your detailed tips on how to do this. I've a green thumb with my garden and I'm excited to try my hand at submerged plants next, to show my kids how a micro habitat works. Thanks!!

[@auden5236]

Thanks for the Flourish advance tip! I recently started my first aquascape and started dosing this, and saw a MASSIVE boom in growth! That stuff really is magical!

[@zekereid8791]

this is actually really helpful. i’m just now working on growing grasses and ferns in my tank, and also going to be growing some stem plants, because i’m working on creating much more hiding space in my tank, as i’m going to be adding in some kuhli loaches in a few weeks, but i have a crayfish. i know that’s generally a bad combination, but i feel confident that with the right size loaches, the right amount, and enough hides, that it will be just fine

[@doctorwigglespank8933]

This is an incredibly helpful video series. I'm just getting into the hobby, so once I actually get to the planting stage, I'll know what to expect if they seem to be dying off. I'm definitely looking forward to part three.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Yay, I'm so glad you're enjoying the series! There's just so much to learn and absorb. 🤯

[@johnaitken7430]

Rather impressed: articulate, succinct ..good info without intimidating nor patronizing. Well done..thank you

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! That means so much to me. :)

[@Thiriously]

Thank you! Honestly just the clarification between rhizome plants and rooted plants was amazing! I had some luck with my rooted plants because I used a tiny bit of glue to attach them to this neat shrimp hide I have and then buried the whole cube my substrate. I ended up losing one of them but my ludwigia nearly thrived and I'm honestly obsessed with this plant now. I actually want to fill this tall vase I have with some of it to have it as just a decor plant on it's own. It's just so beautiful and I'm definitely better with aquatic plants than I am with terrestrial ones XD

[@madfishdiva]

Great information and great video. It took me hundreds of dollars and many plants to figure out the secret sauce to my aquatic plant success. One of the things I did which may be a challenge for some, is a let the plants settle and acclimate to my water before planting. I placed them in my "plant vault" as I called it. The secret to this activity was it was only a 5.5 g shallow tank. I used my special fertilizer combo which included Florish and I let the plants float for a while near the light ( inexpensive LED) and develop a better root system. It also helps to trim the roots slightly when you first get the plant as well. That has worked well for me, but I know some people may not have the patience for this method.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Ooo, interesting! I've definitely heard about floating plants near the lights to help them get used to their new surroundings. Thanks for the tip; will definitely write that one down!

[@Sotdot3]

Use rocks to help with: Keeping plants with roots in place. You can bury the roots and rock under substrates. Aquscape design. After 2 inches of substrate is put in the tank you can pile medium/large rocks to form a hill. Creating a nice downward slope. Next, add 2 inches of planted substrate and plants.

[@ChristiIsabel]

I really appreciate this informative video. I’m maintaining a 10 gallon with easy plants because I’m still learning. I really love it. Thank you for the tips. I was about to redo my tank but after watching this, I will not disturb the plants.

[@GirlTalksFish]

My pleasure! Best of luck with your new planted tank. :)

[@alexkavo8930]

Thanks! Love your videos. One cool tip I’ve been trying out is to get rocks with holes all the way through them big enough for my bulbs and they seem to thrive without a soil substrate since they doing get dug up by curious fish.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Great tips! I'm glad to see your channel growing so well

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! Your channel's blowing up too... those amazing DIY projects are out of this world! 🚀⭐🌜

[@dannettepeters1507]

Great tips! Advance is the BOMB!! Likewise, I started out my first planted tank with CaribSea EcoComplete and have been to happy with it to try anything else. I think with root tabs and liquid fertilizers, almost any medium grained substrate will suffice. Tank is looking good and Betta looks happy!

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! Yes, I'm really liking my Eco-Complete substrate too. I want to try a more expensive substrate in the future and see if I like it or not. Maybe do a comparison video. :)

[@Lumpydog]

Another great video that I enjoyed watching. Really good information. Love the voiceover. I could listen to you talk all day. Thanks for sharing. Cheers

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much, Lumpydog! Haha, I've gotten lazy about appearing in front of camera...

