J Saddletramp

Great input, thanks everyone. Depth is critical for light penetration I’m coming to understand. JettsPapa’s 65 depth shows it can be done!

Don’t give up, persevere! Live and learn. In a lot of ways we’re in the same boat. Starting over. Years ago I’ve had tanks that would sustain for a while on their own if they had to. Low tech, box filters, 50-60’s tech. Live plants. An actual thriving ecosystem. It can be done. It’s patience, pay attention, and some deaths along the way. The allusive “Zen” zone…

Thanks Platymaster, will definitely look at them. Also a 9w UV filter in the tank. I really like that thing. Tank is spotless of algae. Last three years was a Pleco grow out tank. No substrate, just a couple big chunks of wood. Ready to return to the 55 Tetra tank…

1st post! I’ve been killing fish for 66+ years! As a kid we grew Hornwort and Anacharis till the cows came home. Tanks propagated and pretty much ran themselves. Nothing fancy. 50’s-60’s tech, baby fish and plants galore. Today I want to return to a “complete” tank with a thriving plant structure. so, 55 gallon, Fluval 3.0 light, 2-3 inches Seachem Flourite Sand, Lake Michigan hard water… please, advise on plants that will thrive in this “deepish” tanks with higher ph water? No plans to add c02. Just want to use tabs and Easy Green. thanks for any indulgence!