My First Planted Tank

[SlipperyPete]

Hey all, I've been keeping fish for about a year now and want to tackle my first planted aquarium. You guys have given amazing advice in the past and I would appreciate some tips on what will be my first attempt at a planted tank.
 
My tank is small in size, roughly 20 - 25 litres.
 
First of all I would like to know what sort of substrate would be appropriate, because the plants in my 60gal grow just fine without soil or any fertilizers. Does this just boost growth rate? Or is it only necessary for the smaller grasses and such?
 
Also I would like to have some Cherry Shrimp in the tank and have heard plants such as java moss are just about a must when keeping these little guys.
 
Lastly, how often should I do water changes for the tank? 
 
Any advice would be appreciated from someone with more experience than myself. Thanks in advance!
 
 
 
 

 

[This Old Spouse]

Are you planning to have anything else in there along with the shrimp? I have a 20g with shrimp and cory (and one flying fox) and I have a clump of java moss that the shrimp really like to pick over, but they also like the amazon swords I have in there. Their third favorite is a couple of flat rocks that I use for caves for the cory. Some type of algae or moss grows on the surface that they appreciate.
 
In all my tanks I have a sand substrate with no soil. I dose with Seachem Flourish.
 
If your tank is cycled, then a once a week w/c of 50% is fine. Good luck, and let's see some photos!

 

[SlipperyPete]

Are you planning to have anything else in there along with the shrimp? I have a 20g with shrimp and cory (and one flying fox) and I have a clump of java moss that the shrimp really like to pick over, but they also like the amazon swords I have in there. Their third favorite is a couple of flat rocks that I use for caves for the cory. Some type of algae or moss grows on the surface that they appreciate.
 
In all my tanks I have a sand substrate with no soil. I dose with Seachem Flourish.
 
If your tank is cycled, then a once a week w/c of 50% is fine. Good luck, and let's see some photos!

 
Maybe some other kind of clean up fish or snails, just worried they will eat the plants I put in. Yeah the more I look at planted setups the more I want sand as the top layer. But in saying that I would love the floor of the tank to be pretty much covered by a low, dense plant. Something that almost resembles carpet.

 

[This Old Spouse]

If you have cory, you can't have the bottom planted with carpet as they won't be able to work through it. What kind of clean up are you looking for?

 

[Shelster]

I'm going to follow this one as I too have a small 22 litre tank which I am going to add a betta to in due course, I want plants in mine also, just taking my time on how I'm going to plant and best substrate etc, look forward to hearing suggestions and good luck!