My planted tank is winding down..after 14 years of continuous operation..
I think im going to wait for the fish to die off naturally, then once they are all gone im going to take it down..I have had enough with the planted tank, im growing tired of it..
I have two 14 year old SAE's and a Clown pleco in the tank, one remaining angelfish, and few remaining very elderly cardinal and glo-light tetras..(probably 8-10 years old on those.)
Im inheriting a large goldfish tank from my Mom..she is moving..so im going to just have that setup instead..
much lower maintenance! and they will go outside in a pond during the summer..
the trick with planted tanks is..you need a TON of plants..the tank has to be jammed full of plants..you should barely be able to see the gravel, and if fish hide in the back of the tank, you should have no chance of seeing them at all..(I didnt see my clown pleco for years at a time!
every few months I would dig through the leaves just to make sure he was still alive! (he is very nocturnal..)
the reason for a large amount of plants is because live aquarium plants need a LOT light to grow..but algae also loves all that light!
its an endless battle between your "good" aquarium plants, and the algae..and there is only one way you can win..
a tiny amount of plants + a lot of light = algae fest. you wont be able to control it.
but a TON of plants + a lot of light = the live plants are numerous and healthy enough to out-compete the algae for nutrients, and that will keep the algae growth to a minimum..
with live plants, you have to go ALL out, or dont bother to play at all..
you cant have "a few" live plants..it wont work..
my favorite quote on the topic..read it on-line ages ago and it has always stuck with me:
"You cant think
I want to get a few plants for my fish tank..
instead you must think
I want to get a few fish for my plant tank."
Scot