[@shookla]

So immensely relatable. Great advice and very encouraging for scapers in their early stages.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! I'm still very much learning myself, so hopefully people can learn from my mistakes. 😂

[@alimkassim]

Great info, thanks for sharing. We recently ran into those same situations and started overcoming it with those tips. One additional thing to consider would be your phosphate levels. We found ours to be a bit high which I believe can lead to more algae and also affect plant growth. Adding some phosguard to the mix has helped with the water along with the seachem dosing.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Ooo, interesting! I've heard about high phosphate levels causing algae. I may have to look into getting a test kit and experimenting with Phosguard in the future. Thank you so much for the tip!

[@HaYNFishKeeper]

Another awesome video great content on live plants nice job much love and aloha 🤙🏽🐠🌺🐠🤙🏽

[@GirlTalksFish]

Hawaiian Peacock Thanks so much! Glad you liked it. :)

[@OmniversalInsect]

I started with rooted plants and they grew very well

[@djpseudoname2023]

Excellent video. I'm new to the aquarium hobby; came across your video and feel it is informative and helpful in my efforts to maintaining my aquarium plants. Thanks for posting.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Donald Johnson My pleasure! Glad you found it helpful. :)

[@sonyaandfriends1388]

Great video lots of good information!!

[@ThomasOwl]

I enjoy your honest and direct approach. Learning from our mistakes is key.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! That's definitely my goal - to save other people from the pain/annoyances I've had to go through. :P

[@darrensalim4288]

Plant more heavily/dense at the start of planting your aquarium, inorder to give your tank a more mature look and prevent problems regarding algea as there are more than enough plants to take in any access nutrients in the aquarium

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh man, I have definitely learned my lesson with that one. The problem in the past was that I was always low on funds and could only slowly accumulate plants! Hopefully I can remedy that with my latest tank. :)

[@Dtjsummers]

This is so helpful, thank you 🙏

[@MP112791]

Advanced definitely helped me out keeping some expert level plants in my tank. My only gripes are the smell and the tendency to form slime in your filter causing slow flow.

[@CatFish107]

I believe one of the listed ingredients on the flourish advance is a rooting hormone, the same as you would find in rooting powder you'd use on terrestrial plant cuttings for propagation. Makes sense it would stimulate root growth.

[@MmmDnBbitch]

Thank you! Another fantastic video 👌 Hope you had a happy Easter! 🐣🐇

[@GirlTalksFish]

Awesome sauce! And happy Easter to you too. :)

[@AquariumCop]

Excellent info! Will help so many for years ! 😀

[@GirlTalksFish]

AquariumCop Yay, thanks for stopping by! So glad you enjoyed it. :D

[@87gallardo87]

i use miracle grow .5 “ then about another 2 inch of regular substrate for good plant growth take a while to stabilize due to Nitrogen spikes but great results as it ages

[@brojonathanjones5195]

Very helpful video,thank you !

[@NicholeLynne28]

Great video! I'm at that point where I'm trying some rooted plants, and yep, the darn things keep floating! I'll have to try your tips!

[@GirlTalksFish]

Yes, it's so frustrating! I've had a lot of luck with using plant weights and Flourish Advance. :)

[@richardboudreau5461]

AWESOME!!! Thanks for your videos, looking forward to more.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Richard Boudreau Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@seanneal3747]

Yeah. Dont buy a $15 plant and put it in with 4 cichlids. Lol. Leason learned.

[@kennethmarrow3131]

Sean Neal why?

[@continuousself-improvement1879]

@@kennethmarrow3131 cichlids eat the plants.

[@engelsramirez4886]

Kenneth Marrow also, they won’t do well bc of them pooping

[@Anonymous-ee8ef]

TO KYO that helps the plants

[@engelsramirez4886]

Devon Krowchuk the food that they get creates too much ammonia

[@paujjay]

I love Seachem plant stuff, i use almost all of them at different points of my plant maintenance.

