WHEN Should You Add Plants To A New Fish Tank? + Cycling Your Planted Aquarium: Tips & Tricks.

[@speckledjim_]

If it was me, id add plants right at the very beginning of your new tank. They help cushion ammonium spikes, give nervous and small fish a place to hide, provide a surface area for microorganisms to flourish and help to seed your tank with beneficial creepy crawlies and help establish a cycle. Got to have plants :)

[@logankue9627]

Just started a new tank last week. Had plants put in from day 1. So far a lot of the leaves have begun melting. I've added liquid fertilizer and root tabs even from the beginning, along with aqua soil mixed into a sandy substrate. I'll see if the plants survive. Right now, it's too early to tell. There is no fish in the tank just yet.

[@speckledjim_]

@@logankue9627 "melting" is very common in a lot of plant species, and most of the time the plant makes a full recovery, crypts are especially prone to this

[@DashDrones]

​@@logankue9627go and watch father fish👍

[@mstevens6723]

I had my crypts melt the first time i tried them. The ones in my 20 took right away no problem and are still doing great. But the ones in my 5gal.....It took a few weeks so i was surprised as i thought itd be a little sooner if they were gonna melt, but oh boy did they. I did as youre supposed to and trimmed any dead leaves, but left the root system buried. I wouldve bet any amount of money they were done. It was literally a tiny nub of stem for some. About a week or so later i saw a couple teenie tiny sprouts. Ok. Thats cool but still i thought theres no way right? About a month later beautiful lish green crypt wenditi. 2 yrs later still going strong.

[@mstevens6723]

Also some of the melting may actually be due to the ferts. Too many nutrients can burn the root systems out before they have a chance to really take. Especially since you have soil, root tabs probably arent even needed yet. It could be nutrient overload for them. But hang in, theyll come back bigger badder and more beautiful than ever!

[@dianaheaphy8294]

I love your videos, Alex. It’s like having a library full of the best books on my favorite hobby! Thank you so much for doing what you do so well! 🐟

[@Fishtory]

Glad you enjoy it! My pleasure and honor 🙏

[@Teddzworth]

Another great video! Started fish keeping during covid and learned i enjoy plants just as much, if not more than the fish!

[@Fishtory]

Thank you. And right on! Ecosystems not just fish and plastic plants, baby!

[@nada347_]

It's so amazing that the more i learn, the more i realize i need to learn. At the same time, it does make starting feel a little daunting sometimes and making me wonder if I'm doing it correctly. 😅

[@Fishtory]

So true! I think we all feel that way though... and its why i still get excited every day

[@JTCT371]

First thing I put in mine were plants....then Nerite Snails....added fish this past Saturday....What cannot be denied are the plants growing like weeds since adding that bioload. The plants (my aquarium is pretty heavily planted) Ammonia basically fails to register....that attributed to massive growth since Saturday tells me there are no better filters than plants. So I'd say start with your plants!

[@jerfle7787]

I put aquatic pond soil in nylon bags on the bottom of the tank. Then cap with a sand. I add the plants right away. If there is any melt remove the dying plant material. Once my plants start rebounding I add fish slowly.

[@steve-adams]

My entry into the hobby would have been so much better if I'd known about your channel. This was a big question for me at first, and asking people at stores selling plants yielded more answers than stores I visited. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and insights!

[@Fishtory]

Glad I could help! Welcome 🙏 and please feel free to ask questions or share cool stuff you learn around here 😀

[@johnnybest6386]

Love this content thank you for been you and dont stop being you okay.... i am getting addictive to watching you spread the knowledge... i swear when i watch my tube you out of all and anyothers i must confess nobody tells it better than you and yes its true.....

