any guidance useful

[HungrySpleen]

im totally new to this plant stuff .my tank has been up for about 7 months just made it through BGA



i just added
java ferns
hydros
penny wort
cabomba
these plants have suffered there first few months and are coming back now that i found this site
sprites
swords and
the seriously sad excuse for annacharis

i could use any help figuring out how to place them or any other plant suggestions

here is the link to my photos

http://s945.photobucket.com/albums/ad291/HungrySpleen/

[Twimbo]

I am not sure if I'm qualified to give any advice, so take it for what its worth.

1) Move the Hydro to the back (left side).
2) Move the Penny wort near the other tall stems (left side).
3) Try to move the filter tube and heater to the left side, behind the plants.

My overall idea, is that with the plants you have, you will get more bang for your buck by grouping the taller plants on the left and letting the swords cover the ground on the right.

As the taller stems grow, you can trim them and replant them. Once you have filled in the left side, you could start to put a small bunch in the right rear corner.

Anyway, that's the best that I got. Maybe someone with more experience can offer something more useful.

Good luck,

[elihanover]

Originally Posted by Twimbo

I am not sure if I'm qualified to give any advice, so take it for what its worth.

1) Move the Hydro to the back (left side).
2) Move the Penny wort near the other tall stems (left side).
3) Try to move the filter tube and heater to the left side, behind the plants.

My overall idea, is that with the plants you have, you will get more bang for your buck by grouping the taller plants on the left and letting the swords cover the ground on the right.

As the taller stems grow, you can trim them and replant them. Once you have filled in the left side, you could start to put a small bunch in the right rear corner.

Anyway, that's the best that I got. Maybe someone with more experience can offer something more useful.

Good luck,

I would also move the motorcycles to the left of the aquarium. I second the above comment.

[HungrySpleen]

Originally Posted by elihanover

I would also move the motorcycles to the left of the aquarium. I second the above comment.

i thought oil an gass was good for tanks besides the fish kinda like it

thanks

[HungrySpleen]

well i feel like i really blow at this aquascaping thing but tell me if this is at least a little better than before.

any suggestions please tell me i need help!!!

[nismo tetra]

Just so you know you can scroll over those pics in photobucket. A list of tags will come down and you copy the one that says IMG code. Then paste it in your post and the picture will show up here in your post. Rather than giving a link all the time. Makes it a bit more easier for the viewer and you can show the specific pictures you want us to look at.

anyways, I think the plants are just to small right now to tell. Once they start to grow and fill in, it will be easier to arrange them in the tank. I also think you could use a piece of wood on the right side of the tank. But it doesn't look bad at all, all new tanks look a little janky. Give it a month or so and wait for the plants to grow in a bit then do a rescape if it needs it.

This hobby takes some patients.
Here is an example of my tank on start up. Notice how janky and ugly it is.


Here it is now...2 months later. Looks more full and colorful.


Just give it some time and you will learn more about the tank. How the plants grow and react etc. Let it do its thing and don't think about it so much lol. You don't "blow" at it. That tank is my first attempt to. You will learn fast if you keep reading here. Great forum to learn on.

[HungrySpleen]

thanks for the tip im still pretty new to the forum thing

[Twimbo]

Originally Posted by nismo tetra

anyways, I think the plants are just to small right now to tell. Once they start to grow and fill in, it will be easier to arrange them in the tank.

This is correct. You don't really have enough plants that are big enough, yet, to really do much. For it too look very good, you'll need to either get more plants, or simply let these plants grow for a while.

It will shape up over time. One thing you need (or must learn) with planted tanks, is patience.

I don't have it, so I'm trying to learn it......

[HungrySpleen]

i guess im gonna hurry up and start waiting then i guess

ill post some new pics in a month or so

[Twimbo]

I think that you'll be surprised at the difference in just a few weeks. (check out how the growth has effected my 20g tank).

[HungrySpleen]

right now im dosing with seachem stuff
using
excel co2
potassium
trace
nitrogen

you think ive got it right until i get some dry ferts

[elihanover]

I think it looks a bit sparce, but that';s because it hasn't had time to grow in. I think the hardest part of any planted tank is patience. Ifind that the more I touch things in my tank, the worse they get. At a certain point, I just have to leave it and wait.

As far as suggestions go, I would add some more rocks and/or wood. I think it's much easier to plan your plants if you have a solid hardscape.

[Twimbo]

Originally Posted by HungrySpleen

right now im dosing with seachem stuff
using
excel co2
potassium
trace
nitrogen

you think ive got it right until i get some dry ferts

OK, this is an area that I'm really just learning myself. I also use the Seachem stuff, for now. I bought some Pfertz liquid fertilizers (during their Thanksgiving sale), that I will use when the Seachem stuff runs out. Eventually, I suppose I'll also switch to dry ferts.

Having said that - I have heard, that using plain "Flourish" is probably more important than using the "Trace" stuff. The full Seachem regime would include: Excel, Iron, Flourish, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Potassium, and Trace.

I know that there is some Iron in plain "Flourish," so I'm not sure if you MUST dose that separately. Also, I've seen a number of folks suggest that Trace is usually not necessary.

Your current regime seems to be missing both Iron and Phosphorus. However, I've heard that plants can get Phosphates from fish food - so you might be ok there.

If your plants are growing and looking healthy, then I think you have the right regime. If not, I would look at adding some Phosphates and/or Iron.

AGAIN - If someone smarter than me chimes in, you should probably listen to them - as, I'm still trying to figure this out myself.

Also - search for threads talking about Flourish or Liquid Ferts, I found this one that might be helpful:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lo...uid-ferts.html

[HungrySpleen]

thanks for the info

i am using Flourish Comprehensive i understand this to be trace elements

also i have some flourite in my gravel so i believe i am OK for now with the iron part , aka only a few plants

myself, much like you, plan on going to dry ferts , im just waiting on the package to arrive and my seachem to run out

thanks again for the help im very new to this as well

[Twimbo]

OK, sounds like you are good. Flourish does sell something else, other than Flourish (Comprehensive) which they call Flourish Trace. Flourish (Comprehensive) covers the Micro nutrients, but not the trace nutrients. I've heard some folks suggest, that most of the trace nutrients are available in tap water, so they don't worry about it.

Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about? If so that good, because I'm still figuring this out as I go along.

Good luck.