[@rob93aquatics]

I love videos just like this helps a lot and will have your plants looking amazing 👍💪

[@arodsellhomes5637]

I love your videos & tips that come along... Also I love Aquarium Co-op btw. I love there aquarium fertilizer & there plants by the way. They are super helpful when you have questions just buy something as a thank you. I always buy most of my plants and products from them since I ask somewhat them a few questions... but love your channel and context! Please keep the videos coming...

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! I've definitely learned a lot from Cory's channel as well. It's amazing what kind of interesting tidbits you can pick up from the live streams. :)

[@vitamin2038]

Thank you that helped me a lot I just started my first one today.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Best of luck to ya!

[@sashawinnie1884]

For beginners, the easiest way is to choose hardy plants like Java ferns, anubias, wisteria, hornwort and rotala, they multiply so fast even without co2 and fertilizers.

[@richardportelli1983]

Great video, there are a couple of plants I have tried to grow and they have eventually just died for some unknown reason? An example is Hygro Pinnatifida. But just about every other plant I grow thrives so I think it is important to just keep going and try as many different plants and see what works for you.

[@GirlTalksFish]

That is a definitely great tip I've heard recently: try many different plants to see what likes your water and tank setup!

[@michaelfickes1634]

Been in the hobby a long time. Upgrading my 75 to a 125 finally going to go with live plants. Have everything ready just been trying to do plenty of research. Just scared of losing my fish. Have had some 12 years now. Thanks for the information. Subbed 😀🐠

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh good luck! You're going to love it; it's totally made me appreciate nature so much more since I started making little "ecosystems" for my fish. :)

[@mello9258]

“Jerk of a fish that likes to dig” **looks at goldfish**

[@adoreyou7449]

Mine at EVERYTHING. I put them in a pond and put lily pads on top, they ate those too 😭😭

[@gregedgerton3390]

Something that always worked real well for me were tablets; the specific kind I'm not exactly sure. But when placing a tablet under a rooted plant that wasn't doing as well as I hoped, the results were always amazing. Always much better than any liquid additive; save perhaps CO2. The two together would probably produce a rain-forest overnight.

[@twunderaquatics1770]

Awesome video! Believe me I have definitely made my share of mistakes with plants. Over the years I have had issues with my lighting. That seems to be one of the major issues with planted tanks. Since Leds have came in to the picture it has made this part of the hobby a lot easier. My biggest suggestion is be patient and buy slow growing plants. Thanks.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh man, I'm still figuring out lighting vs. nutrients vs. algae. Thanks for the great tips... I should make a whole video dedicated to lighting!

[@bhuvanana417]

I just loved the whole well put together presentation. A Big thumbs up from India.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! That means so much to me!

[@BentleyPascoe]

I have two tips. The big one: If you have a dimmable light like the Fluval 3.0, start your light at a lower amount when first planting, like 35-50% (depending on tank height), this gives the plants more time to settle, establish roots and begin new growth while limiting algae's chance to flourish. The second one: If you want to use sand substrate, use a thin layer of small lava rock, typically found in hydroponics shops and some garden centers, at the very bottom of the tank, then cover with sand. This will cause less compact area that will give the roots room to spread out. This tip is especially useful with plants like Crypts.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh. My. Goodness. You are genius! I so wish I heard that tip about the small lava rock layer under stand before I set up my planted sand tank! Thank you so much for sharing... I'll have to find a way to share that awesome tip with my viewers!

[@GirlTalksFish]

The first tip about limiting the lighting is awesome too. I'd heard about limiting ferts but that makes total sense to do both!

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@GirlTalksFish yep, I typically do a ramp up system when doing new tanks - anything 18-24" in height I start at 50% for 2 weeks, then check growth vs algae - if it looks good, up to 65-75%, then do that until I hit the full amount of light I want. In shorter systems I start 25-35% and do similar slow increases to my target lighting. Cheers!

[@gennivivecelesteeklund7762]

I live in Washington where the water is like acid so I use a mix of gravel and aragonite to keep my tanks stable. I have Spears and Anubis and they seem to do great.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Great tip! Thanks so much for sharing with others who have super low pH as well. :)

[@waxwing35]

Great video!