[@Fishtory]

Awww thanks. I appreciate it

[@CarolynnMc01]

I was so happy to get a notification for this video! I enjoyed it, even though I have established tanks. I'm not sure if you remember, but I asked for advice when my large tank was just graveled. You suggested a sand cap. It has worked out well, and the gravel layer is full of dirt/mulm/broken down crud under the sand. I never see fish waste on the sand at all... i have gobs of trumpet snails busily churning. My plants are doing great. Once in a blue moon I'll add root tabs, but it's a jungle in that tank! I do a lot of trimming. Thank you for your continued help.

[@Fishtory]

Oh wonderful! So glad to hear it! Thanks for the update. Have a wondeful Sunday!

[@stevensands33]

I gotta say, your tanks are your proof. Great vids, you deserve more subs!

[@Fishtory]

I appreciate that! thanks

[@tree.65]

Great video! I like how you explain everything so I can understand it. I started using live plants a couple of years ago and I would never do it any other way now. These are definitely plants I will never forget to water! LOL! I just started a shrimp tank and will be looking for those dreaded planaria and the other one you mentioned.

[@johnnybest6386]

@tree You took the words out my mouth he explains in a way we could understand

[@Fishtory]

Glad you guys like my brain words lol... or word brain? 🤔 ...okay here,... im glad we all think alike! Cheers

[@Fishtory]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Ozzytigris]

Good informative video!!!! At 8.25 there is a demon like face on the rightside ... it's a snail.😉

[@mellowyettii5872]

Love all plants been big into plants for along time now have around 20 plants and just this year started 3 aquariums a 40 gal 5.5gal and 29 gal all with plants glad i went that route so much fun to just sit and watch a little peace of nature in my home

[@Fishtory]

Amen

[@Craig-777]

Once again Alex you have delivered a video full of valuable information, you are one of my favorite Fishtubers ❤

[@Fishtory]

Glad you like them! Thank you

[@davidspangler-dk8ug]

Alex, I have a bag of California White Seabass Otoliths. John Fitch was with the California fish and game. He was a authority on Otoliths. I went to school with his son. I collected the ones I have because of him. They are very hard and are something you can make julery out of. I hope that doesn't turn you off. I never thought I would hear a Aquarius talk about them.

[@Fishtory]

Thats awesome! I bet there's some interesting ones. Different species have all sorts of different shapes too!

[@AngelChavez-zo7tu]

Very descriptive.. awesome video! Detail is on point

[@Fishtory]

Glad you liked it!

[@johnnybest6386]

Perfect timing i just got lugwidia repens,ovalis

[@Fishtory]

Lovely plant.... looks best in low nitrates and with higher light and ideally co2...but even just low nitrates will help that one show off its golden and green veins and nice round little leaves

[@carybritton4178]

Learn so much from your channel man thanks for all your efforts it definitely makes a difference

[@Fishtory]

I appreciate that so much. 🙏 thank you

[@PotooBurd]

Boosting for the algorithm 🙌 Love your work, keep it up! 🌻🐝

[@rudybriskar5267]

I have deep substrate tanks with soil. I plant on day zero.

[@Fishtory]

That works great

[@HippieJohn]

IM BACK BRO....GLAD TO SEE YOURE STILL DOIN YOUR THING 💪✌️

[@Fishtory]

Heyo!! Good to see you sir!

[@HippieJohn]

Yes sir ...I'll be back around again for sure!!!✌️💯

[@hummingbird3771]

Perfect timing, thanks! I'm setting up my 125 right now, lol! I'm only filling it halfway after I plant it, so the plants get less filtered light to establish. PS, I love it when you rock a blue nail polish, and what is the red finned stunner around the 12 minute mark?

[@Fishtory]

So that is a nano pencil fish...new species so far just called the Guyanan Red fin pencil or Guyanan Dwarf Pencilfish.... i should have had polish on last night lol.... dirty nails...ew

[@vampgaia]

Could you do a video on resetting a tank? My questions are related to a standard sized 20 gallon. It’s been running for a least 4 years. My goal is to get another colony of betta Coccina and heavily plant this thing. Do I leave the already striated substrate in? Could I sand cap it and use root tabs to invigorate the substrate? My goal is to get a heavily planted tank with emersed growth. What is the trick to getting emersed growth? Are certain plants better for emersed growth? So many questions I have.

