sharing my planted tank wins

[harvestor]

Just got my first planted tank set up, 20 gallons with some Java Fern and Anubias. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, but the plants aren't growing as fast as I hoped. Any tips?

[dreamwave]

Yo, harvestor, congrats on the new setup! Java Fern and Anubias are slow growers, so don't stress. What's your lighting like? Low tech tanks do better with moderate light, around 6-8 hours a day. Also, you dosing any ferts?

[finleybay]

Yo, harvestor, congrats on the new setup! Java Fern and Anubias are slow growers, so don't stress. What's your lighting like? Low tech tanks do better with moderate light, around 6-8 hours a day. Also, you dosing any ferts?

Yeah, lighting's key. I run a Nicrew Classic on my 20 gallon, 8 hours a day, and my Anubias are thriving. Also, try root tabs if you're not already. They're a game changer.

[Ease]

Hey, harvestor, don't worry too much. My Anubias took forever to start growing, but once they settled in, they took off. Are you using any liquid fertilizers? Seachem Flourish is pretty solid for low tech setups.

[floriks]

Honestly, Java Fern and Anubias are like the chillest plants ever. They'll grow when they feel like it. Just make sure your water's not too hard, and maybe throw in some driftwood. They love attaching to that stuff.

[rixon]

Honestly, Java Fern and Anubias are like the chillest plants ever. They'll grow when they feel like it. Just make sure your water's not too hard, and maybe throw in some driftwood. They love attaching to that stuff.

Agreed. Driftwood's a great call. Also, check your KH and GH. If your water's too soft, they might struggle. Aim for a KH around 3-5 and GH around 6-8.

[harvestor]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try adjusting the light and grab some root tabs. Appreciate the help!

[dreamwave]

No prob, harvestor. Keep us posted on how it goes. Planted tanks are a journey, but so worth it when things start popping off.

[finleybay]

For real. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be hooked. Next thing you know, you'll be setting up a high tech CO2 tank like the rest of us addicts.

[Ease]

Haha, finleybay's not wrong. It's a slippery slope. But hey, at least it's a fun one. Good luck, harvestor!