How difficult is planted compared to reef

[fishy408]

Surprised to see some really nice freshwater tanks a few days ago. I am wondering how hard is it to care for compared to reef?

Added some pica of the freshwater tanks I saw. They seem to be a little more complex than what I am use to.

 

[tribbitt]

Not that hard. If you set it up well, it can end up just “top up water and feed” autopilot with occasional trimming / water change as needed

CO2 is a whole thing but not super necessary

 

[PizzaOven]

If you can maintain a reef tank, you can maintain a planted tank. Once you dial in CO2, nutrients, and light, the only real maintenance is weekly water changes and trimming. Water changes are easy (I find much better results with re-mineralized RO water). You can achieve a full grown in look much faster than a reef tank, which I find satisfying.

 

[tribbitt]

best part: plants don’t sting each other so you can cram the tank full of different colors and textures all touching

 

[iani]

If you can maintain a reef tank, you can maintain a planted tank. Once you dial in CO2, nutrients, and light, the only real maintenance is weekly water changes and trimming. Water changes are easy (I find much better results with re-mineralized RO water). You can achieve a full grown in look much faster than a reef tank, which I find satisfying.

I definitely spent more time on maintenance on my planted tanks then I do with my current reef. Weekly trimmings were a pain in the butt. This is more of a problem with a high light/co2 planted tank with fast growing plants.

 

[tribbitt]

I use epiphytic plants, cryptocoryne, dwarf sag, and run it low tech. Stuff does fine and I basically never maintain it, it just keeps itself going

 

[Finnaddict]

IMO. Low tech planted tank is pretty easy. When you get into co2 and high tech it becomes a bit more challenging. When they are mature and are growing they are more work than a reef tank. Also the black beard algae is almost impossible to get rid of if you get it

 

[FinalPhaze987]

Look up Takashi Amano of ADA. His tanks are amazing. I tried emulating the look but didn't up keep it, as they require lots of pruning and attention. Natural look, only 3-4 species of plants...it requires alot of restraint to not add something that takes away from the look.

During COVID, I thought it would be an easy way of having a tank that I didn't need to maintain as much as a reef...boy was I wrong.

 

[fishy408]

Look up Takashi Amano of ADA. His tanks are amazing. I tried emulating the look but didn't up keep it, as they require lots of pruning and attention. Natural look, only 3-4 species of plants...it requires alot of restraint to not add something that takes away from the look.

During COVID, I thought it would be an easy way of having a tank that I didn't need to maintain as much as a reef...boy was I wrong.

the pictures of the tanks are from his shop, and I agree they do look amazing. They also sell them complete with plants, equpiment, and insstallation.

 

[Susan Edwards]

I also think it depends on size of tank. I just sold my 220 reef tank because it was too much for me--physically and am starting a 72 gal planted tank. The fact that I can use a small step stool and touch the bottom of the tank is huge compared to a 5' ladder and still could barely touch bottom. and forget along the back! Plus, everything is going to be out, in a closet instead of under the tank. So for me, even with maintenance (never needed wc's in the reef and had 0 nitrates) it will be much easier. I hope...

 

[divewsharks]

Have a couple tiny low tech tanks, majority of the maintenance is harvesting the floaters weekly and sending to compost (all of 15min tops). Used to have a hi-tech tank, was alot of plant trimming to keep things under control; manually dosing of ferts. Used to hunt for plants similar to the hunt for certain corals. My daughter still prefers planted FW tanks to the reefs in the house.

 

[Galoot]

Keep it a manageable size and low tech, then it’s easy to maintain

 

[Gudhjem]

I've tried a very small planted tank in sort of a side-hobby not too focused way, and failed because I couldn't stay ahead of algae. It was a ton of work keeping it off the plants and eventually I just lost the battle. Had a few snails, but maybe not enough.

 

[Galoot]

I've tried a very small planted tank in sort of a side-hobby not too focused way, and failed because I couldn't stay ahead of algae. It was a ton of work keeping it off the plants and eventually I just lost the battle. Had a few snails, but maybe not enough.

I find that less intense light, adequate fertilizing, and more amano shrimp and snails work best

 

[Susan Edwards]

I'll add in here now that I've had my freshwater set up 3 weeks. I find it so much easier, even with algae coming on. To stay ahead of it, I have the right livestock and got them in fast (tank almost instantly cycled with used media). What I like is there is less equipment-canister filter with heater, co2, lights. And eventually an ato. Dosing fertilizer a few times a week Some testing but now that my ammonia is zero, just no3 to keep an eye on as well as kh and gh but not like a saltwater. And as someone said above, no nasty corals or mean clown fish!