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sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 8:46 am
by 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?
Re: sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 9:38 am
by 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?
Re: sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 11:00 am
by finleybay
dreamwave wrote: ↑Wed Aug 13, 2025 9:38 am
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.
Re: sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 12:43 pm
by 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.
Re: sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 2:30 pm
by 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.
Re: sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 3:00 pm
by rixon
floriks wrote: ↑Wed Aug 13, 2025 2:30 pm
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.
Re: sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 4:44 pm
by harvestor
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try adjusting the light and grab some root tabs. Appreciate the help!
Re: sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:32 pm
by 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.
Re: sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:41 pm
by 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.
Re: sharing my planted tank wins
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 7:35 pm
by Ease
Haha, finleybay's not wrong. It's a slippery slope. But hey, at least it's a fun one. Good luck, harvestor!