Title says it all. I have friends who have expessed interest in adding plants to their aquariums. They are looking for an ez way to get started. We need to know
1. Is there a beginners' aquatic plant article somewhere here on the forum?
2. Who keeps low light low maintenance plants (no CO2)?
3. Are any of the 2009 GWAPA meetings scheduled at the home of someone whose tanks are mainly low light, low maintenance plants?
Thanks for your input.
What to tell people new to aquatic plants
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ddavila06
- GWAPA Member
- Posts: 1593
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:50 pm
- Real Name: Damian Davila
- Location: Burke, Va
you can teach them to make a home-made yeast co2, i made a couple and have seen lots of inprobements since, i keep low lght large and medium tanks(you know i always ask if the plants require high output at the meetings), i would also invite them to any of the meetings to see what is all about, thats what convinced me to join 
Damian Davila
"Fishes-up, chill, Plants too"
"so many plants, so little space!"
"Fishes-up, chill, Plants too"
"so many plants, so little space!"
Marge, we do have an old beginners article, but it hasn't been updated in several years. For what it's worth, here is a link to it:
http://gwapa.org/documents/The_Bullet_P ... uarium.pdf
A better primer is Ben Belton's article here:
http://www.aquatic-plants.org/articles/basics/
As far as 2009 GWAPA meetings. John Godbey's aquariums are low-tech, but I believe I remember him saying that he's changing some things around. Viktor (January) also has some low-tech setups, although, I believe they're probably using CO2 and a decent amount of light. Most of the hosts probably grow low-light plants, but they may or may not be in low-light aquariums. I'd just bring them to a meeting, and have them pick the brains of our members.
'Hope this helps.
http://gwapa.org/documents/The_Bullet_P ... uarium.pdf
A better primer is Ben Belton's article here:
http://www.aquatic-plants.org/articles/basics/
As far as 2009 GWAPA meetings. John Godbey's aquariums are low-tech, but I believe I remember him saying that he's changing some things around. Viktor (January) also has some low-tech setups, although, I believe they're probably using CO2 and a decent amount of light. Most of the hosts probably grow low-light plants, but they may or may not be in low-light aquariums. I'd just bring them to a meeting, and have them pick the brains of our members.
'Hope this helps.
Marge,
It is just picking the right plants.
To keep it low light and simple, you keep your plant selections low light tolerant and slow growing.
Almost all Anubias species. All Java Fern Species. Java moss. Aponogetan bulbs often do okay.
Viktor keeps some relatively low tech tanks, his meeting is in January. So does John Godbey, so does Robert Ricketts. I keep a moderate light, no CO2 tank in my office, I'm in March...
It is just plant selection, is all.
It is just picking the right plants.
To keep it low light and simple, you keep your plant selections low light tolerant and slow growing.
Almost all Anubias species. All Java Fern Species. Java moss. Aponogetan bulbs often do okay.
Viktor keeps some relatively low tech tanks, his meeting is in January. So does John Godbey, so does Robert Ricketts. I keep a moderate light, no CO2 tank in my office, I'm in March...
It is just plant selection, is all.
Dave
I have a couple of very low tech tanks with heavy plant growth. By low tech I mean no filter, no CO2, no added furtilizer. It’s not too difficult to do if you start with a good collection of appropriate plants. And you can pick up appropriate plants at any GWAPA meeting auction.
There is a meeting scheduled at my house this year.
There is a meeting scheduled at my house this year.
John Godbey
Springfield, VA
Springfield, VA
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Rick Dotson
- Posts: 406
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:43 am
- Location: United States
My advice to a new person in the hobby would be consistency. My consistency started with a timer on my light. The most important piece of aquatic gardening equipment. Next consistent pruning to prevent the fast growers from shading the slow growers. Lots of water changes if you don't use CO2 to replace micros and CO2. And if you use fertilizers keep a regular schedule.
My own experience was if it died then I grew something else that didn't. My early plants were java moss, java fern, water sprite, amazon swords, val and sag. Not that different than I grow now?
I have also found with new people that going to their homes and helping then with test kits, canister filters and CO2 setups gets them going when they would not have taken those steps on their own.
Good Luck.
My own experience was if it died then I grew something else that didn't. My early plants were java moss, java fern, water sprite, amazon swords, val and sag. Not that different than I grow now?
I have also found with new people that going to their homes and helping then with test kits, canister filters and CO2 setups gets them going when they would not have taken those steps on their own.
Good Luck.
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sherrymitchell
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:12 am
- Location: Northern Virginia
Marge, I have low light, no CO2 tanks here in Centreville, and I'm hosting the June GWAPA meeting. 
