Planted Tanks Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:37:09 +0000 Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:37:09 +0000 Tropical Aquariums SA https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/forums/planted-tanks.11/ Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:55:46 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/plants-for-sale.39703/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/plants-for-sale.39703/ invalid@example.com (D.W. Buys) D.W. Buys
Cryptocoryne R15 each
Sagittaria R10 each
Java moss R20 hand full
Ludwigia Repens R10

Send me a WhatsApp 083 304 0249 if anyone is interested]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:06:44 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/looking-to-trade-plants.39660/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/looking-to-trade-plants.39660/ invalid@example.com (Ethan) Ethan WA me on 0839939388 if interested in a swop]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:34:13 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/red-root-floater.39638/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/red-root-floater.39638/ invalid@example.com (Adri) Adri Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:22:18 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/disease-in-a-planted-tank.39593/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/disease-in-a-planted-tank.39593/ invalid@example.com (LukeJHB) LukeJHB
My father-in-law recently set up his first planted tank. A lovely aquascape in a 60cm tank. He's got CO2, a Tidal HOB and Chihiros lighting.

Thats unfortunately where the good news ends. He bought a couple fish on import at a good price and now he's paid the price.

There were numerous random deaths in the first week of adding fish (He cycled the tank for two weeks prior). The tank seemed to be settling and everything was looking good before he bought more fish on import. They...

Disease in a planted tank.]]> 2 Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:21:50 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/no-water-changes-plants-do-the-job.34935/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/no-water-changes-plants-do-the-job.34935/ invalid@example.com (Kendrick) Kendrick
Saw a video about a pet store in California—the owners don't do water changes, only rely on plants to clean up the nitrates etc. The tanks are C02-fed though.

Any thoughts or experiences with this?

New to the platform so apologies if this is old news.

Cheers]]> 22 Tue, 03 Jun 2025 17:48:31 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/planted-journey-next-gen.36179/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/planted-journey-next-gen.36179/ invalid@example.com (Innocent159) Innocent159
As you know I have been planning a new build.

IF you are seeing this thread then you know I have made the commitment to go ahead.

Planted journey | Tropical Aquariums SA - the start and many lessons later led us to:

Planted Journey Next Gen

This will probably be a slow and steady build up to my one and only planted tank.



6mm...

Planted Journey Next Gen]]> 406 Fri, 14 Mar 2025 07:13:38 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/halp-brown-algae-and-rotala-pink-losing-color-and-turning-green.39313/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/halp-brown-algae-and-rotala-pink-losing-color-and-turning-green.39313/ invalid@example.com (LilMissMurder) LilMissMurder
I'm experiencing an outbreak of what I assume are diatoms, specifically it's growing on my rotala and nowhere else I can see. I can only presume that the gravel and/or the more intense lighting is at fault, I didn't have any signs of it in the toilet. I'd like to nip it in the bud if possible while it's still early days - is there anything I can do? Params are fine, 0/0/10ppm



The second issue is my colorata losing...

Halp! Brown algae and rotala pink losing color and turning green.]]> 4 Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:01:25 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/biermans-attempt-at-a-planted-tank.36704/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/biermans-attempt-at-a-planted-tank.36704/ invalid@example.com (Bierman) Bierman
Background: About two weeks ago I bought a fish tank....agian. I use to own a marine tank a few years ago, but dont want to go that direction again. To be honest, a well scaped planted tank have alway been much more beautifull than a reef tank.
So I bought a 1200x450x500 tank that have quite a few issues, but I basically got it for free.

Problems: The stand has quite a bit of rust. The bottem has an a crack and the back is quite a bit...

Bierman's attempt at a planted tank]]> 119 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 05:32:23 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/ada-60p.39287/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/ada-60p.39287/ invalid@example.com (wearsbunnyslippers) wearsbunnyslippers i finally hooked up a cannister, so no more HOF filter

i still need a couple of u bends and a new one way valve and then i can reconnect the co2. its fresh aquasoil and a newly cycling filter, so the haze might be the beginnings of green water, or a bacterial bloom, but i will let it run its course instead of trying to fight it..

]]> 7 Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:14:45 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/shrooms-in-your-tank.39273/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/shrooms-in-your-tank.39273/ invalid@example.com (LilMissMurder) LilMissMurder
https://fishbio.com/mushrooms-underwater/

]]> 2 Thu, 16 Jan 2025 20:18:09 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/anybody-have-experience-with-langa-aqua-soil.39218/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/anybody-have-experience-with-langa-aqua-soil.39218/ invalid@example.com (LilMissMurder) LilMissMurder 3 Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:47:59 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/nano-christmas-build.38641/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/nano-christmas-build.38641/ invalid@example.com (LukeJHB) LukeJHB
After a some major set backs with my nano marine tank last year due to load shedding, I had to shut it down and sell off what was left. I've been out of the fish keeping hobby for quite a while

Been saving every spare cent ( I'm a student so we don't have many cents laying around lol ), since shutting down the marine tank, and now I'm finally in a position to start up a tank again !