[@mattbatcher802]

Sounds like a good plan, good light is important. How about get some Creeping Jenny? You can get it as a ground cover at the garden shop so it should be cheap, and of course it will emerse I think. Alex just told me about it and I have a lot and put it in my tanks and it is doing great, melting a little, but doing solid.

[@mattbatcher802]

And I would say in my opinion if you can take the potful of soil and root and just grab it up and stuff it down and cover it up with the sand so that not too much dirt is floating around, that would be best would be to keep the soil from the garden center, but if you want to work off or brush off all the dirt and just plant the roots that will work too, but it won’t feed your substrate. The other side is can you deal with your tank being muddy, or more like stirred up. If you put a soil and root ball in the fish should really be okay with the soil in the water. If it doesn’t clear up in a day or so it means you either don’t have enough filtration OR you don’t have enough settling - your tank should always be settling, if it isn’t then it is misbalanced or you don’t have enough filtration, but you will be better served IMO with light energy to feed the settlement of your system. What I am saying is put dirt in your tank and let it grow over it, give it Time.

[@Fishtory]

Great questions... both probably merit a video i should cover both this week, since its complex and there are like 5 ways you could reset ...everyone will tell you "the right way" lol.... but bottom line, if you can move fish and shrimp for a few days, its ideal...if not, dechlorinator, working quickly in a mostly drained tank...replace substrates....or root tabs ...then cap substrate with an inch or two of sand or silt...fill tank using a strainer or something to reduce splashing... let sit a few hours...then do an 80% water change again to remove whatever leached up during all the muddy digging around. Thats my method lately.

[@JaymePaladino]

Can you have orchids in an aquarium or pond? I've been able to keep my "Easter orchid" in bloom for a month and alive for 2 but that's it. I saw sprout things at the base but I don't know how to do this.

[@Fishtory]

Some species are "emersed" growers... meaning they can grow with roots in a tank. But it's different for every species. Research them and look for thr words emersed or emerged in the description... there are also true aquatic orchids .... but I believe they're fairly rare

[@donnywolf9250]

Thanks for the video Alex...

[@angiebear8727]

That angel fish is like “what are you doing?you gonna feed me or what?” 😂

[@Fishtory]

24/7 lol

[@jasonstouder]

This is a perfect time for me to catch this video.

[@Fishtory]

Glad to hear it. Best of luck...tomorrow (fri) around 430 or 5 pm is the livestream pacific time, if you have more questions

[@FireflyXOXO1]

What kind of Angle fish are those? They are beautiful

[@Fishtory]

Koi pearl scale :)

[@BigFadZ]

At the 10min mark. You have a purple leaf floating. Im sorry i dont know the name of the plant 😅 i have it. Its a bulb that spring out little leaves. But they always fall off float and end up dying. I tried to plant them in substrate and still die. How do you care for it and what is its name 😁

[@Fishtory]

Dwarf lily? You may just have a rotten bulb if its floating due to an air pocket. Or do you mean red root floaters? Those shouldnt be planted...and need very still water and strong light... low nitrates bring out the red colors most

[@BigFadZ]

@@Fishtory dwarf Lilly! That's it. It has a bulb which sits on the top of my substrate. Doesn't float. It shoots out little plants that seem to break off and float. Almost have little roots on it when it does. I would like to propagate. I kept them floating to see if roots get longer. Nope they die. Also, tried planting them and no success.

[@lorelei8301]

Just started new tank and there is a thick layer of green algae on the drift wood. What are the tiny little clusters of bubbles coming from that algae/wood?