[@AQUAPLANET128]

Girl I love you and your videos 😍❤️💕

[@AquaApprentice]

As always awesome presentation.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Aqua Apprentice Thank you so much! :)))

[@MA-zg2pz]

Omg the plant weights would have been so good to know before 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@maxwats7234]

I use the same substrate it even comes with it's own beneficial bacteria and plants! And tiny plants sprout every were eco escape is personally is the best.

[@ccbusa05]

First time I have watched one of your videos. You definitely know your stuff, two thumps up and thank you.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh my goodness, you are too kind! Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@slaptheturtle7041]

That is why i put sand and gravel below the below the gravel i put dirt

[@kadenkemp4701]

I like your videos, you helped me to improve my fish tank

[@GirlTalksFish]

MrMadden 18 My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@zombiedeIcat]

Lol im Living for the thumbnail. So sassy ! 😎😂 im gonna try to plant plants in my betta tank :)

[@AQUASQUAD]

I always enjoy your videos plus your voice is too good 😅❤️

[@GirlTalksFish]

Awww, thank you so much! That means so much to me! :)))

[@whyme6182]

I use soil topped with playground sand for my tank. it works wonderfully for my plants and fish

[@GirlTalksFish]

I've heard a lot of people recommend soil! I should give it a try someday. :)

[@robert673]

I have a 16.3 gallon tank and ever since I added 2" dirt, 2"sand and .5" gravel, my tank is thriving. Finally!

[@josemontalvo4532]

Good advice. Aquarium Coop is not the only place to get great advice on plants. There are a few good books that can teach you volumes!

[@GirlTalksFish]

Very true! Do you have any books to recommend? Would love to check them out!

[@josemontalvo4532]

A Gamer's Wife -Amazon and E Bay has the 3 books mentioned 1. “Sunken Gardens” by- Karen A. Randall is a excellent start. Her recommendations are fantastic too. Her book cover the whole planted aquarium gambit, plus plants! 2. “Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants” by- Peter Hiscock is a little bit more comprehensive on aquarium plants and how to grow them. You have enough to wet your hands on a plants! 3. Diane Walstad’s book is deep,” A treatise on the Planted Aquarium.” On fishes get anything by Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod or Dr. Leonard P. Schultz. Both are gone, but there work on fish is second to none.

[@megangibbs9737]

I think it would be cool to talk about brackish plants, salt tolerance, and planting to recreate estuary conditions.

[@desolatedreams21]

Megan Gibbs not too many plants live in brakish. I have had success with moss, but that’s it. Also, mangroves are fine

[@joydillard2038]

I'm loving all this info! I'm trying to decide tank mates for 3 dwarf african frogs in a 29 gallon tank and which fish to get first.

[@suee031]

I find that flourish advance works really well. I do have problems with getting plants staying in the eco complete after planting though. They look like they are down but the next morning there is always one or two of them that are floating up at the surface. Do the plant weights cause a problem with lead in the water and how long should you leave them on for and how do you get them off without uprooting the plant?

[@ashokrayvenn]

Great video and speaking voice. Just subscribed.

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

I've had fish for over 50 years and was a snob, no plants, now I'm setting up a 55 fully aquascaped ProMix organic potting mix straight from the bag, pick out obvious wood chunks Quickcrete general purpose construction sand, well rinsed Plantys are rooting well and growing 3 weeks in.

[@kvr8286]

I feel like a goober. I know about emmersed versus submersed growth when you buy plants but I JUST realized why my amazon compacta isn't as large as when I bought it: it's current growth is its submersed form! :facepalm: Sometime you need to be reminded of stuff... Great vid! My current stock of stem plants are actually doing really well and are growing lots of healthy looking roots right now. I'm having some trouble keeping one of them rooted but if I only lose one stem from the 15 I bought I'm calling that a win :-D

[@GirlTalksFish]

Yay, glad you liked the video! And you're right, 1 out of 15 ain't bad at all!

