Spader's First Planted Tank Journal

[Spader]

Well I decided to get plants for my new 20 gallon coming tuesday. i already have a little bit of java moss and some other plant, i forget the name......anyway this is what im planning.

Tank: 20 gallon High

Filtration: Penquin 150 Bio-Wheel Power Filter

Lighting: Hopefully i can get a hood....

CO2: none yet, may get it later

Substrate: Sand

Fertilisation: tabs weekly

Water changes: 50% a week

Fish: 4 platys, 3 female bettas, 6 neon tetras, 2 amano shrimp

Plants: Java Moss, some unknown plant, lily bulbs, and maybe some others when i get it running.

Heres a pic of the stand i bought for it

maybe some advice? my sisters friend tried plants and it ended with all the fish dying then the plants rotting.....

 

[Spader]

what do u mean the tabs will move the substrate? just throw in one tablet for every 10 gallons once a week. ill look for those monthy tablets, but ive never seen them yet. and, sorry for my ignorance, but what IE? lol anyway im pumped for my tank. the stupid pet store thought that i said 29 gallon not 20 high gallon. boy my mom blew a fit when she picked it up. and i already have the filter too. also, wheres the link for DIY co2 ?

 

[Spader]

yeah they dissolve, so im ok with that. the lily bulbs are the kind of bulb u buy and throw them in your tank and they grow in 4 weeks. thanks!

 

[Spader]

well im getting the tank tomarrow! im so pumped woot

 

[Themuleous]

Good good tis exciting! Im redoing my main tank this weekend, gonna be water everywhere! But boy will it be fun! Woohooo

Sam

 

[Spader]

Well i got my tank today and man its huge!! i also got sand and the heater. i rinsed the sand, and the first bag went well. then it was the second bag of sand's turn to be washed. so i put it in the bucket and put the hose in it and the sand floats??!?!??! what the heck, and it wont stop. obviously i cant put it in my tank so im really mad. the other bag just filled up te whole bottom. well anyway i put my penquin biowheel filter in with media from a cycled tank and i put my 3 female bettas in with a fake plant/rock, a rock, and a cave. tomarroow ill get new sand and add the rest of the fish and live plants + rocks. then the fun begins!

 

[Themuleous]

Woohoo! that sand sounds crazy!

 

[Spader]

well i was mad and i put the sand in anyway. its good now though, except the sand is 2 differnt colors..... so i put everything in and my fish and its all good except its cloudy. my lily bulbs are growing already which is good. heres some pics.

full tank (its huge)

plants ID please except java moss and bulbs

another grass like plant, ID also lol

and side view of the first plants i need identified

the sand is 1 inch or less in some parts and i have my 3 bettas, 4 platys, and 2 amano shrimp the tank

 

[Spader]

so now i have like 1.5 inches of sand cause i added some more. soon ill probably buy some java fern and all the fake plants will be replaced. what else should i get?

 

[Spader]

well it's cleared up and i re-arranged some things. any advice?

full tank

plants

 

[oldwhitewood]

I would add a lot more plants mate, I dont think you have nearly enough going there to be honest.

 

[Spader]

this is why it's a planted journal, im getting more plants as i go i need some plant suggestions

 

[babybell911]

I'm not very good with plant names but I'd get some tall ones for the back that can reach to the surface and also maybe some more jave moss on bogwood or something as that always looks good.

 

[Spader]

thats a good idea, im planning on getting some bog wood anyway, and i like the java moss. eventually i plan to replace everything fake with the real plants and wood.

 

[babybell911]

Thats cool i think it'll look really nice. Its a gud idea to have fore mid and background plants they create the illusion of depth or so I'm told!