Hi. I just started up with aquariums again since in the last few years I
didn't have the time or ability to. I currently have a 15 gallon aquarium
that my wife had sitting in her parents basement for years and also the
computer store in which I manage had purchased a 48 gal. tank a few months
ago.

Years ago when I had planted tanks I only used to keep java fern. It seemed
to be the only thing that would grow in low light conditions with no
fertilization and easily propagated. Now in my 15 gallon I have setup 2 15w
bulbs, a LifeGlo broad sun light spectrum and a PowerGlo blue intense light
bulb. I have planted some java fern (because I know it will grow no matter
what.. ) and another low lying bush plant in which I have forgotten the
name of (has broad 1.5 inch dark forest green color).

I have had the aquarium for about 2 months now, populating it with a couple
corys, 3 otocincluses, and my wife's much-wanted siamese fighting fish. In
the near future I plan to introduce a small school of blue neon dwarf
australian rainbowfish.

My javas are growing slowly and my bush plant has put about 6 or so new
leaves. I had also put in a beautiful peice of driftwood from a lake where
I'm trying to get the java to attach and grow off of.

I've been occaisonally noticing an increase of algae here and there on some
of the leaves. These leaves I've been cutting off. I'm hoping that
eventually by some miracle the plants will flourish and expand to the point
of eliminating all algae in stiff competition. I know that usually planting
a great amount of foilage is great for instantly out-competing the algae
growth..but I don't want to spend tonnes of money of buying more plants.

At my 48 gal. aquarium at work, one of my co-workers(also an aquarium
enthusist) and I have setup a planted tank with lots of java fern..most of
it successfully attaching to a huge peice of driftwood, big amazon sword
(growing great but leaves stay their intial reddish color instead of turning
green), big tall great growing grass, and this bulb plant with long leaves
with lazagna-noodle-like edges and fast growing tall flowing stalks that
grow out of the water. We also wish to introduce C02 in the equation since
the plants are growing, but not flourishing rapidly.

I need a cost efficient way of getting big time plant growth. I've seen lots
of stuff about C02 injectors and how one can make a homemade solution
relatively easy. It's just all the complications and "bewares" that are
intimidating me: such as huge PH drops towards acidity, too much C02 for
fish, accelerated algae growth etc. What can anyone tell me about this
subject, if not only to dampen my paranoias and assure me that even
beginners like me can grow a dutch aquarium !

Thanx for any help!!

Dave.

I live in southern BC, Canada. I was wondering where one could access a
really good aquarium plant wholesaler on then net? All of the pet stores
locally charge like 4 times too much and don't keep any popular types in
stock and don't know too much. I've been starting to collect some pictures
of the plants I want:

Smaller Plants:
Water Cabbage
Afzeli Anubias

Medium Plants:
Giant Anubias
Java Fern

Big Plants
Afzeli Anubias
Water Sprite
Amazon Sword

Where could I order these from Canada for great cheap prices?? THANX!!
"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
If you have more than 3 wpg, you should have CO2, otherwise algae will be
a
constant plague. You should also plant some fast-growing stem plants,
like
Hygrophila, in addition to the java fern.

A lot of beginners make the mistake of putting massive amounts of light
over
the tank, but no CO2, thinking they can add it later. That's a recipe for
trouble. If you don't want to do both at once, it would be better to add
CO2
first, then upgrade the lighting later.

See this article:

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_newtank.htm

I know you've already set up your tanks, but the article gives you a good
overview of the general principles of running a planted tank.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/