skibum100
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
well first off ill state, i have done plenty of research on the web including this forum site regarding everything from what type of Lighting, to plants to substrates.
But i still need alittle bit more help i guess personalized to my tank:
It is a 20 gallon im trying to make switch from fake plants and pirate ships to grass lawns around a rock feature with swaying vals in the back, i have 6 Tbone rasboras 1 rainbowshark and 4 cory cats and a dwarf flame gourami (i know on high side of stocking i have an extra tank if gets bad) i am running two 20g HOB filters and just purchased an awesome big light! specifically it is a dual bulb T5o fixture 24" i have two 24watt bulbs going right now. I also have for substrate 30pounds of 3mm gravel mixed with alittle bit of sand. ive read over planting is best way to go but i am not sure how many plants is over planting? haha so i have 2 java fern 1 amazon sword this really long razor blade strand looking leaf plant/grass 4 mono grass 1 anubias 1 crypt 2 grass (look like dwarf hair grass) and 2 small ruffely leaf plants (it could maybe be like a baby jave fern).
So now before you tell me how im doing it all wrong (which i probably am) ill give you what id like to see, id love to have a grass "lawn" in the front on like a hill to my centeral focus point a white over hanging rock (there is also a smaller white rock on right side of tank so not just 1 rock) id like the foreground plants to be as small as possible and have mid range plants in range of 4-6" with background plants being 12". But as previously stated i dont know how many plants i should plant or really how to plant them just dig alittle hole in gravel put roots in and cover it with gravel? which leads to my next question should i change substrates to like a dirt or sand? i want the fish to be able to swim around too though and i get concerned that with all plants clustered will fish not be able to swim through them? all and any help is wanted and needed even if it doesnt address my questions anything is helpful. and please please please id love some plant suggestions for a FIRST time planter.
Thank you! man without AA i would be so clueless with my fishtanks
ps i also have ability to turn off 1 bulb so if 50 watts is to much form me A BEGINNER to deal with i can just have 1 24 watt T5o running. and also if you dont think they should be in the tank i have 7 days (so quick response is very helpful) to return the plants for store credit so i can swap for a new plant! Thanks again!
But i still need alittle bit more help i guess personalized to my tank:
It is a 20 gallon im trying to make switch from fake plants and pirate ships to grass lawns around a rock feature with swaying vals in the back, i have 6 Tbone rasboras 1 rainbowshark and 4 cory cats and a dwarf flame gourami (i know on high side of stocking i have an extra tank if gets bad) i am running two 20g HOB filters and just purchased an awesome big light! specifically it is a dual bulb T5o fixture 24" i have two 24watt bulbs going right now. I also have for substrate 30pounds of 3mm gravel mixed with alittle bit of sand. ive read over planting is best way to go but i am not sure how many plants is over planting? haha so i have 2 java fern 1 amazon sword this really long razor blade strand looking leaf plant/grass 4 mono grass 1 anubias 1 crypt 2 grass (look like dwarf hair grass) and 2 small ruffely leaf plants (it could maybe be like a baby jave fern).
So now before you tell me how im doing it all wrong (which i probably am) ill give you what id like to see, id love to have a grass "lawn" in the front on like a hill to my centeral focus point a white over hanging rock (there is also a smaller white rock on right side of tank so not just 1 rock) id like the foreground plants to be as small as possible and have mid range plants in range of 4-6" with background plants being 12". But as previously stated i dont know how many plants i should plant or really how to plant them just dig alittle hole in gravel put roots in and cover it with gravel? which leads to my next question should i change substrates to like a dirt or sand? i want the fish to be able to swim around too though and i get concerned that with all plants clustered will fish not be able to swim through them? all and any help is wanted and needed even if it doesnt address my questions anything is helpful. and please please please id love some plant suggestions for a FIRST time planter.
Thank you! man without AA i would be so clueless with my fishtanks
ps i also have ability to turn off 1 bulb so if 50 watts is to much form me A BEGINNER to deal with i can just have 1 24 watt T5o running. and also if you dont think they should be in the tank i have 7 days (so quick response is very helpful) to return the plants for store credit so i can swap for a new plant! Thanks again!