What Am I Missing/how Can I Improve?

[Tuxyu3]

Java fern should be fine on a rock, i will try to get a pic of mine later (it is on wood but it is the same sort of idea).

 

[xamy_valox]

Ok thanks.
Tuxyu3 I notice you have a pearl gourami in your pic. Is it your own? And if so, when they grow bigger do they get more colourful? Mine are pretty plain at the moment, though I have only added them today and they are still hiding under the filter!

 

[gregswimm]

I just never seem to get my plants to last more than a couple of months

So if I attach the java ferns to some rocks/pebbles will that be ok? I just want the height from them rather than attaching them to my wood or it will get taken over! The Anubias is still in its pot, I have just hooked it onto the wood so that hopefully given time, it will attach itself to the wood.

The guy in the shop said it would be fine like that, is it so?

Glad the vallis will be ok, I was concerned it might lack light and shrivel!! Do you know what the plant in the middle is? And also the one far right in the front corner?

The anubias might be fine in the pot, depends on how it is planted. The rhizome (the bit where the roots and leafs attach) should not be covered. If it was me, I would take it out and plant/mount it.

I use gorilla glue to attach all my plants. Use as little as you can to hold the plant on.

The plant in the middle looks like an anubias barti/congensis.

Give the vals fertilizer, I would use API root tabs as they have the most iron.

As far as val lighting is concerned, what lights do you have and how deep is your tank?

 

[xamy_valox]

Tank is 19 inches tall, I have a Hagen Aqua Glo 20 watt light and a Juwel Day Light bulb in there.

 

[minnnt]

A black background...

 

[Tuxyu3]

Depends on the fish and what sex they are. Males are generally more colurful (my pearl in the pic is a juvenile male on the verge of maturing) but particular females can be very stunning in their own way.

My male:

This link will take you to a video of my pearls:



You can see in this video the male is chasing the females, a sure sign he is growing up at last
They do take a few days to settle in so don't worry to much about yours.

 

[gregswimm]

Tank is 19 inches tall, I have a Hagen Aqua Glo 20 watt light and a Juwel Day Light bulb in there.

Those are T8s right? Then they should be fine directly under the 24" the bulbs span. You may need to supplement light if they are offset.

 

[xamy_valox]

Thanks Tuxyu3, your Pearls look beautiful. Mine are still holding fast under the filter, I've been at work and out for the majority of the day today but when I looked this evening they were still in th exact same place as yesterday. They haven't come out to eat at all and aren't swimming about at all =[
Is this completely normal? I know you say not to fret but I can't help it! I don't want them dying on me =[

Tank is 19 inches tall, I have a Hagen Aqua Glo 20 watt light and a Juwel Day Light bulb in there.

Those are T8s right? Then they should be fine directly under the 24" the bulbs span. You may need to supplement light if they are offset.

Yeah they are T8's, I will be changing the one to a Power Glo which is dedicated more to plants but its also a T8. I'll just wait and see how it goes I suppose!
Sorry for the double post, I'm using my phone =\

 

[Tuxyu3]

The one thing i can think of is that maybe the filter flow is too strong and they can't escape it?

Edit: Maybe try turning the filter off for a few minutes to see how they react?

 

[snazy]

The anubias will never attach itself on the wood from the pot. Best way is to take it out, trim the roots to no more than a 1-1.5 cm and use super glue to attach(cyanoacrylate) which is harmless to fish. It cures under water faster, just make sure you don't put too much as it will turn white on the wood. You can soak it in a bucket with tank water if you like until the smell from the glue goes away and the plant is well attached but I have stuck mine right into the tank with no problem for the fish.
Make sure you align the rhizome on the wood in the direction it grows new leaves as it doesn't do it from both ends.

 

[xamy_valox]

What an absolute nightmare!!
I was reluctant to take my piece of wood out of the tank as it has been such a #29### to get to sink. So there I am on step ladder trying to tie this Anubias to the wood from inside the tank, managed it but it looked dreadful! Completely not where I wanted it.
So Ive had to take the wood out and Ive tied it securely with fishing line, I don't really mind which way it grows, however if I do decide once its bedded that I want some nearer the top, can I cut some off and re-attach?
I'm convinced since moving my wood that the tank looks different but I think its more down to binning a plant that had disintegrated and moving other bits about. What do you think?

Ive still got to sort the java fern, but I may actually change it to swords once I can find some!

Update on the Pearls as well, one seems far braver than the other and has decided to start taking very quick tours around the right hand side of the tank. I think its the female as its quite a bit smaller, she still returns back underneath the heater but at least she's giving it a go. The male has also been out a slight bit and I seen them both eat so at least I know they aren't starving! He still appears to be favouring the spot under the filter though

. I'm just hoping given time, he will join the female and be a bit more adventurous. They must be coming out at some point to breathe surely?! They are anabantoids after all so they HAVE to come to the surface!!

 

[gregswimm]

Super glue it. Gorilla glue is animal safe, I use it on both coral and plants never had a single problem.

 

[xamy_valox]

There is no chance I am getting it out again!! It's secure anyway, not going anywhere so I shall just wait for it to attach by its roots! How long does it normally take?

 

[gregswimm]

There is no chance I am getting it out again!! It's secure anyway, not going anywhere so I shall just wait for it to attach by its roots! How long does it normally take?

Cut it out, you are going to want to trim the roots anyway so its no big deal if you cut a bit off. It will do very poorly in the pot and grow much slower then it already will. It is about the slowest grower you have.

 

[snazy]

There is no chance I am getting it out again!! It's secure anyway, not going anywhere so I shall just wait for it to attach by its roots! How long does it normally take?

I see the roots are not trimmed, it may take a very long time to attach. If you don't mind me asking, but what is so difficult in attaching a bit of anubias? I don't have to remove mine to cut a piece of the rizhome for planting elsewhere too.