Vallisneria Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Is anyone using plants in their fry tanks to help keep the nitrates and other bad stuff down? I added a bunch of hygro and hornwort to my growout yesterday and was wondering if it would have any impact on getting the fish to grow faster. I already do 20% water chagnes every couple days but i thought the plants might help reduce any levels even further(plus i had some left over plants, thanks popeye, and i had to put them somewhere). Using plants would probably have more of an impact on heavily stocked growout tanks but I figured they can only help even in lightly stocked tanks. SO anyone using plants to help get their fry to grow faster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garhan Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 (edited) In the past raising discus fry, angels, and killifish I always added java moss, or hornwort, or najas,(what ever I had available) and or Java ferns. Not to reduce nitrates but to give cover and a place for fry to forage on rotifers that accumulate on the plants. Nitrates are controlled with regular water changes as recommended by most breeders and/or breeding books. Edited November 24, 2005 by Garhan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 If you're changing water so often, the plants probably won't have much impact on NO3, since there shouldn't be much!! But, they're a great place for little critters to hide and live. The fry will appreciate that! Do you use tap water for your WCs? If so, and you're doing so many WCs, these plants will grow quite fast given enough light - no CO2 necessary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Back when I used to breed Apistos, the fry always grew out faster in planted tanks. I think it's b/c they could keep eating all day long. You could see them nipping at the plants - they were eating the microscopic thingies that live on and around the plants. So, in your fry tanks, since your probably aren't going for show quality, let those stem-roots grow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted November 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Yeah i know with that fequent of water chagnes there wont' really be any nitrate build up(i do WC about every 3 days) but i thought the plants would help keep the over all water quality better and then if you aren't able to do a water change it won't be so bad. PLus the fry really seem to like it. Before i had PVC caves and some plastic plants but since adding the rel plants they are out more and swimming around. And if they feel like it they can snack on them. I also am hoping that since the plants are in thie 25g with a ton of light(i used 2 of those screw in compact fluorescent bulbs) they will grow quickly and i'll have enough to put in other tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 I also am hoping that since the plants are in thie 25g with a ton of light(i used 2 of those screw in compact fluorescent bulbs) they will grow quickly and i'll have enough to put in other tanks. Yep, you'll soon have more Hygro and Pennywort than you know what to do with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Eye Posted November 25, 2005 Report Share Posted November 25, 2005 (edited) I put plants in my fry tanks. So they have a place to hide and so they can nibble on anything they want. Edited November 25, 2005 by Pop Eye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
African_Fever Posted November 25, 2005 Report Share Posted November 25, 2005 I've got plants in all my tanks except for my 5.5 gallon, which I keep bare for the first couple weeks with my fry. Not too sure if it does make any difference on their growth or not, but like jvision said, I think that it gives the fry something to nibble on all day, even if it is the plants (which I don't usually notice). I've also got the screw in flourescent lights, and find that my plants all grow like weeds with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garhan Posted November 25, 2005 Report Share Posted November 25, 2005 The plants will take up some of the P04 nutrients that are created by the feses and feeding. So they will have some nutients to survive. A plant like hornwort should do reasonably well provided that the tank is not to warm. (+/-) 80 degrees F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted November 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2005 Thanks for all the replies guys So far i like having the plants in there. even though they are floating its still made the tank look nicer. PLus the fry are out swimming more instead of staying close to the bottom all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toirtis Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Yep...same here...najas, anacharis, hornwort, riccia, and/or java moss in all my fry tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Chicklets Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 When I was breeding live bearers I always had a good cover of hornwort for the fry and never had to worry about losing to many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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