Extreme makeover

[bettaowner]

My LFS is having a planted tank show in two months and I am planning on entering my 5 gallon aquarium into the show. I need some advice on plants and fish to add because right now it is just pathetic.

 

[Mouth-Brooder-Fanatic]

how about giving us a pic of the tank and we can post suggestions? x

 

[aqua_chem]

In all reality, you're probably not going to be able to compete with CO2 tanks with a non-CO2 tank. Up side is that DIY CO2 is great on <10g tanks.

 

[bettaowner]

Thanks aqua chem. I'm thinking of setting up a DIY co2 soon. What would be good foreground plants.

 

[tropicalmackdaddy]

Good lowlight foreground plants are staurogyne repens, glosso(?) , dwarf hairgrass?
I dont think you could get a good thick carpet anytime soon with med light and DIY though.

 

[Brox]

Vallisneria makes a cool carpet plant, frog it too maybe

 

[Atxpunx]

Dwarf sag does great for carpeting at your conditions. It may be too tall for a 10 gallon though.

 

[tropicalmackdaddy]

Dwarf sag does great for carpeting at your conditions. It may be too tall for a 10 gallon though.

Ya i have some and it doesnt get TOO tall, but its def not short. I got maybe 4 runners in like 4 months tho, with diy

 

[bettaowner]

I think I'll try add some dwarf hair grass. I would like some crypts and mini vals.

 

[Philip99]

I have managed to get some what of a carpet with dwarf sag, here's a picture of what it looks like in my tank

 

[tiger terror]

I have managed to get some what of a carpet with dwarf sag, here's a picture of what it looks like in my tank

Nice layout on your tank..really sweet..

 

[emerald76]

1- Get driftwood
2- Get slate
3- Get 2 ten watt 6000K fluorescents if possible
4- Get DIY CO2 and black or white sand and plant substrate
5- For plants, get green and red foxtail, ludwigia repens, Riccia flutians, dwarf sag, micro sword, vallisnera
6- Plant ASAP
7- Post photos
8- Replant if necessary
9- Add red cherry and amano shrimp
10- Add a blue or red or purple or white male betta or a school of CPDs or any small Rasbora species(not harlequins)

 

[bettaowner]

You obviously planned this out well. I like the plant ideas. I can't get new lights sadly. I also can't get fancy shrimp or slate. I will try the rasboras or cpds.

 

[bettaowner]

Well I lost the contest but I'll be back next year. I've got a plan. I'm going to use chinese zebra stone to create sort of a zen layout. I have a LED light and a DIY co2. I might use liliopsis as foreground and crypts for mid. I want to use schooling fish so cpds or ember tetras.