I'll be showing my pond that day (and the fish room), so it will be a good intro to beginners.
I would suggest that newbies come to GWAPA meetings to have access to plants they can't find in the Pet*mart stores. That's the first step -- getting plants that are actually aquatic! So many of these "marts" and "cos" only offer the basic aquatic plants, or worse, plants that are not meant to grow under water.
I would also suggest that newbies experiment, like Rick said -- find what works for you and go on from there. I have a lot of terrific plants that I just took a chance on that grow well for me with good light and no CO2.
In my experience, upgrading to a compact fluorescent light is key. Get them to buy better lighting and possibly upgrade to a good substrate and many things will grow well.
Does GWAPA, have a one-sheet beginner's guide? If not, perhaps you could make one for members to pass out to newbies. It could also be something that shop keepers could hand out, and good promotion for the club. You could call it: Getting Started in Aquatic Plants. Jen could print it on that fabulous glossy stock.
I'll be showing my pond that day (and the fish room), so it will be a good intro to beginners.I would suggest that newbies come to GWAPA meetings to have access to plants they can't find in the Pet*mart stores. That's the first step -- getting plants that are actually aquatic! So many of these "marts" and "cos" only offer the basic aquatic plants, or worse, plants that are not meant to grow under water.
I would also suggest that newbies experiment, like Rick said -- find what works for you and go on from there. I have a lot of terrific plants that I just took a chance on that grow well for me with good light and no CO2.
In my experience, upgrading to a compact fluorescent light is key. Get them to buy better lighting and possibly upgrade to a good substrate and many things will grow well.
Does GWAPA, have a one-sheet beginner's guide? If not, perhaps you could make one for members to pass out to newbies. It could also be something that shop keepers could hand out, and good promotion for the club. You could call it: Getting Started in Aquatic Plants. Jen could print it on that fabulous glossy stock.
Sherry
This is great. Thanks all for the input.
Damian: I don't think they are ready for home-made C02, but I might try it on one tank myself.
Kris: Both beginners articles are helpful. I like the way they don't assume anything when helping those new to plant keeping. Good stuff.
Dave: Yup. Choosing the right plants is the way to go. He firmly said 'find low tech, no C02 plants'.
Rick: I wish someone had done the big=3 intro when I got into plants. It would have streamlined things alot. I still don't use C02.
Sherry: I would love a GWAPA - new to aquatic plants 1 sheet hand out!
All: I hope to go to every GWAPA meeting this year. Will encourage my friends to go to Viktor's in Jan, Sherry's in June and John G in VA. (By then they should be low tech plant pros!)
Damian: I don't think they are ready for home-made C02, but I might try it on one tank myself.
Kris: Both beginners articles are helpful. I like the way they don't assume anything when helping those new to plant keeping. Good stuff.
Dave: Yup. Choosing the right plants is the way to go. He firmly said 'find low tech, no C02 plants'.
Rick: I wish someone had done the big=3 intro when I got into plants. It would have streamlined things alot. I still don't use C02.
Sherry: I would love a GWAPA - new to aquatic plants 1 sheet hand out!
All: I hope to go to every GWAPA meeting this year. Will encourage my friends to go to Viktor's in Jan, Sherry's in June and John G in VA. (By then they should be low tech plant pros!)
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Ben Belton
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:21 am
- Location: Mayberry, NC
- Contact:
I had low tech (low light, no heaters other than for black mollies, no air pumps, maybe a sponge filter but no other type of filtration, no CO2, hardly any water changes) tanks for over two decades. I was doing very well, and then I got corrupted 
by some GWAPA members, and now I have one (and two others on the way to become) high tech tanks. However, I still don't use heaters (other than for medical purposes), and I still have mostly low and medium light no CO2 tanks. I agree that the key is to choose the plants wisely. Back in my low tech days I was always successful with vals, Sagittaria subulata, easy Crypts, Riccia, Java moss, Java fern, Anubias, and some stems (e.g. Egeria densa, Cabomba).
I am hosting the January meeting, so you will see my setups then.
by some GWAPA members, and now I have one (and two others on the way to become) high tech tanks. However, I still don't use heaters (other than for medical purposes), and I still have mostly low and medium light no CO2 tanks. I agree that the key is to choose the plants wisely. Back in my low tech days I was always successful with vals, Sagittaria subulata, easy Crypts, Riccia, Java moss, Java fern, Anubias, and some stems (e.g. Egeria densa, Cabomba).I am hosting the January meeting, so you will see my setups then.
Viktor