[@gernblanston5018]

I use pea gravel as a sub-strait, its tight but has plenty of room for roots to grow. less compact as sand and more condense then river rocks. Nice plug fro EASYGREEN. im on well water so my water has tons of nutrients. its hard/heavy. but i run two bags of crush coral in my sump. lightens the weight

[@anthonyragan2696]

Good video, good advice. Subscribed. :)

[@shookla]

Would love for you to do a video with your experience fighting algae. It’s probably been done to death but I think you’d do it in your own way which is valuable.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Yes! It's on the top of my list but I'm still fighting it (lol). The betta tank definitely looks a lot better than before though, so I think I'm winning! 😁

[@MissMeganBeckett]

My plant came with broken leaves in the mail, but it had good roots so I took the broken leaves off and put it in the fluorite gravel with a root tab and am hoping for the best. I think it’s going to be starting growing new leaves soon hopefully because the top of the root crown has little green bits growing out of it like buds or something.

[@xXGizmoXisXcoolXx]

Felt like I had a peer-reviewed scientific essay read off to me. Great video! Well put together.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@markhunter2244]

Great info and tips 🤓

[@GirlTalksFish]

Mark Hunter Thank you so much!

[@t.c.baquariumfish3423]

Nice video keep up the good work 😎👍👊

[@GirlTalksFish]

T.C.B AquariumFish Thanks so much! Glad you liked it. :)

[@AussieAquatic]

Great to see the Plant LOVE spreading around, :)

[@GirlTalksFish]

Yesss! I actually have a whole tank set up right now with only plants and I'm quite enjoying it even without the fish. :P

[@AussieAquatic]

@@GirlTalksFish Ahhh ……...the Aquascape tank, a whole different perspective :)

[@vimfuego7409]

Awesome vid. X

[@GirlTalksFish]

Vim Fuego Thanks so much! Glad you liked it. :)

[@lukerowley1613]

If you like to move them around, pots can be a life saver. Small clay pots are cheap. If you don't like the look, the smaller ones can be completely buried and hidden from view. This also prevents root tangle. The down side is that each pot will need its own root tab, but this also means each plant gets its own source.

[@blessingofficial9625]

I'm going to start a planted tank as soon as I move..I currently just have a little java ferm and moss. I havent gotten more bc I will be moving im s month. I as m preparing for the planted tank .I have several that I want to do but I am confused about lighting and co2 etc I dont want to blow money by buying things I dont need..what r they must have.. I plan to have a ground covering

[@GirlTalksFish]

Great questions! I personally haven't used CO2 with my tanks because low tech tanks are so much easier to maintain and learn from as a beginner. If you're just starting out, Finnex Stingray lights are a great budget-friendly, low tech planted LED light that has worked out for me (amzn.to/32EJ47K ). Best of luck to ya!

[@VyvienneEaux]

Wow, these are some really advanced tips that will definitely help me! But I have a couple points of disagreement with Aquarium Co-op despite the fact that Cory's an master horticulturalist and I'm not. For one, I took his tip to use gravel and not sand, and my dwarf hairgrass stopped growing! So I think teeny tiny plants actually do like really fine sand, because I then used sand in my next tank, and my hairgrass is already growing in way better in just a couple weeks than it had been in the other tank is six months. The second thing is that I found a really cheap hack for people who don't want to spend money on root tabs: just add an inch of any potting soil mixed with a handful of crushed coral under your gravel/sand. It's been working amazingly well so far! My first aquarium didn't have soil in the bottom, and I could barely get plants to stay alive, but now I literally can't keep up with the growth, so my tank looks like a salad.

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

My background is mostly in terrestrial plants, and I've only recently gotten into semi-aquatic and aquatic plants. In greenhouses, it's said that the vast majority of your issues will be solves though correct ph; I assume there is at least some cross-over with water-loving plants, and considering most lakes and rivers are soft in gh and low ph (correct me if I'm wrong on that), it seems an important factor to consider. Also, although most terrestrial plants prefer airy soils because they absorb oxygen through their roots; bog, marginal, and aquatic substrate plants are adapted to humusy (mulmy) anaerobic clay soils. So, I guess the takeaway is, make sure you consider every aspect of the water and soil for the plants just as you would for the animals. If you're planting in a livebearer tank that prefers hard water for example, use plants that are specifically adapted to hard water or are at least noted for doing well in hard water.

