First shot at a planted tank

[Beave]

always wanted to do a planted tank but never had the fish that would allow me. Setup a 29 gallon for my daughter and figured there no better time then now. I'm using Api leaf zone now going to pickup root tabs tomorrow... Wish me luck. Still want to put some taller plants in the back corners... Any suggestions for a beginer would be great...

Fish: 10 neons, 4 Corys, german blue ballon body ram and 2 female betas

Plants: on the driftwood is Java fern in the gravel in the middle is a red melon sword and in the gravel on the left is a Amazon sword

 

[tlindsey]

Drift wood and live plants tucked in the crevices of the wood looks great.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Java Fern is very slow grower, for background/corner plants I would use Myriophyllum Pinnatum (common name: green/red fox tail) those plants would fill in and make your tank look dense more lively, more natural looking within few days and of course it look better than amazon sword IMO your fishes would love them cause it making them feel more safe for center focus plant I would use Red Tiger Lotus (Nyphaea Zenkeri). When those 2 plants acclimated in your tank then you don't even need filter with your current fish stock, those 2 plants will keep your water at pristine condition if you keep your feeding habit in check

 

[ehh]

In my planted the tank the factor that really made a difference was adding a co2 diffuser.


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[Yuki Rihwa]

Liquid fertilizer would also work (seachem products) if you are not into/dealing with CO2 tank stuff (I wouldn't cause your kid would or might mess it up and it can be dangerous IMO)

 

[jaws7777]

always wanted to do a planted tank but never had the fish that would allow me. Setup a 29 gallon for my daughter and figured there no better time then now. I'm using Api leaf zone now going to pickup root tabs tomorrow... Wish me luck. Still want to put some taller plants in the back corners... Any suggestions for a beginer would be great...

Fish: 10 neons, 4 Corys, german blue ballon body ram and 2 female betas

Plants: on the driftwood is Java fern in the gravel in the middle is a red melon sword and in the gravel on the left is a Amazon swordView attachment 1063775

Funny in doing the same thing for my little girl..

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[Beave]

Java Fern is very slow grower, for background/corner plants I would use Myriophyllum Pinnatum (common name: green/red fox tail) those plants would fill in and make your tank look dense more lively, more natural looking within few days and of course it look better than amazon sword IMO your fishes would love them cause it making them feel more safe for center focus plant I would use Red Tiger Lotus (Nyphaea Zenkeri). When those 2 plants acclimated in your tank then you don't even need filter with your current fish stock, those 2 plants will keep your water at pristine condition if you keep your feeding habit in check

How easy are the fox tails... I have no co2 and would like to avoid it... I like how they look... I assume that it's as easy as cutting the tops off when it comes time to trimming down... And they won't take over the tank? And thank you guys for the assistance

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

How easy are the fox tails... I have no co2 and would like to avoid it... I like how they look... I assume that it's as easy as cutting the tops off when it comes time to trimming down... And they won't take over the tank? And thank you guys for the assistance

Yes, just trim the top down and replant them if you want for more bushes look plants, if you trim it down every time you do tank maintenance then you wouldn't have any problem, its not require any special care but if you can invest in some liquid fertilizer like seachem flourish and feed it 1 in a week or every 2 weeks (if you only use half dose each time then a bottle would last couple months or even a year depend on bottle sizes) then your plants would love that bonus plant food.

 

[Beave]

Yes, just trim the top down and replant them if you want for more bushes look plants, if you trim it down every time you do tank maintenance then you wouldn't have any problem, its not require any special care but if you can invest in some liquid fertilizer like seachem flourish and feed it 1 in a week or every 2 weeks (if you only use half dose each time then a bottle would last couple months or even a year depend on bottle sizes) then your plants would love that bonus plant food.

Awesome... Fertilizer tab/liquids I don't mind I just don't want to get involved in co2 just yet... I put root tabs in yesterday I have leaf zone next on my list is to find some seachem flourish... Going to look for fox tails this weekend thanks again

 

[Beave]

Also with the plants that I have now how long would you guys suggest I keep the lights on? I'm going to put it on a timer since some nights I don't get home till late... Like tonight home at 7:30 and getting ready to pass out to start early tomorrow... And my wife won't touch the tank so she doesn't get blamed for anything