going to take the plunge

[808cichlids]

i am looking to set up my first REAL planted tank. what i am looking to do is to set up an iwagumi style 10 gallon tank with some river rocks and dwarf hairgrass. it will be stocked with ember tetras,endlers livebearers, and otos.
can somebody explain what i will need (supplies etc.)
i already have a high powered hood and amazonian 2 soil for substrate. i will also be buying a zoo med 501 canister filter for this tank.
any advice is appreciated. thanks in advance

 

[808cichlids]

bump

 

[kwells]

endlers don't go with the iwagumi style. use a schooling fish

 

[808cichlids]

ok i'll scratch those from the list haha, but other than that do you have any advice? im totally clueless about plants

 

[CrankBait]

1.Flourish supplemental plant food
2.co2(if you want to)
3.cardinals, tetras, etc...(schooling fish as said before) or
4.Shrimp....Crystal Red, Red cherry, Tiger, Amano
5.Patience, takes time to grow in a really lush carpet for Iwagumi tanks

 

[CrankBait]

Planting the Dwarf Hair Grass:
Remove the fiber wool from the bunches.Separate individual straws into plantable clumps(usually 3-10 straws apiece) You can actually plant individual straws but thats kinda time consuming. then all you gotta do is arrange the clumps in the tank where you want it to grow and wait for it to grow in. You can add flourish tabs into the soil for extra fertilizer supplements or use the liquid.

 

[808cichlids]

1.Flourish supplemental plant food
2.co2(if you want to)
3.cardinals, tetras, etc...(schooling fish as said before) or
4.Shrimp....Crystal Red, Red cherry, Tiger, Amano
5.Patience, takes time to grow in a really lush carpet for Iwagumi tanks

1. ok i will look into this.
2. is c02 really necessary? ive been reading a lot of different things and some people said it is not necessary.
3. i am almost 100% sure that i will be going with ember tetras.
4.i have shrimp in other tanks already haha
5. i hope i will be able to fight my eagerness lol

 

[808cichlids]

Planting the Dwarf Hair Grass:
Remove the fiber wool from the bunches.Separate individual straws into plantable clumps(usually 3-10 straws apiece) You can actually plant individual straws but thats kinda time consuming. then all you gotta do is arrange the clumps in the tank where you want it to grow and wait for it to grow in. You can add flourish tabs into the soil for extra fertilizer supplements or use the liquid.

do you recommend a certain brand of fertilizer? also how often i should dose it in the tank etc. sorry for all the questions
thank you for the help.

 

[808cichlids]

also, when i plant the hairgrass, should i leave the tank empty of water with only a think layer to keep the plants damp? or should i fill it completely?

 

[chonhzilla]

Most foreground plants will require some type of co2 supplementation.