Converting My 5Ft Display To Planted

[Ludwig Venter]

I've had this tank for ever and never really scaped it...... I've now mail ordered 25 different plants, some fertilizers, a T5 light and a CO2 system to see what I can do to convert it to a planted scenario..... (all will be delivered tomorrow morning by courrier)...... I have quite a lot of Mopani wood laying around as well.

The fertilizers include some Tetra Plantamin, Tetra Crypto and Sera florena (tablets)...... Will this be fine with my fish?...... I currently have only 2 or 3 Amazon Sword plants in the tank and they're no doing well.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Just to give you an idea from where I'm starting...... here's a photo...... absolute no current scaping, (except a background with greenary in it)..... I think there is room for improvement...... Let's see where we can go to..... you recommendations will be considered and implemented

 

[minnnt]

Jungle it!

Is it really 5ft? It doesn't look it. lol.

Plenty of wood, plenty of rocks, and if you're running co2 like you say then pretty much any plants you want providing the lighting is good enough.

 

[DrRob]

Is that a fair sized plec on the back of that tank? If so then consider placing rocks around the base of newly planted stuff so that they can get established. Plecs can be bulldozers.

Otherwise the fish will be fine. With the CO2 and ferts you may consider adding another T5 tube, as that's quite a deep tank if I'm not mistaken.

Then it comes down to what plants you like the look of. I personally like the bushiness of the hygrophilias, and have never been able to get swords to grow.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

And of course..... Murphy is smiling down on me..... It was sent speed post on Thursday already, but Yesterday (Saturday) none of the po's around me had any record of the parcel..... I was so looking forward at doing the change-over at the weekend...... but I just knew!..... Murphy would intervene..... Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow (Monday)

 

[Ludwig Venter]

And of course..... Murphy is smiling down on me..... It was sent speed post on Thursday already, but Yesterday (Saturday) none of the po's around me had any record of the parcel..... I was so looking forward at doing the change-over at the weekend...... but I just knew!..... Murphy would intervene..... Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow (Monday)

"Murphy smiling down on me" is an understatement...... This Murphy is having a ball!!!!..... It is now 2 weeks and the "Speedpost" - overnight delivery parcel was finally traced by my wife after numerous phone calls at a post office some 300km return trip from me "ready for collection".... (Only in South Africa)..... and their Motto is...... "We deliver..... whatever it takes"..... lol!!

I have contacted the seller and told him to claim for the parcel as it was insured and I've added more shipping cash to his account..... Well.... he refused the additional payment and said he will reship me the order and give me additional plants for the extra cash.... this time it was normal counter to counter mail..... Let's see if I get it this time???..... (I'd rather not look forward to it)