Help Black Thumb

[Kstine]

Hi everyone. I want to start a planted tank, but if I even accidently touch an house plant it dies. 🙂 so I'm really afraid to start a planted tank, but everyones planted tanks I see are so pretty and way better for my fish. Can someone help me and tell me exactly what I need to do (meaning plants, fertilizer, etc act like I'm your child and you are teaching me how to walk, but I'm just not getting it so you have to go extremely slow with me.) Also which plants might survive my black thumb. I have a 20 gallon octagon tank and a 30 gallon tank that I want to start with. Maybe by then I can get my 55 gallon up and running and have something to put in it. Also I have really hard water. Thank you to anyone brave enough to help. I appreciate you very much. 

[Odd Duck]

On 2/5/2022 at 12:59 AM, Kstine said:

Hi everyone. I want to start a planted tank, but if I even accidently touch an house plant it dies. 🙂 so I'm really afraid to start a planted tank, but everyones planted tanks I see are so pretty and way better for my fish. Can someone help me and tell me exactly what I need to do (meaning plants, fertilizer, etc act like I'm your child and you are teaching me how to walk, but I'm just not getting it so you have to go extremely slow with me.) Also which plants might survive my black thumb. I have a 20 gallon octagon tank and a 30 gallon tank that I want to start with. Maybe by then I can get my 55 gallon up and running and have something to put in it. Also I have really hard water. Thank you to anyone brave enough to help. I appreciate you very much. 

Some people that have a black thumb for houseplants have a green thumb for aquatics since it completely removes the most common issues of under or over watering.  There are loads of videos and tutorials out there that will walk you through the basics.  Start by searching ACO (that’s Aquarium Co Op) on their website and on YouTube, and Irene’s channel (Girl Talks Fish on YouTube).  Then come back to us with questions.

I would ask you to post your water parameters and information about your lights so we have a starting place to guide you.  Then I’d recommend you keep in mind that more is better right from the start when it comes to planting tanks the first time.  Most people try to start with just a few plants and work their way into it, but it’s easier to start with a bunch instead of a few as far as maintaining stable water parameters with less algae issues.

Don’t get discouraged if all your choices don’t work the first time around.  My first several attempts were complete flops back in the day (my very first try was way back in 1975 with wild harvested Valisneria).  Lights and the information that’s available is sooooo much better now!  We also need to know if your tank happens to get any sunlight.

Try to get an idea after reading and watching videos, of whether you’re willing to change your substrate or want to continue with what you have (and we’ll need to know what that substrate is to give you smart advice).  We’ll need to know what kind and how many fish or snails are in the tank and what else you may plan to add.

Here’s your homework assignment (just kidding but kind of not you did give us a big assignment 😉):

1. Start reading and watching videos.  Make a few notes on specific questions or anything confusing.  Give it some time to come together in your head.

2. Post your water parameters and your lights for us.

3. Decide if you want to try new substrate or start with what you’ve got then let us know what you’ll be using (either is fine, we’ll help you figure it out).  Heck, @Guppysnailbarely uses substrate and she grows plants like crazy!

4. See if you spotted any particular styles of aquascaping or plants that you really like.  Save inspiration pics to share with us.  Don’t try to get too fancy, too fast, on your first tank. Maybe on your second or third.  😉 

5. Your list of livestock - fish, snails, etc, at least on the first tank you want to start with.

That’s all I can think of now.  Oh, wait.  Are you in the USA or elsewhere (makes a difference on what brands we might be able to recommend)?  I’m sure we’ll have more questions before we’ll done and you might get plenty of conflicting answers because there is no perfect way to grow plants or everybody would do it the same way.  You will have to do some fiddling to fine tune it for yourself.

Try to remember that pretty much nothing good happens fast for the plants in a tank.  The bad stuff can happen fast, but the good stuff takes time.

[Torrey]

On 2/4/2022 at 11:59 PM, Kstine said:

so I'm really afraid to start a planted tank,

Odd Duck gave you great questions so we can give you helpful advice as opposed to the nerm version of an autistic answer where a dozen of us word vomit what works for us... and may not work for you. How I kept fish on Ocracoke Island was completely different from Puget Sound. And neither one of those prepared me for the sulfur in Pagosa Springs. 

The one thing I would add to Odd Duck's great questions is you will have more success once you give yourself permission to fail. Approach plants as an adventure. Each new thing that happens with one of the plants is a new learning opportunity. If you embrace the concept that a plant dying is a valuable part of learning which plants will be healthiest in the water you have, the more fun this is 😁

And if you are having fun, even when you get an unexpected outcome, you are more likely to stick with it, when lesser mortals would have tucked tail and run.

So welcome to the joys of nermlandia!

May the learning opportunities be accompanied by laughter😅

[Odd Duck]

Here’s a link to the start of ACO’s videos on getting started in plants.