[@Fishtory]

Air trapped in the wood...algae making oxygen and co2 anddddd probably bacteria, mold or yeast creating gases tll

[@EuroGupper]

Hello Alex. You have a lot of videos up. An idea would be to share the link of the video with the algae in this video

[@Fishtory]

Good idea

[@pleiadians3878]

So i have a question. I have a terrarium that im taking down to make a tank. Could the soil be used? Its full of springtails and isopods.

[@davereadingfc01]

You gotta link for the first algae bloom video? Thanks

[@ricksquiggles2473]

I've just started establishing a 6ft tank with just gravel, building it up to be a reasonably deep substrate. I've had it cycling for about a month now with snails and a hang on back filter from another established tank. I've added a heap of vallisinera plants and a batch of baby bristle noses. I was concerned about not enough nutrients for the plants so I used a syringe and tubing to inject detritus from a filter sponge into the bottom of the substrate. So for it has worked really well and doesn't leach out from the gravel. The trick is to go slow and be careful injecting and removing the tube from the substrate to avoid excess detritus leaching into the water column,.I figure it's like adding liquid fertiliser/root tabs deep in the substrate. I've not heard or seen others do this and wondering if anyone else has tried this method?

[@Fishtory]

Ive actually done this as well...(also just carefully reused some aquasoils too) but yeah, its basically the same as a root rab or adding substrate plus a liquid fertilizer...so if youve got access to the material and can spare it... GREAT IDEA! 👍

[@vikkirountoit497]

Well that is an idea new to me that I think I'll try:) Thanks for sharing.

[@ranjanty]

Can I add a common moss that's growing on a rock in my garden? I'm not sure what kind of moss it is. Actually there's a few different types.

[@Fishtory]

Sometimes. If you live in a place that freezes in winter...its unlikely that it is an aquatic adjusted moss. But there are lots thatll work in tropical regions

[@VASHtheSTAMPEDE_]

Question for you, can tangerine tiger shrimp cross with Sulawesi shrimp? I couldn't find anything on it. I have them in same tank at the moment.

[@Fishtory]

I've never had it happen in 4 years of several groups together... but i have not read of any reason they couldnt cross anatomically...perhaps theres a genetic reason? Or perhaps it occurs but only very rarely. But the point is.... no its not an issue to keep them together, other than malawa often out reproducing the tangerines like 5 to 1 and then stealing food

[@VASHtheSTAMPEDE_]

@@Fishtory okay thanks 👍. Some baby tangerine tigers were on a plant I put in the tank, I didn't notice them till the next day.

[@jessicamcintyre2332]

Night or day? Does it matter when adding liquid fertilizer

[@Fishtory]

Great Question. I can logically think of an answer...but I don't know for sure... let me get back to you haha

[@lizardmomma]

what light would you recommend that wont break the bank lol? maybe a few at different price points anyones thoughts would be helpful!!!

[@Fishtory]

So I think the 3.0 by fluval is top notch for most hobby needs... it's 180- 220 or so for the 24 or 36 inch I believe , the next up would be aquarium coop and or hygger with hygger being more controlled in settings, and a bit less warm looking...more blue sky tone...while aquarium coop has warmer light and both run more in the 120 range...beyond that...get 6500k LED flood lights for outdoors at home depot or lowes... they're strong and have no settings, but will grow plants , they don't cast as wide so you need one for each 12 inches of tank basically....but that'll be high light if you do. They are 20 bucks a piece. Cheers

[@GoodSamaritan1972]

Wouldnt high light cause plants to melt though? Without co2 Please make a tank set up video....your plants look soo lush.

[@josepolanco1228]

Thank for load of great info

[@Fishtory]

My pleasure!

[@FishCapadesProductions]

Why are ALL youre videos gold ❤😅?

