New to planted tanks

[BeautMonster]

I’ve got two 20 gal tanks (one standard high and one hexagonal) with basic low light/low maintenance plants : Java ferns, Anubias, wisteria, an ozelot sword, and some compacta

One tank is stocked with 7 guppies and shrimp and the other has 3 adult and two baby ballon mollies and shrimp.

When I planted, I put some flourish tabs in the substrate (following the directions). Do I need to be adding more fertilizer or something to keep the plants healthy?

 

[Barliman]

I'm not familiar with compacta, but the sword and the wisteria are root feeders, so the tabs will do them good. (Watch out for the wisteria: beautiful plant, but it grows fast and can take over your tank.)

The java fern and anubias feed from the water column, taking their nutrition through their leaves. You'll want a basic liquid fertilizer for them: either Seachem's Flourish or API's Leaf Zone should do the trick.

 

[BeautMonster]

I don’t have the wisteria planted in the substrate right now. It wasn’t in the best shape coming home from the store. The roots were damaged so I have it floating in the water suction-cupped to the side of the tank. It still looks healthy and the roots are starting to grow back. Will it die if I leave it there or should I put it into the substrate?

 

[Barliman]

I don’t have the wisteria planted in the substrate right now. It wasn’t in the best shape coming home from the store. The roots were damaged so I have it floating in the water suction-cupped to the side of the tank. It still looks healthy and the roots are starting to grow back. Will it die if I leave it there or should I put it into the substrate?

No, it functions as a floater, too, though, because it orients toward the light, it may look a bit odd once you plant it.

 

[ZxC]

Some of the root tab nutrients will leach into the water column, but the best approach in my experience with low tech/low light tanks is a mild water column fertilizer dosing schedule and some tabs under sword/crypt style plants.

Flourish comp. is good for micros, not so much macros, but a dash of KNO3 and KH2PO4 into the column should work really well.

Check out rotalabutterfly nutrient calculator to give you an idea on various dosing products/rates.