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Aquatic plants

  • Common aquatic plant deficiencies??
  • What are emersed aquatic plants?
  • What are non-aquatic plants?
  • What low tech plants can a newbie grow?

CO2

  • How does one inject CO2 into a planted tank?
  • Are there any CO2 articles for beginners?

Fertilizing

  • What are Macro and Micro elements?
  • What is EI?

General aquascapig questions

  • What is aquascaping?

General forum queries

  • where do i upload and share all my tank and fish pics ???
  • how do I search for a certain member?
  • What does LFS and LPS stand for?
  • what does APSA stand for?
  • How do you delete an old post?

Lighting

  • How long should my lights be on for?
  • Please suggest some articles with regards to lighting for my planted tank?

Substrate

  • how do you tell gouramies
  • can I put baby guppies with my baby balloon mollies?
  • What is the best substrate to use in a planted tank?
  1. Aquatic plants

    Common aquatic plant deficiencies??

    This image summarizes it in a nice way. (Click for bigger image)
    upload_2014-6-25_9-57-50.png
    Source
    Top
    #11

    What are emersed aquatic plants?

    Emersed plants refers to aquatic plants that are grown out of water. Most plant farms will grow their plants emersed for the simple fact that it is cheaper to grow, maintain as well as ship and adapt to your new tank environment.

    Most aquatic plants can be grown out of water (emersed). When grown out of water, you may notice a physical transformation in the plant. Leaf shapes, colours and growth characteristics may differ. Some aquatic plants will only flower when in its emersed stage.

    Here is an example of Rotala Rotundifolia

    Emersed:
    upload_2014-6-25_9-47-22.png

    Submerged:
    [​IMG]
    http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/images/Lythraceae/Rotalarotundifolia3.jpg
    Top
    #9

    What are non-aquatic plants?

    Non aquatic plants are plants commonly sold at your local pet shop as aquatic plants. These plants will NOT grow in your tank as they are not adapted to. Most of these plants will seem like they grow initially but all of them do indeed stop growing and melt eventually.

    Why are they still selling these plants? These plants are actually meant for ripariums. Some stores, however do still advertise these as aquatic plants.

    Don't waste your money and don't be fooled! Check out our list of non-aquatic plants commonly sold as aquatic plants (with pictures):
    http://www.apsa.co.za/xenforo/threads/plants-commonly-sold-as-aquatic-that-arent.3378/
    Top
    #8

    What low tech plants can a newbie grow?

    Low tech plants refers to plants do not require CO2 or lots of light. There are many options when it comes to these easy to grow plants.

    Please refer to the following link:
    http://www.apsa.co.za/xenforo/threads/low-tech-plants.11688/
    Top
    #7
  2. CO2

    How does one inject CO2 into a planted tank?

    There are various methods for injecting/diffusing CO2 into a planted aquarium. Some methods include, a ceramic CO2 diffuser, external CO2 reactor, etc.

    For more information, please read through this thread write-up:
    CO2 Basics and Diffusion Methods
    Top
    #5

    Are there any CO2 articles for beginners?

    Please read up on the following threads regarding CO2 in the planted tank:
    A newbie guide to CO2 kit
    CO2 Basics and Diffusion Methods
    Top
    #4
  3. Fertilizing

    What are Macro and Micro elements?

    Cameron Cameron said: ↑
    Macro ferts are NPK (Or Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium)
    Micro ferts are trace elemnts (iron, boron, molybdenum, copper etc)

    Macro ferts can be made at home from products bought from Dischem or any chemist.
    Micro ferts are usually bought in liquid form from your pet shop. I can recomend EasyLife Profito from Hillfox, it's cheap and does a good job. Don't buy the locally made stuff, I don't trust it.
    Click to expand...
    http://www.apsa.co.za/xenforo/threads/fertilizer.93/
    Top
    #10

    What is EI?

    EI stands for Estimative Index.

    Quote from James' Planted Tank
    Estimative Index was created By Tom Barr to be a simple method for dosing nutrients to planted tanks without the need for monitoring nutrient levels using test kits. Basically the aquarist doses the tank with a slight excess of nutrients throughout the week to prevent anything from running out and does a large water change at the end of the week to prevent anything from building up. In this way we can provide a close approximation or ‘Estimative Index’ of the nutrient levels during the week as we know what is being added and also what is removed in the water change. Estimative Index works best with high light systems and well planted tanks, but can be adapted for lower light systems by reducing the dosing.
    Click to expand...
    For more EI related info on APSA, please read the following:
    Demystifying the Estimative Index
    EI for dummies..
    Top
    #3
  4. General aquascapig questions

    What is aquascaping?

    Quote from Wikipedia
    Aquascaping is the craft of arranging aquatic plants, as well as rocks, stones, cavework, or driftwood, in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium—in effect, gardening under water. Aquascape designs include a number of distinct styles, including the garden-like Dutch style and the Japanese-inspired nature style.[1] Typically, an aquascape houses fish as well as plants, although it is possible to create an aquascape with plants only, or with rockwork or other hardscape and no plants.
    Click to expand...
    Top
    #6
  5. General forum queries

    where do i upload and share all my tank and fish pics ???

    You should preferably start a new thread under "Aquascaping and Member's Setups" and upload your pics via the "Upload a File" tab . Alternatively, you can use an image hosting site such as Flickr or Photobucket and add a link to your shared pics in (for example) your signature on forum.
    Top
    #21

    how do I search for a certain member?

    Click or tap the "Members" tab up top. On your right (under progress bar) you'll see "Find member". Type in the members nick or part thereof and it'll show you a list of member names that start with what you typed.
    Top
    #20

    What does LFS and LPS stand for?

    Local fish shop & local pet shop respectively.
    Top
    #18

    what does APSA stand for?

    Top
    #17

    How do you delete an old post?

    We set time limits for this so that posts cannot be altered to mean other things in future. Please contact one of our mods or admins with details of what you want altered and we will gladly help with your request.
    Top
    #15
  6. Lighting

    How long should my lights be on for?

    Results may vary for different tanks but the standard is approximately 8 hrs.
    Top
    #16

    Please suggest some articles with regards to lighting for my planted tank?

    We have some lovely articles or links to articles here on APSA. Please click on the following links:

    What light do plants need and how can we choose a good lamp?

    Lighting Parameters for Photophilic Aquarium Plants

    Interesting article on the importance of light for plants
    Top
    #1
  7. Substrate

    how do you tell gouramies

    Top
    #13

    can I put baby guppies with my baby balloon mollies?

    Rule of thumb with any fish are that if it fits in its mouth it is food.
    Top
    #12

    What is the best substrate to use in a planted tank?

    This answer depends on your budget and the plants you want to grow.

    Please take a look at this thread for more info on different substrate options best suited for you:
    Substrates
    Top
    #2
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Latest Answers

  • where do i upload and share all my tank and fish pics ??? Nov 12, 2014
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