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/pages/getting-started-with-aquarium-plants

[Jennifer V]

@Kstine you're in very good hands here! I too have a black thumb when it comes to houseplants, even succulents, but I'm doing pretty well with my planted tanks so far. Just wanted to wish you well! The perpetual cheerleader in me cannot resist an opportunity for a "You've got this! Go team!" moment. You'll do great! Excited to see what questions you have and what the feedback is. I'll probably learn so much just reading the thread, so thank you! 📣

[Kstine]

On 2/5/2022 at 2:00 AM, Torrey said:

Odd Duck gave you great questions so we can give you helpful advice as opposed to the nerm version of an autistic answer where a dozen of us word vomit what works for us... and may not work for you. How I kept fish on Ocracoke Island was completely different from Puget Sound. And neither one of those prepared me for the sulfur in Pagosa Springs. 

The one thing I would add to Odd Duck's great questions is you will have more success once you give yourself permission to fail. Approach plants as an adventure. Each new thing that happens with one of the plants is a new learning opportunity. If you embrace the concept that a plant dying is a valuable part of learning which plants will be healthiest in the water you have, the more fun this is 😁

And if you are having fun, even when you get an unexpected outcome, you are more likely to stick with it, when lesser mortals would have tucked tail and run.

So welcome to the joys of nermlandia!

May the learning opportunities be accompanied 

Thank you. I have watched videos, but again so much information, but I will rewatch them.  I think that's my issue I watch everything I can on fish and so and so says to do things this way, but then so and another so said to do it this way. Then you have me misses black thumb sitting there saying WTH is the right way and will I turn into a serial killer if I don't get this right!? I don't want a bunch of plants deaths on my hands. 

So far I have keep 6 dannios, 4 tetras and 2 Cory's alive from the very start with fake plants, but I want them to live their best lives and give them the real thing or do you think I'm messing with fire?

I will do my watching home work, and only watch who you suggested so that I don't get more confused than I normally am in life. Exactly what are you wanting for the water parameters? I have a API test kit is that what you are meaning? Or do I need to get something else? I was wanting to use pea gravel for the substrate, and the lighting is what came on the tank as of right now. Which I know is probably not right. Thank you again for taking the time to help this black thumb maybe become blueish green. Lol 😆 

[Odd Duck]

@Kstine Yes, to the results of API test kit.  Those are your parameters.  If you also have their GH/KH kit those are also helpful but less vital for most plants.  If you don’t already have the pea gravel you might consider getting a finer gravel or a “planted tank substrate” since plants tend to like finer substrates better.  There are multiple types and most are fairly equivalent but there’s a wide variety of costs since many of the fancier ones are imported.

You do NOT need to get that fancy and for many plants you don’t need substrate at all.  @Guppysnail barely uses any and I use heavy clay dirt I dug up from a farm (with permission, of course and they wouldn’t take my money), Osmocote fertilizer granules, and cheap sand (layers like this are not the easiest for a beginner).  We just need to know what you decide on since that does matter when we start offering advice.  We can also help you make that choice if you’re having trouble deciding after you’ve absorbed a bit more.  For a beginner with fish already in the tank, I would suggest a fine gravel as the simplest and easiest in that situation.  But read, absorb, and make your decision.

Unless you want to immediately upgrade your light, stick with reading about low light plants for now.  You’ll probably end up with some Java ferns, some Anubias, maybe even some Bucephalandra (AKA Buces), maybe some Cryptocorynes (AKA Crypts), and maybe some mosses.  There are varieties in color, size, and shape in all those options so you can still end up with a great tank.  There are others, too, those are just a starting point.  Most places that sell plants will have them categorized as low light, moderate light, and high light, so you know where to start looking when you’re ready to buy.

i don’t want to keep overloading you, so take the time to read and absorb.  What you learn and how well you prepare before you start will make the biggest difference in your success rate in the early stages.

[Kstine]

On 2/5/2022 at 2:06 PM, Odd Duck said:

@Kstine Yes, to the results of API test kit.  Those are your parameters.  If you also have their GH/KH kit those are also helpful but less vital for most plants.  If you don’t already have the pea gravel you might consider getting a finer gravel or a “planted tank substrate” since plants tend to like finer substrates better.  There are multiple types and most are fairly equivalent but there’s a wide variety of costs since many of the fancier ones are imported.

You do NOT need to get that fancy and for many plants you don’t need substrate at all.  @Guppysnail barely uses any and I use heavy clay dirt I dug up from a farm (with permission, of course and they wouldn’t take my money), Osmocote fertilizer granules, and cheap sand (layers like this are not the easiest for a beginner).  We just need to know what you decide on since that does matter when we start offering advice.  We can also help you make that choice if you’re having trouble deciding after you’ve absorbed a bit more.  For a beginner with fish already in the tank, I would suggest a fine gravel as the simplest and easiest in that situation.  But read, absorb, and make your decision.

Unless you want to immediately upgrade your light, stick with reading about low light plants for now.  You’ll probably end up with some Java ferns, some Anubias, maybe even some Bucephalandra (AKA Buces), maybe some Cryptocorynes (AKA Crypts), and maybe some mosses.  There are varieties in color, size, and shape in all those options so you can still end up with a great tank.  There are others, too, those are just a starting point.  Most places that sell plants will have them categorized as low light, moderate light, and high light, so you know where to start looking when you’re ready to buy.

i don’t want to keep overloading you, so take the time to read and absorb.  What you learn and how well you prepare before you start will make the biggest difference in your success rate in the early stages.