[@peymanshamtoub4889]

Awesomee video great info

[@GirlTalksFish]

Peyman Shamtoub My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@michaelmarffy7303]

Another great show 😀 I just planted out my first aquarium... Say a prayer for me.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Lol, praying right now! 🙏

[@wheelsdeal]

So would you recommend the Seachem Flourite Black as a substrate or is it too fine?

[@musicmaster1428]

You have such an energetic voice! Love it :D

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! You totally made my day with that comment. :D

[@raveG244]

Get plants for your water and not water for your plants. That's an issue that I had come across when I tried to grow hairgrass which just kept dying on me. I have good light, good substrate, and CO2. I could grow it emersed, but in the tank it turned into a pale disappointment. When I reviewed the parameters for that grass and contacted the seller, I learned that it doesn't like high dKH. And, here in Wisconsin, my dKH is 13ish. Liquid rock. Depending on how my aquatic addiction develops, I may get an RO system, but right now I have to make do with dwarf sag et al. I wish somebody had told me about that. Great video again!

[@GirlTalksFish]

Very interesting! Yes, I've definitely heard that you should get plants and fish that match your water parameters, but that's a great example of what happens when you don't. Thanks for sharing. :)

[@njnaz13]

Great short video and tips...😉

[@GirlTalksFish]

njnaz13 My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@ladyt1866]

Bringing back the indergravel filter really helps plants root better .

[@GirlTalksFish]

Ooo, interesting! You're the first person who has mentioned that tip.

[@lostinspacerobinson1527]

Under gravel filters are making a come back , I've always used them ...

[@Fourrr4]

I started the aquarium hobby maybe 3 weeks ago now and decided I definitely wanted real plants but knew nothing about them. Had a fishy suspicion that some would be harder to grow and I was right. I decided I’d get plants that don’t need a lot of light and don’t necessarily need CO2. I wanted to go as cheap as possible so I bought playground sand from Home Depot and washed it really good. My only rooted plants are java fern and Anubis and they’re actually growing/living well right now!

[@GirlTalksFish]

That's awesome! Sounds like you've got a wonderful start going there. Best of luck with your new planted tank adventures. :)

[@ammary1975]

Wonderful and informative! Thank you. Can I just know the name of the plant that appears on 0:55 in the lower left corner of the tank? The one with tall tapering dark green leaves, please

[@Evil_Genius_888]

Another great video. I’m pretty much in that stage 2 area. I’m waiting for a delivery that should have been here yesterday of 3 crypt wendtii green gecko and a tiger lotus for the new tank. I’ll get them in and then do a water test to see if fish can go in yet. Then I’ll hook up the CO2. CO2 will be a new experience for me. This new tank will need a bunch more plants too, but I have to budget.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Ooo, CO2 injection! I can't wait to try that someday... but first I have to conquer low tech tanks. :P

[@Evil_Genius_888]

A Gamer's Wife I still have a lot to learn too. Oh and my plants didn’t come today either...😢

[@GirlTalksFish]

@@Evil_Genius_888 Boo! Hope they come soon for ya.

[@Ad_Astra_321]

Thanks! After having a planted tank, I went back to rhizomes only. I like to be able to vac properly & be able to move everything around. Keeps it interesting for the fish... & me ;)

[@GirlTalksFish]

Yes, that's the whole reason I started with rhizomes is because I love moving decor! :)

[@rachaelflores3810]

When I started I only had gravel I wish I had known using organic potting mix under gravel was the best way by far and cheapest to grow most plants. I also wish I knew to do lots of water changes for the first month because it gets tons of algae to start this kind of tank

[@antoniofung9125]

my bacopa grew a lot of side roots from the stem and should I trim them? or it means the main root is dead?

[@mrtruckdriver071]

Very much enjoy your videos .. 👍👍😊🙏

[@Pondandgardensanctuary]

I always enjoy your videos plus your voice is too good Great video! Well put together.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@johnwells9089]

Great information thank you ,What are the high dorsal fin fish at :55?👀