Bhu
Member
- Joined
- 16 Aug 2014
- Messages
- 563
Well I've come to the conclusion that a healthy planted tank with fish is a real challenge. To get it right for all the plants top and bottom as well as the fish is a constant battle. The only plant I have not growing well is my Lilaeopsis brasiliensis, which dare I say it needs more light. To increase my light will put demand on the other plants that are already growing well to grow better! Hence the dilemma enfolds as now I need more co2 and ferts to keep them happy and then my fish start to look unhappy and stressed. Its a real challenge almost an alchemy of water and chemicals to get a perfect balance for fish and plants.
The real conclusion is that I need a better understanding of plant varieties and their needs. Such that all the plants grow well in one set of parameters such that the fish will be happy as well as they are used to that kind of environment and its stable.
It would be good if someone compiled a book (maybe its already out there) of groups and species of plants that grow well together and the fish that would prefer those kinds of environments. For example with fish only tanks its easy to do a lake Malawi set up or pure discus set up, but clearly if you mixed these two then something is going to die. I'm beginning to see that some plants are like this too.
And so my study continues as I learn more about plants and what goes best together...
Any suggestions at reading material much appreciated.
Cheers
Bhu
The real conclusion is that I need a better understanding of plant varieties and their needs. Such that all the plants grow well in one set of parameters such that the fish will be happy as well as they are used to that kind of environment and its stable.
It would be good if someone compiled a book (maybe its already out there) of groups and species of plants that grow well together and the fish that would prefer those kinds of environments. For example with fish only tanks its easy to do a lake Malawi set up or pure discus set up, but clearly if you mixed these two then something is going to die. I'm beginning to see that some plants are like this too.
And so my study continues as I learn more about plants and what goes best together...
Any suggestions at reading material much appreciated.
Cheers
Bhu