Right now the 5 gallon is up and running for a bout a week. i plan to put the neons and maybe the ottos in the next week or so. Then the cories. Now i have a flourestent buld and a hood. i need better lighting and i need to know what else i would need for a planted tank. i was wondering if there is something that could keep the plants healthy and grow. My filter is an aquaclear 20 and it has carbon and others inside. i would like to use some nice plants from south america. I have about 4 amazon swords in my tanks that i plan to put in untill i get better lighting.

I think a good plant is Vallisneria spiralis (commonly known as Val) i have it in my 5.6 gallon without a light at all

For info on val go to this website

http://www.lucidcentral.com/keys/appw/nonk...allisneria.html
Hope this helps

thanks il look into it but its not going to be a planted tank anymore.

OK what is it going to be now

i dont know 100% yet but now its a nursery where smaller fish and stuff can grow.

cool

i have 2 gold cobra guppies in there which are probably going to a friend and there is a small amano shrimp that im putting in the 20 gallon when it gets bigger

Cool. (Wow Tommy you have lots of pets.) It'd be good to put some real plants in the tank and provide cover for small fish if you have any. Lots of fish seem to like threading in and out of plants, they enjoy playing around too.
~Caroline~ B)

yes i may do that, i have 3 small fake plants in the tank already but they guppies just like playing in the flow at the top of the tank. (I used to have alot more!)