[esab]

So as the title tells you I am new to planted tanks, I am having a hard time figuring out what I should do with my new 29g tank. I currently have 2 pieces of driftwood that have slate bases, and 2 rocks. I am also pretty clueless when it comes to planting my plants. I have some coming this next week, so any advice as to where to put these plants in my tank is welcome. Below are pics of what I have so far, and a list of plants I am getting. If anyone owns these plants and has advice I would appreciate it.

Sword-ozelot'green'
> 2 Foreground- Lilaeopsis Mauritiana (potted)
> Anubias-coffeffolia (cultivar)
> 2 bunch- Rotala Indica, water wisteria
> 5 Val- Italian Val "Leopard"
> Aponogeton-crispus
> 2 cryptocoryne- crispatula, pontederiifolia
> crypt pot -wendtii bronze
> java fern

 

[SirKappa]

Hi esab.

Personally I would remove the slate and try to group the wood closer together. I would try several different arrangements with them and try out a few different things. As for the rocks I am at a loss. I have never used rocks in my aquascapes cuz I don't know how to use them. LOL might sound funny but I find it very difficult to position the rocks.

Preferably, you would use your rotalas, vals, and apon's closer to the rear of the aquarium. They can be useful as a background and also can hide some of the equipment in the aquarium. Your java fern and anubias can be tied to your driftwood so it can root onto it. Make sure you don't bury the rhizome in the gravel with these plants. I would use your crypts in the midground, and you already know where the foreground plants go!

Also might want to think about adding a black or dark background to compliment the substrate. This will also help hide black equipment in the tank and help the plants pop out. I just bought a black background but have been so lazy to install it(I despise doing this more then filter maintenance, water changes and all that).... anyways... hope this helps!

 

[Kathyy]

Agree, those nice bits of wood might be nicer at a different angle. If you can take the slate off you have more options. It could be put back on if you find the perfect arrangement. Look up the golden triangle rule or just do your arranging by thirds.

I seriously dislike the way the wood on the left is presented. Upside down it would be a nice stump, wouldn't it? Might need help with that slate put back on though. Perhaps little arches would appear, you could place it forward with the Lilaeopsis up to it. The blocky piece also looks like a stump and I would like to see it standing up on the right hand side. With all your nice tall rosette plants and a couple of stumpy wood bits you would be using the height of your tank better.

Amazon swords look great with light shining through the new leaves so mid ground is a nice placement for them. The Rotala would look nice near the solid Anubias leaves. I would keep the vals in a grouping just so they look like something. They too would contrast with the Anubias. I like C. wendtii near the front so I can admire the subtlety of its markings and growth. The wisteria is great to fill in with its light bright finely cut leaves. Small bits come forward and taller ones behind. I hope it will be a fast growing weed for you and you can play with its placement.

Take the Lilaeopsis out of the pot and gently tease the plantlets apart and plant in small groups or singly. Use tweezers, hold the plant by the roots and scoop into the gravel, gently tug up so the crown [where leaves and roots meet] is just below the surface of the gravel so it gets some light but the roots have a better hold in the gravel. Be sure to unbunch the Rotala and wisteria and plant each stem about an inch apart. You might be able to make more than one grouping from each bunch.

 

[esab]

Thanks for the advice! I was able to take the slate bottom off of one of the pieces but not the other one. You guys were definitely right, it looks a lot better on its side, and there was an almost hole in the wood that I stuck my java fern in and it looks great . I received all my plants yesterday with the exception of the anubias I ordered. Took me a good 2 hours to plant and move stuff around to my liking, but as of right now I like my placement. I'm letting the aponogeton crispus just hang out on top for now until i figure out where i want to put it. I also received 5 olive nerite snails, so hopefully that will help with algae control until i get some shrimp in there. I plan on taking a picture everyday and making a timelapse video/slideshow. I think that would be cool to see the evolution of my tank. Do you think i should fertilize or need to? I will be setting up a DIY CO2 once I get the materials I ordered online, but am unsure if I need to get fertilizer. I would like the easiest, least expensive, but effective fertilizer if I have to. I'm excited that I can finally take the next step of getting some fish in there in a week or so!