Time I Did A Planted Tank

[samyboy]

been on here quite a while had tropicals for a while now with a few amazon swords which didnt seem to stay healthy for too long and have minitureised

anyway ive got a 3 gallon tank sitting doing nothing so quite fancy having a go at a planted tank with something simple like a betta.

im not a total noob to plants as im coming to the end of a 2 year national diploma in horticulture were just moving onto pond plants also the aquatic plant ident test is the only ident test ive passed with flying colours


so i started this afternoon with the tank about half full and added some loam based compost......waterer turned black and it all went horribly wrong, an hour or 2 later i got fed up waiting for it to settle so eptied it and started again with a dry tank....

added about 1cm of loam based compost firmed it down well and added roughly 2cm of very fine smooth gravel


so far all thats in it is a very sick amazon sword set the heater to 20degrees ill pop down the lfs wensday afternoon get some more plants

rubbish pic i know

im using an elite mini filter and an elite 50w heater

 

[Castellop123]

2 cm of fine gravel sounds a little low... maybe 4 - 5 cm...

 

[Underwurlde]

You don't need to cycle for a planted tank.

Make sure the plants are clean before they go in your tank:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=167686

Have you considered EI?

Andy

 

[samyboy]

i was wondering about the gravel think ill pop into wilko tomorrow 75p for 2kg

EI ?

i think i need to read up some more

thanks for that link

 

[Underwurlde]

I would not use gravel for a substrate. Use something 'alive'.. Consider instead ADA Aquasoil, Eco-Complete, etc etc Can be expensive though. Do a forum search...

EI - 'Estimative Index'. A method of dosing ferts into your tank without the need for test kits, no algae, massive plant growth....

Andy

 

[Dave Spencer]

I would not use gravel for a substrate. Use something 'alive'.. Consider instead ADA Aquasoil, Eco-Complete, etc etc Can be expensive though. Do a forum search...

EI - 'Estimative Index'. A method of dosing ferts into your tank without the need for test kits, no algae, massive plant growth....

Andy

I wish you was right about this, Andy!

 

[samyboy]

arrrrrrrrh its allready become massivle complicated

just going for some hardy plants nothing specialised

what sort of lighting should i be looking out for, for a 3 gallon?

 

[samyboy]

well i got myself some vallis and some other plant icompletly forgot the name of, also added some more gravel

 

[Dave Spencer]

The Vallis should a good job for you. I have just got rid of mine, but I still find runners shooting up in the middle of my Hygrophilia. It is pretty tough stuff!

Do you have a photo of the other plant you bought?

 

[samyboy]

Hygrophilia sounds familular

theres one i put in my main tank £1 for 5 plants ..........rubbish pic i know