[@EuroGupper]

I am stuck in limbo. I do not get the plant growth like yours to get an active population of daphnia and other macro lifeforms

[@JesusHerrera-vx2pn]

Same here

[@Fishtory]

What light do you use? Having a fluval 3.0. Twinstar or kessil is my main recommendation if you can afford it... it ratchets up your possibilities of growth and colors by 2 fold basically. But you do need to introduce the microscopic critters... check out my microfauna diversity balanced ecosystem video for more on that, or any of my other live culture videos...otherwise this process takes years.

[@EuroGupper]

@Fishtory I use 2x Oase Highline 400/600 premium led (red, blue, warm white, cold white). I suspect that the algae growth indicates that the lights work. I cut the hours down a bit recently and dimmed the lights by 20% to get the algae growth under control. My swordplants and their dwarf vairants and grass type that sends out runners like no tomorrow and hydrocotyle verti seem to do just fine. Everything else such dies after a while. I don't get it. Cambomba types, Alternathera types. They all last a few weeks and than lose their leaves and than theh stems follow) I have hardwater, 28°C 82.4°F (i keep Discus fish) I tried to introduce daphnia, bloodworms in the substrate etc but because my plants tend to die they lose the cover needed to survive. Also I already added pond water from the canal behind my house. Dirted substrate capped with sand (about 3 inches total) Maybe i just need to hold out and wait till the plants that do manage to grow fil up the tank more to provide cover for the fauna

[@TheSwiftCreek2]

One of the upsides to adding plants right away is you're providing a semi-consistent source of bio load to establish good bacteria. Without that, or snails, or some dried leaves, soil, or something, you're playing with almost no bacteria and almost no food for bacteria while asking for bacteria to come. Then you're adding 2-3 fish at a time after a month... Get some plants, maybe they'll have some snails. As for fertilizers, backyard dirt, potted soil, crushed corral, some bagged substrates, root tabs, and dry fertilizers are all better options in my opinion than liquid fertilizers. Liquid fertilizers are the most expensive way to fertilize your tank. They're even more expensive if you're doing lots of water changes. Start with plants, and add amendments to your substrate if necessary. Use some dried leaves and snails. The tank will be roaring with life before you ever add the fish.

[@Fishtory]

Agreed. I pretty much always suggest plants right away... and nutrients in some form. But for those folks who dont want plants, or have a rift lake/hard water tank, i figured id give my long answer, while also secretly trying to hint at the fact that they should just start with plants lol

[@cathyhendrix7552]

Thank you Alex!!! I did learn a thing or two. And while I'm not a beginner, I'm certainly not a pro either. 🤔 Hmmmm. Maybe a novice. Or whatever a step above beginner is. LOL. This video was very informative and interesting. I can't wait for the next one 😉. Thank you.

[@dang1651]

Should I plant before filling a new tank? Or should I fill the tank first and begin cycle before planting? Or does it matter

[@Fishtory]

Doesnt matter. Its preferences.... but look up " dry start method"... itll save you some headaches

[@dang1651]

@@Fishtory thank you

[@A-80998]

I dont know if you mentioned it or not but can you (in some way) turn sand-corse sand into an an “active substrate”? Or is it just tabs and liquid fertilizers?? Thank you love your tanks.

[@Fishtory]

Yes fish poop and debris aka mulm... will turn sand or gravel into a matrix of active substrate...however the sand or gravel will not contribute minerals or anything unless it is limestone or crushed coral/shells in it's makeup. Excellent question

[@A-80998]

@@Fishtory thank you for your reply.

[@BeNiceToday2]

I take pathos cuttings and drop them in tap water and they root. Why would the same theory not hold true in my new tank I am about to set up?

[@Fishtory]

They will root looking for nutrients... but there need to be nutrients for some types of plants. Pothos is a vine that lives off moisture in the air if need be. Many aquarium plants need fertilizers or months of fish poo and debris to feed the nitrates and nutrients. The water column won't harm the plants. But they may slowly starve if it's a plant that wants lots of " food" .

[@going35]

Great video once again! I wanted to ask… What do you think the best all in one liquid fertilizer is? Do you think it’s necessary for a tank with aquasoil and root tabs?