After some browsing and help from @T.Guppy, I settled on a little nano. Friendly on the...

Nano Christmas Build !]]> 66 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:10:07 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/advice-wanted-co2-planted-tank-for-beginners.39188/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/advice-wanted-co2-planted-tank-for-beginners.39188/ invalid@example.com (guppyamateur) guppyamateur Recently began setting up a new tank after a year or so without one. [2 foot tank]

I’ve got Amazonia Aquasoil as the substrate and the tank is currently cycling. Visited an aquatic store yesterday and I’m tempted to look into setting up a planted tank with C02.

My questions are:

1. For a 2ft tank, approximately what would the initial outlay be for a CO2 system? What kind of system would you recommend?

2. What are the maintenance costs of the CO2 system? (CO2, consumables etc.)
How...

[ADVICE WANTED] CO2 Planted Tank for Beginners?]]> 3 Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:17:36 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/40-gallon-rimless-cube.38996/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/40-gallon-rimless-cube.38996/ invalid@example.com (mch1984) mch1984
40 gallon rimless cube]]> 9 Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:31:54 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/54l-uk-aquarium.37235/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/54l-uk-aquarium.37235/ invalid@example.com (Rainstorm) Rainstorm
I’m back after a long hiatus. Nearly 3 years in the uk and finally got a fish tank, was my partners idea to go half-half between us. He only got it because I wouldn’t stop talking about it and that it would keep me busy. Lol.

so here are some pictures



I just made a purchase of some plants from a guy not far from me,...

54L UK Aquarium]]> 153 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 19:18:50 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/what-can-this-be-looks-like-sesame-seeds.38695/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/what-can-this-be-looks-like-sesame-seeds.38695/ invalid@example.com (len.weideman) len.weideman What on earth is this? I just noticed these on some plants and rocks. Looks like sesame seeds ? Hahahahha. My livestock is some shrimp, cories , ancistrus, minnows , ember tetras , nirite snails and siamese algae eaters….
But what is this?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk]]> 2 Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:06:05 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/planted-tank-advice.38616/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/planted-tank-advice.38616/ invalid@example.com (CJ43) CJ43
I have started a dirted substrate tank. So basically about 1.5cm of potting soil then topped off with about 5cm of black sand and then i added a ton of plants (anubias, Java Ferns, valas, swords and other).
About 50 plants in the tank

Some of the plant leaves started melting away. My concern is as i always loose plants must i add things or can i just leave it and it will grow new leaves.

I've gotten advise that due to the substrate setup i do not need any C02 or fertilizers...

Planted tank advice]]> 5 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 08:51:50 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/lighting-help-needed.38577/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/lighting-help-needed.38577/ invalid@example.com (ooxREAPERxoo) ooxREAPERxoo I have a 500L planted aquarium with only anubias in and normally I leave my lights on for a total of 13 hours

I have purchased myself a timer and heard that apparently the lights only have to be on for 8 hours
But what I'm struggling with is

Should the lights be on for an entire 8 hours or could it be on for 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon]]> 6 Sat, 07 Oct 2023 13:30:49 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/estimative-index-shopping-list.36638/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/estimative-index-shopping-list.36638/ invalid@example.com (JPB) JPB @TheGrissom ) have a good shopping list for estimative index for N, P, K and traces? (ie dischem). I currently use scape complete but I have a 4 channel WiFi dosing pump that I want to leverage more. I considered the scape individual products but it gets pricey. Also suggestions for an ei calculator that lists said ingredients (or the chemical name). I looked at old local forums and mostly found arguments unfortunately, or products that don’t exist or aren’t...

Estimative index shopping list]]> 15 Tue, 19 Sep 2023 19:55:51 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/shabir%E2%80%99s-first-attempt-at-a-planted-tank.35959/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/shabir%E2%80%99s-first-attempt-at-a-planted-tank.35959/ invalid@example.com (Shabir) Shabir
So as you guys can remember I was going to try out my hands in keeping some plants in my fry tank before I went into a fully planted tank and I would like to think that I have achieved something that is along the lines I was going for.

The tank is 60X50X50
Limestone rocks.
2kg Substrate
8kg white sand
Lights 2 X T5 9W
Nutrients I've bought an all in one by a guy who makes his own and sells here, has Micro, Macro and iron all in one which he mixes according to the plants I...

Shabir’s first attempt at a planted tank]]> 381