On 2/5/2022 at 2:00 AM, Torrey said:

Odd Duck gave you great questions so we can give you helpful advice as opposed to the nerm version of an autistic answer where a dozen of us word vomit what works for us... and may not work for you. How I kept fish on Ocracoke Island was completely different from Puget Sound. And neither one of those prepared me for the sulfur in Pagosa Springs. 

The one thing I would add to Odd Duck's great questions is you will have more success once you give yourself permission to fail. Approach plants as an adventure. Each new thing that happens with one of the plants is a new learning opportunity. If you embrace the concept that a plant dying is a valuable part of learning which plants will be healthiest in the water you have, the more fun this is 😁

And if you are having fun, even when you get an unexpected outcome, you are more likely to stick with it, when lesser mortals would have tucked tail and run.

So welcome to the joys of nermlandia!

May the learning opportunities be accompanied by laughter😅

I know you guys told me you had some things you needed to know before you could really give me advice, but I have learned more from you guys than from anywhere else. Again thank you so much!

I will post a picture of the tank I am wanting to use to start my cemetery Oops I meant plants in. I did by the pea gravel, but I haven't done anything with it so I can return it. I keep looking at it and wondering how plants are suppose to grow with that as the substrate. I mean with house plants you have to have soil for the roots. I know that much about non aquatic plants. Lol so that's probably why I haven't put the pea gravel in yet. What would you suggest for a beginner. Nothing like what you explained you are doing oddduck. Lol. Even with you explaining everything so good I got lost in that substrate. Lol. 

About the water parameters. Since I haven't filled this tank yet should I wait to give them or get them from another tank? 

Again you all have been amazing, and I have learned more about plants and what I should do from this forum than I have from all the videos/articles I have watched/read. None of you have made me feel stupid nor belittled me for not having the correct knowledge. You have made me feel like I can do this and if one or 20 plants die while I'm figuring it that's OK. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time out of your day to help me. It's really hard to find people who are as amazing and nice as everyone on here has been. I am so glad I finally joined and asked my question. Just remember though that if I end up being a plant serial killer I did warn you all. So you still have to be my friend. 🤣

[Kstine]

I just realized I didn't explain myself very good about my plans on a planted tank. So this is my plan. 

I have a 20 gallon hexagon tank that is empty that I wanted to try and grow plants in. If I succeed and get some plants to grow I want to try and then put some plants in my 29 gallon that has fish in it. Sorry. I didn't explain myself better. Really if you knew me or get to know me you will see I leave parts of a story out alot. I mean come on everyone should be a mind reader right. Lol. Again sorry. I will try and do better when asking questions in the future (I doubt I will, but I will try. Lol 😆) just be happy your not my husband. He is always trying to figure out what I'm talking about. Lol

[lefty o]

id just go right ahead and stick some anubia or java ferns in with the fish. those 2 are slow to grow, and also slow to die. the thing with plants in tanks is, there is no 1 right way. you'll find some plants will thrive for you, and some you will kill like nobody's business. plants do so many good things in a fish tank. they act as a natural filter, and give bacteria a place to grow, and some fish like to eat micro organisms off the leaves.

[Patrick_G]

I’m also pretty bad at growing houseplants but I’ve managed to grow some nice looking aquarium plants. It’s not to hard with Aquarium Co-op helping. 
I’d start with the tank that’s already set up with fish in it. You’ll need a light, to make it easy get one of the ones sold by Aquarium Co-op. The Finnex Stingray will work great. Fertilizer will help a lot so get some Easy Green. For plants get as many as you can afford, the more plants in the tank the better, some are easier than others.  Many don’t need to be planted, instead they can be attached to a rock or piece of wood with thread or superglue, Java Fern and Anubias are two of those. Other plants will work fine in pea gravel.Amazon Swords and Cryptocoryne are two that would work in that situation. I like to try a bunch a different plants and see what works in my tanks. The ones that thrive are the ones that I put my effort into. 
Binge watch all the YouTube videos by Aquarium Co-op and Girl Talks Fish on growing plants! 

Edited February 6, 2022 by Patrick_G

[Greg Stewart]

@Odd Duck and @Torrey have pretty much already said it all. The only thing I would add is that you can actually opt to start really easy and and not change or add any substrate by beginning your plant journey will "epiphytes". These are plants that need no substrate as they are usually stuck in rock or branch crevices, or attached to the surface of things, and take nutrients straight from the water through a "rhizome", rather than from soil or other plant medium through deep roots. Most ephiphytes are also pretty hard to kill don't require special light. @Odd Duck has already mentioned Java Fern, Anubias, Bucephalandra and mosses. These are all epiphytes, and there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. All a great way to start. I would caution on the mosses, though, as some can grow pretty wildly and take over things if you're not attentive.