[@Fishtory]

If your doing weekly water changes and have high light...i would recommend it, for colors in plants and faster nitrate absorbtion. However medium or low light.. then no... its not necessary unless the majority of your plants dont have planted roots ( a tank thats just java fern, and anubias...then, yes id add something once a week or so still). So with high light and co2, if you have a high tech tank running co2... id honestly recommend that 90% chance - you are skilled and knowledgeable enough to E.I. dose or spot dose for deficiencies... most plants will show warnings like the nutrient deficiency posters online...and you can go get potassium...or nitrates ..or turn co2 down.. add iron or whatnot... and thats why i like ADAs line of micros...since youll never sort out what is missing from trace elements without expensive water testing. So its not a bad idea to dose those once every week or two...then potassium, nitrogen, iron, co2(carbon), magnessium, calcium or phosphates you can either add and water change weekly each time...or just look for the signs of deficiencies on leaves and in color.... maybe i should mention all this for a video. Thanks for asking.

[@going35]

@@Fishtory a deeper dive would be interesting and probably a popular topic. I don’t use many stem plants so I don’t think I necessarily need it on my medium light tank. I appreciate the thorough response! ❤️

[@johnnybest6386]

Thank you for schooling me about Fluval stratum subtrate on what it lacks in compare to other soil subtrate ..... i never knew that Like my comedian "KEVIN HART""Said ? You gonna today

[@JesusHerrera-vx2pn]

Sorry for my ignorance but ..do you use CO2 in your planted aquariums right??

[@Fishtory]

I do not currently. I have it set up, but have not run it for about a year due to traveling and the speed at which things grow already...the fish get crowded too fast. But if i start a new aquascape, ill often use co2 to get a carpet going or bright colors in the plants

[@JesusHerrera-vx2pn]

​@Fishtory thank you for your quick answer. Waaaaaaoooo I hope I can get my thanks that loaded some day. I love how it looks full of plants that you can't see the back of the aquarium and the fish are in the front. Thank you from a Venzuelan living in Chile inspired by you to fight addiction.

[@jeffkane4391]

Thanks for sharing Alex 😊

[@HUNTERHUNTER806]

I clicked on the bell but got the freaking notification only now? How's that even possible!!! Anyways enjoyed it and thanks for the information... Better to listen to you than that old fart father or mother fish 😅😑✌🏼

[@Fishtory]

Sorry youtube is awfull

[@LushAquaUK]

Agree to some of your points, but I would have a different approach to some! l liked your video though❤ Cheers😃

[@Fishtory]

Fair enough! Thanks for watching. I usually say..."cram all the plants you can in...and toss in a few tiny but sturdy fish" ... this was my plan B.

[@sims8717]

Hey brother, I got a new tank. With dirt and sand and I'm about to add new plants. I've been putting fish food in the water to help the existing plants get some nutrients. But you mentioning dead plants got me thinking. Is it possible to bury dead leaves into the sand (my sand is quite thick) to provide nutrients to the plants?

[@zeb33369]

Great timing Alex, ive been seeing a lot of active substrate tanks, but i thought you were supposed to cap those with sand to hold the nutrients from leaching into the water column 🤔 Wading into my first deep substrate soon, probably dirt on the bottom, a commercial active layer, then a sand cap, but this changes every few days 😅 no idea about where to begin with microfauna, it's hard enough not being able to get so many of the clean up crew I see everywhere online and can't find locally😢 $20 to $30 for a nerite snail 🐌 forget about flagfish.. we get ramshorn here cheaply, but I'm nervous about a snail infestation

[@wakingforbacon6439]

You won’t get an infestation of nerite snails. They only breed if you have both a male and female and the water has to be perfect for them to breed. And that takes brackish water. Kinda hard to breed nerite snails really.

