Here's The New Planted Tank... Ids?

[Winterlily]

Here's the new 5.5 gallon I've just set up for one of my bettas. Currently has a 14W fluorescent bulb. I picked all of these plants from the "low-light" section of the LFS, but that doesn't mean much. I only know what a precious few of them are. I know the ball is a moss ball, the grass-looking stuff in the back right corner is "micro sword", and one of the short plants in the front middle (around the rocks) they said was a java fern. All the rest I haven't a clue, and dunno if they're suited to this light. Any help ID'ing what I've got and what is unsuitable here? (And what is dying or not.)

(Oh, and I will get getting something short for that left front corner.)

Also, please note the hair-like plant to the left of the intake is getting brownish on the entire bottom, yet staying green on its top 2 inches (water level). You can actual see it perfectly - it starts, vertically, way back against the wall, just above the moss ball, all brownish, then curves toward the right horizontally across the intake tube. The very short thing in the front right corner (that my betta loves to lie on) was attached to a rock, but came unattached when I was moving things around, so is now held on with a rubber band. It is now as I think you can see, all brown at its base.

Amazing. I've had plants for all of 3 days and am killing them already.

And a disclaimer: I have NO aquascaping talent, at all, as you can see. How I envy those of you who can make your tanks so gorgeous!

Overall:

Below is the center front with a few short plants around some rocks. The plant at the very front didn't used to be so...brown... though it was never truly green I think.

A shot of the right side of the tank. Not quite as vividly green as appears here.

A better close up of the "micro sword" and probably-dying short thing etc

Thanks in advance!

 

[mancin]

The plant with the featherly/hair-like green leaves is Cabomba.

I *think* the plant with reddish leaves may be a Cryptocoryne? Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. If it is one you might want to keep an eye on it to see if the leaves begin melting off. If they do, no worries, new ones will grow back.

The stuff in the lower right that was attached to a rock looks like HC (Dwarf Baby Tears). I've heard it can be hard to grow. I'm trying to grow some in my 55 Gallon and so far I'm not having much luck either. Much of it not thriving the way that I'd like to see it thrive. I might give it up and try Micro Sword instead.

The Java Fern should be attached to rock or drift wood. It looks like right now it's buried in the substrate? The plant will begin to die if the rhizome is buried.

IMO I'd break up the Micro Sword and spread it around a bit.

The plants may benefit from some fertilizers. I'll let the real experts chip on for that though. I'm still learning that bit myself!

Looks like the Betta is enjoying the tank!

 

[lljdma06]

The HC should also be planted into separate little plantlets.

The java fern, near the reddish plant and the rock, the green plant, should not be planted in the substrate, but attached to rocks and wood.

llj

 

[Winterlily]

Thanks for the IDs so far, guys. Few questions:

-Do the various brownish ones look like they're dying, or...? (I have not ever done live plants in a tank, so I'm beyond clueless.)
-You guys said to separate the micro sword into smaller clumps, ditto for the HC - why is this? Any reason aside from better appearance?
-How do I best do that with the HC, since the entire thing is on a rock now.
-Is it worth doing at all at this point as it (the HC) looks like it's on last legs to me, or am I misreading what I see?
-If the HC goes, I seem to remember reading that one can open up a moss ball and use as a sort of carpet - is that right? (Or even wise?)
-What is the plant directly over the moss ball, any idea? (Different than the one with the straight hair-like things that is brown except for its tips)
-Do I have anything in there that really ought not be in a 5.5 gallon tank with a 14W bulb?

Oh, and I did indeed put in 3 tabs of Seachem's Flourish (one about where the moss ball is, one just in back of those plants in the middle, and one right near the plants on the right side.

Thanks!

 

[mancin]

Thanks for the IDs so far, guys. Few questions:

-Do the various brownish ones look like they're dying, or...? (I have not ever done live plants in a tank, so I'm beyond clueless.) Some of the Cabomba doesn't look too hot. I think typically people will trim the top off and replant the top, but since yours is browning at the top.... hmm. You could try and just trim the top part of them off and see how they do.
-You guys said to separate the micro sword into smaller clumps, ditto for the HC - why is this? Any reason aside from better appearance? Micro Sword and HC become very dense when they are in pots. This density makes it hard for water to get through so you may end up with the plant becoming covered in algae. Plus, when it's split up into small portions and spread all over the tank, it will carpet the tank much quicker.
-How do I best do that with the HC, since the entire thing is on a rock now. I just had to do this with HC recently. Since it came off the rock for you, just spit the plant into small clumps. It's best to plant the stems individually, but I would lose my mind doing this so I ended up breaking it up into 1/8 or 1/10 clumps.
-Is it worth doing at all at this point as it (the HC) looks like it's on last legs to me, or am I misreading what I see? Some of it isn't looking too hot, but I do still see some green. I say go for it and try it separate. At least if it doesn't work after that you can say you tried!
-If the HC goes, I seem to remember reading that one can open up a moss ball and use as a sort of carpet - is that right? (Or even wise?) Yep! I have heard this one. Not sure how they get it to stay at the bottom of the tank though. If you split up your Micro Sword, that will carpet.
-What is the plant directly over the moss ball, any idea? (Different than the one with the straight hair-like things that is brown except for its tips) I'm not sure I see which one you are talking about. Can you get a closer pic?
-Do I have anything in there that really ought not be in a 5.5 gallon tank with a 14W bulb? You'll definitely be fine with the Java Fern (once you get it out of the substrate) and Crypts, as they don't require a lot of high light. I remember vaguely something about WPG not really applying the same to smaller tanks. I'd have to poke around a bit to find it, though. I wouldn't say completely give up on the other plants, give it a shot!

Oh, and I did indeed put in 3 tabs of Seachem's Flourish (one about where the moss ball is, one just in back of those plants in the middle, and one right near the plants on the right side.

Thanks!

 

[Winterlily]

Thanks so much Mancin! I'm feeling a bit out of my element here with these plants!

I've redone the whole thing and will pick up a couple of new plants too (of the non-hairy variety - that was a mistake all around I think) soon.

I seperated the HC and took away all the brown ... not much left. My betta is NOT happy now - he loved lying on that. Thinking of attempting cutting the moss ball open for him.

I think typically people will trim the top off and replant the top, but since yours is browning at the top

Nope, it was brown at the bottom, green at the top. I did as you suggested above!

Thanks again - if I ever get it looking reasonable, I'll post another pic.