My first attempted at a planted.

[ScottVinVA]

Well, I went out and got plants for my tank. It is currently cycling. Well at least I am using something like bio-spira. It says you can add fish after 24 hours. It has been 3 days and I was not comfortable adding fish, so I went out and bought plants. I got the rocks from my parents.

Here is a link to the photo:
26gal Bowfront ($80 - used with heater and lighting)
Fluval 304 ($70 from Big Al's)
6 plants (actually ended up being 8 because a couple of the plants were doubled up, woo hoo)
Flagstone (free)
Pea Gravel (free)

Any suggestions for making it more natural?

http://www.veirs.org/photos/tanks.jpg

I am having problems keeping the plants in the gravel. Will they actually root like that?

I would like a ground covering but not sure there is a fine enough base for it to hold/[/img]

 

[Guest]

they do eventually root into the gravel, mine are finally anchored pretty good and im gonna have to dig them up because im getting driftwood... lol.

 

[travis simonson]

My advice - hold off on adding any fish unless you're sure you're using Bio-spira. Even then, be careful. I've never used it before so I can't give any good advice on it, but all I can say is that it takes at least 3-4 weeks in most newly set up tanks before you can safely add fish. Stick with the plants, they look very nice I especially like the sword plant and the long sticky (I have no idea what it may be at this point ) plant . Patience young Skywalker

 

[PurpleSmurf]

The decorations are very well done, though the larger tank could use some more plants () Looks very nice.

 

[patagonia]

id wait a while to add more plants...when i got my 29gal i got a lot...forgetting the fact that plants grow!!! now i have to remove some to give my fish some more swimming space...

 

[Jchillin]

How did you "plant" the plants? Did you tie them down with anything or just push roots/rhizomes into the gravel? What will you use for an ammonia and nutrient source without having fish in the tank?

 

[ScottVinVA]

id wait a while to add more plants...when i got my 29gal i got a lot...forgetting the fact that plants grow!!! now i have to remove some to give my fish some more swimming space...

I tend to agree. I will get more plants, something more as a ground covering. I just wanted to get this started. Not sure what else I am going to do. I might get more flagstones and build a back wall with them tiled up about 3/4 of the hight.

 

[ScottVinVA]

How did you "plant" the plants? Did you tie them down with anything or just push roots/rhizomes into the gravel? What will you use for an ammonia and nutrient source without having fish in the tank?

I used lead weight sticks, and wrapped one around each base and then pushed them into the gravel. I might need to add 1-2 more sticks per plant to keep it from pulling out when I put my arm in.

I am using
SeaChem's http://www.seachem.com/home/home.html
Stability http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Stability.html

I have to put this in one cap a day for 7 days.

 

[Jchillin]

Sounds real good! You shouldn't have any problems.

 

[tiptoptank]

You will be limited on ground cover simply because you don't have CO2 or high wattage. I would say go for some good stem plants and cryps and fil that whole tank up with plants

 

[ScottVinVA]

cryps? Thats ok, I really dont have an interest in LA gang members in my fish tank!



hehe.

 

[travis simonson]

You should probably avoid getting any Blood Parrots then too You could end up with a vicious gang war

 

[ScottVinVA]

ROFL - nice.

WOW thats a hot tank! I love the ground cover.

http://dump.fibervault.com/Tank_Oblique_251204.jpg That is yours?

 

[travis simonson]

That's a pic I took on Christmas Eve. It looks a bit different now, but yeah, I'm a big fan of carpet plants