[@Fishtory]

So i do like to cap my active substrates...to lock that nutrient content in longer. But you can also just let it saturate the water column over a few weeks...by not capping...and especially if job have good lighting and or co2, youll have an isnsanely strong month or so of growing...especially if you plan it with co2 and light... you can carpet things very easily

[@SifiFan]

I'm new. Just added 1/4 inch. It brightened up the tank over the dark soil or Amazonia soil. I like it better.

[@zeb33369]

@wakingforbacon6439 perhaps I wasn't clear.. I'm aware that nerites won't breed in freshwater, as I said they're not really available and i won't be spending $30 on ONE, I'm concerned that if I get ramshorns there will be an explosion, (i can get ramshorns here 30 for $10)

[@Bramblerose21]

Alex have you grown any of the new fancy Anubias like platinum or stardust. I just purchased some and was curious if they need to grow emerge rather than submerse (like I just learned is hit or miss with the buce skeleton king/dark Achilles I just got)? Thanks for your immaculate content as always you’ve become my go to background KZbinr bc I always learn something even if I’m not always watching actively ❤

[@Fishtory]

So i dont know all the variants but any that lack chlorophyll....like pinto or albino, those need extreme co2 and liquid fertz to a point that its going to negatively impact fish and shrimp... but emersed they can get root/well rhizome technically...energy. but the darker colors and sparkling ones should be okay submerged, you just may loose some of the cool looks and end up with a plant that looks like plain anubias in say...6 months or so

[@Bramblerose21]

@@Fishtory that makes lots of sense! I was contemplating having it right about the water line so it can kind of choose it’s own immerse/submerse journey lol. Thanks so much!

[@AngelChavez-zo7tu]

1st layer.. moam? Is it spelled this way?

[@Fishtory]

Mulm :)

[@lorelei8301]

Thank you so much for what you do :) Just started a 10 gallon dirted tank capped with sand. I used the mud from creek to do it. The tank has been smelling bad. I capped the mud with almost 2 inches of sand but the dirt was still seeping up through the sand already. I added another Inch of sand tonight. Also I noticed my ludwigias and other plant roots were black and rotting. I trimmed it off and replanted them. Did I do the right thing or should I have left them alone.....and why were they rotted?

[@Fishtory]

Im going to answer this in a video if " common aquarist question"

[@waynetalbot2784]

Hello Alex, I'm not sure if I've a problem. I've a 55 gallon planted aquarium. Cannister filter substrate has always been gravel 6"deep.I rarely gravel vac, i also run co2. Light is fluval plant 3. I use root tabs and iron sticks every 4/6 weeks,I've various plants from bulb,stem,rhizome plants. My issue is amazon swords. They're well established.They use to be really tall, now they're getting smaller but I still get new growth. Is this normal? I do regular 50% water changes, tank is been set up now 3 yrs. An ive changed nothing....

[@Fishtory]

Likely you are running on on phosphates and or potassium. Look for a supplement or buy those 2 fertz... hopefully itll recharge their growth

[@lorelei8301]

What lights do you like? I'm having trouble figuring out what is too bright or not. I got an algae bloom in my new tank on the wood and plants so I'm not sure if I should lessen the light intensity even though it's on a riser 18 inches above the substrate. I'm trying to decide between the Nicrew, Sting Ray 2, or the Twin star A series

[@jasonstouder]

I have three identical 10 gallon tanks each with 20 neocaridina shrimp. The only difference in the tanks is that one tank does not have an Amazon sword plant it. Only coons tail. That tank has lost two adult shrimp. The other tanks have lost none. The tank without the Amazon sword also has more algae. I'm good with the algae but it's just something that I'm noting.

[@jessicasinclair323]

Add some ottos

[@FishCapadesProductions]

❤mts is REAL and so is mps ❤❤❤😅

[@iainaquariumagic]

Very useful information Alex 👍🐠🐟💦

[@ab4877]

For me, you kind of made it a little more confusing. I have used peat moss as a component in my mixed substrate. I recently saw a video with Diana Walstad who recommended regular potting soil for an active substrate. How about some DIY substrate recommendations.

