Help me! New to Planted Tanks

[jmay33]

Mystery shrub is putting new leaves on!!!! It was hard to get good pictures, but I tried to take some. I'm so excited, I can't hardly stand it!

Also here is a picture of the anacharis this morning.

 

[jmay33]

Hoping this will help ID the mystery plant. I cleaned the dead leaves off. It looks healthy.

 

[jmay33]

http://s1079.photobucket.com/albums...12-879A-19BC53A965B5-119-0000000ACF19984B.jpg

http://s1079.photobucket.com/albums...B8-8A8C-B12D13B3C029-119-0000000AC74219CE.jpg

http://s1079.photobucket.com/albums...88-9998-C754546F42D9-119-0000000AD474E1FC.jpg

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/atta...238223_0_cf1fb26241bad5db0d8e87e40cd0c56c.jpg

<a href="http://s1079.photobucket.com/albums/w513/maynard_jordan33/?action=view&current=F0F9430D-A709-4D88-9998-C754546F42D9-119-0000000AD474E1FC.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.aquariumadvice.com/attachments/photobucket/img_2238223_0_cf1fb26241bad5db0d8e87e40cd0c56c.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

As of today!

 

[Aqualady40]

You can also go inexpensive and use cfl 6700k daylight (spiral bulbs) bulbs...I use them on my 5g and 20H and getting super growth.

 

[Aqualady40]

Hoping this will help ID the mystery plant. I cleaned the dead leaves off. It looks healthy.

This plant really looks like my amazon sword...hmmm...not sure but it really does

 

[jmay33]

You can also go inexpensive and use cfl 6700k daylight (spiral bulbs) bulbs...I use them on my 5g and 20H and getting super growth.

Are they common household bulbs?

 

[jmay33]

This plant really looks like my amazon sword...hmmm...not sure but it really does

Hmm. We will see. I've thought that it was a possibility.

 

[jmay33]

Can I use regular potting soil as a substrate?

 

[Jnguyen27053]

Can I use regular potting soil as a substrate?

No it will make your water very cloudy and dirty

 

[jmay33]

No it will make your water very cloudy and dirty

Okay. Thank you. Probably won't use it, then. Will it not settle eventually?

EDIT:

I've decided to do sand.

 

[ztigris]

Okay. Thank you. Probably won't use it, then. Will it not settle eventually?

EDIT:

I've decided to do sand.

Actually you can use organic soil. You just have to cap it. Many have great success with dirted tanks. Personally, I love mine being dirted with a gravel cap. IMO it gives your plants a stronger base to grow in.

 

[jmay33]

Actually you can use organic soil. You just have to cap it. Many have great success with dirted tanks. Personally, I love mine being dirted with a gravel cap. IMO it gives your plants a stronger base to grow in.

Thank you. I agree. I just didn't want to cap it. I love the natural look of a dirted tank but I don't know how to do just dirt. Lol.

 

[ztigris]

You could cap it with eco complete or a dark small gravel and it would look quite nice. But just dirt would be messy

 

[Autumnsky]

Only $30 for one bag of eco which is something you are using 24 hrs a day 365 and good for your plants, - one way of looking at it...

 

[jmay33]

You could cap it with eco complete or a dark small gravel and it would look quite nice. But just dirt would be messy

Aww man! I guess thats why lakes are so murky! Lol.

Only $30 for one bag of eco which is something you are using 24 hrs a day 365 and good for your plants, - one way of looking at it...

Interesting. I hadn't thought of the $30 that way! I ended up spending about $30 on black sand and seachems root tabs, anyway.

 

[ztigris]

Lol live and learn. Try it out you may like it. If not you can always change it.

 

[Autumnsky]

Which kind/brand black sand did you get?

I have Petco black sand and I really like it. I have CaribSea Naturals (white) the one that looked super amazing until I added the real wood and real plants. It is very fine.

Tips
Turn off filter while you clean inside the tank and kick up sand, also while filling it up. I burned up a few HOB filters with the Caribsea. Also keep the intake pretty high up. DON'T forget to plug it back in!!!

 

[jmay33]

Which kind/brand black sand did you get?

I have Petco black sand and I really like it. I have CaribSea Naturals (white) the one that looked super amazing until I added the real wood and real plants. It is very fine.

Tips
Turn off filter while you clean inside the tank and kick up sand, also while filling it up. I burned up a few HOB filters with the Caribsea. Also keep the intake pretty high up. DON'T forget to plug it back in!!!

Thanks for the tip! Mine is the Caribsea naturals. I had a similar experience with the white sand and the plants! My it's hard to even get all of the sand off of my driftwood.

 

[jmay33]

Now to get these tanks replanted! I moved the plants into my 29. Something is eating them and i can't find the culprit. Lol. I have the 5 and the 10 gallon Betta tanks set up for the plants.

 

[ztigris]

Looking good!!