[@Fishtory]

Yeah i personally have enjoyed just using earth from my yard or local parks etc. That being said, if its rich soil in decompositional matter it could take a procedure of 2 to 4 weeks up to 8 or 9 until all the ammonia is gone

[@ab4877]

@@Fishtory Most of it is actually ammonium and not ammonia. It reads the same on the test kit. When using potting soil, you "seed" filtration bacteria and then watch for the nitrite and nitrate spikes.

[@EuroGupper]

I'm addicted to plants as well, but plants don't like me 😢

[@Bramblerose21]

That’s why I’m always buying plants. Eventually I find one that won’t die on me and it becomes my bestie lol!

[@VASHtheSTAMPEDE_]

Have you tried duckweed? DON'T!!!! lol one somehow got into my tank and it spreads way too fast. I've had good luck with pearlweed as an easy plant.

[@EuroGupper]

@@VASHtheSTAMPEDE_ I am still fighting a (winning) battle against duckweed I bought a few fish and my fish shop had a few in the plastic bag. I was busy hunting every bit down for weeks. I had to remove all my floating plants and used a wave maker to stir the surface water after that. It was clear, came back and i never added floating plants again. The floating plants are now in a pond and i still see bits of duckweed zzzzzzz

[@EuroGupper]

@@Bramblerose21 For me it was sword plants and all types of dwarf variaties of it. They are very hardy and the grass types even send out runners. Everything else dies or does not thrive! 😔😭

[@Bramblerose21]

@@EuroGupper meanwhile every sword I’ve ever looked at becomes a pile of jelly lol! Ngl I’m a little jealous!

[@ranjanty]

Oh and I subscribed

[@Fishtory]

Welcome to the community my friend!

[@WinterLover29]

I am not good at keeping land plants alive, but I’m pretty okay at keeping aquatic plants (okay as in I don’t kill them usually)

[@Butterflies-are-free]

❤❤❤

[@johnnybest6386]

Alex "I LIKE THE WAY YOU TALK ?

[@rebeccamandelos3164]

💚💚💚

[@FishCapadesProductions]

Also your cheating with those twinn star on the emersed growing plants lmao😅

[@Fishtory]

Probably true

[@RC-no3dr]

Add plants about year before any shrimp. Asian leeches can live a long time without a meal before dying. I treat and quarantine plants for a couple weeks before adding to an aquarium and there must’ve been eggs on the plants that didn’t respond to hydrogen peroxide or a light salt dip. Some bad companies that sell aquarium plants know they have pests but send them to you anyway. 😢

[@Fishtory]

True. But i just take my chances beyond a dip and some time in QT

[@cust4rd.4pple]

My plants disintegrate within two weeks. Light, liquid fertiliser, and they fall apart from the get-go.

[@Fishtory]

Hmm do you have hard water or soft?

[@Kalinux_ai]

Dude. Are you addicted to weed also :P

[@oakmaiden2133]

Yes, plants should go in now. Cycling is a myth. A soil and sand cap substrate is absolutely a must. Fish in also. No need for industry chemicals. An aquarium is simply a terrarium with water. I’m not using an external/internal filter system. My plants are thriving to the point of needing pruning/producing offshoots. My fish/shrimp/snails are vibrant and breeding. I never have nitrate/nitrite/ammonia issues. Never. Oh, and Stop feeding your fish.

[@Fishtory]

I wouldn't stop feeding but the other stuff sounds good. Ive sucessfully kept 5 fish in a 5 gallon only feeding them microorganisms i cycled the tank with...scuds, algae, protazos and daphnia, nematodes, planaria etc. That being said they were platties and eat algae....and little micro fauna, so it worked...for angel fish or plecos, it would have failed miserably