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FOREGROUND
5 Red Ivy
5 Bacopa Monnieri
5 Red Water Rose
5 Ech Tenellus
5 Pygmy Chain Sword
BACKGROUND
5 Hygro Polysperma
5 Vallis Torta
5 Elodea Densa
5 Cobomba
MIDGROUND
5 Hair Grass
5 Red Ludwigia
5 Red Ambulia
5 Vallis Corkscrew (sml)
5 Rotala Macrandra


http://www.java-plants.com/cart/prod-col.asp

its the 70 plant collection

What size tank, what fish, fertilization plans, substrate, light, driftwood, rocks? The plants look good. The site had lots of info on it as well. We need more info, please give us more to work with.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

*doh!*

i always forget - its a 3foot tank 1 foot high/wide
substrate is gravel. other fixtures i've got at the mo are a cave system thing, roman ruins. i've got soem driftwood too but its not in the tank but i am plannin to stick some moss etc on it. lightin i did have a bright tube in there but it fused so at the mo i got the original one.

fish - 2 neons, 2 silver tip tetras, 2 ottos, 1 peppered cory, 1 flying fox, 1 golden loach, 1 clown loach, 1 chain snail eater, 3 hatchets

fertilization plans?

lightin i did have a bright tube in there but it fused so at the mo i got the original one.

That, unfortunately, doesn't help at all, need specific information on the wattage.Bright tube or not, one bulb is just not going to cut it. Certainly not enough light for most of the plants listed above, you will have wasted your money within a couple of weeks.You'll probably need about 3 times the amount of light you currently have, maybe more.

Hope you're up for some friendly advice !? A plant package like the above doesn't come cheap right ? based on this post and another you made I'm guessing you're new to the planted end. That's ok, we all were at sometime or other. You've stated you wanted a heavily planted tank as they look better. Well, unfortunately it's not as easy as dropping a pile of plants in. You need to do some homework and be prepared. It's more work then a fish only tank and has some additional requirements. It's not that difficult to do right, but requires preparation.

If you are going to drop a lot of money on a plant package like above, you don't want them to be all dead within a couple of weeks, right ? You'de be better flushing the money down the toilet or better still send it to me

Do some research, find out the basic requirements for lighting and nutrients. based on what you are prepared or can afford lighting and set up wise, choose an a method. Pick plants appropriate to the set up you can provide. You'll have a much better chance of success and save a lot of money in the long run.

Start by browsing this forum, the sticky at the top is a good place to start, some the logs on here will give you an idea of what's required.

The critical point of a planted tank is the set up. This can make or break the tank. Preparation is the key to a good set up. Everything needs to be in place before you start. Adding things piecemeal never never works good.

Knowing and understanding light requirements of plants is the place to start. Knowing the amount of light you are willing to put over a tank tells you what plants will and will not work. It will also go a long way to helping decide on an appropriate method and what kind of fertilization regime to put in place. Understand this and it's easy enough.

A question like "is this a good combiantion of plants?" is irrelevant. Yes it's a fine collection with some nice plants. But the question you have to ask is "can I grow these plants ?"

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

More neons, they are schooling fish, same for the pepper cories.

Too figure out the wattage here is an example

total watts =15W
10G tank minus 2G gravel =8G
15w/8G=1.9WPG
This tank would require low to med light plants.

The first plant on your list is a hight light plant. You need at least 2WPG to grow it and have it's colour come out properly from my understanding.

Next off yes aquatic plants need fertilizing, the fish don't provide everything they require. You must provide the rest. There are a lot of options for that. Check out the tank logs of LITTLE_FISH, TETRATECH, and Nowherman6 just to name a couple. They discuss fertilizing in great detail. There are also other websites that can help, here is one I have visited fairly often.
http://www.aquabotanic.com/begin.htm
I'm sure there are many others that are equally useful.
Good Luck with the planted tank, don't give up, once the tank is set up it really is very enjoyable to watch the fish swimming happily in a more natural environment!/:'

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

thanks a mil luv my krib

it really helped! i was meant to be buying a more powerful light this weekend but i'd left my card at home so i wasnt able to... oh hang on no - i was in my football clothing thats why i'd left it home *L*

bensaf - well the point of me postin is to get as much advice as i can! i know when to ask for help so i am hence my thread.

i'm grateful to be in the position where i can say that money isnt a barrier as to what kinda lighting i get for hte plants etc. i've always been of the school that if soemthing needs doing u mite aswell do a good job of it no matter how much it costs.

but alas as u advised me time to check the sticky at the top of the page! thanks

bensaf - well the point of me postin is to get as much advice as i can! i know when to ask for help so i am hence my thread.

I understand that, I was just giving a gentle push in the right direction I hate to see folks start out badly and then get dis-couraged and give up.I saw a sub-text in your posts that I don't think people were addressing.

i'm grateful to be in the position where i can say that money isnt a barrier

In that case my consultancy fees are very reasonable

i've always been of the school that if soemthing needs doing u mite aswell do a good job of it no matter how much it costs.

Good approach to take. Money is a big issue for a lot starting out. Being able and willing to invest in the right equipment is a huge help.

Figure out your lighting. Decide if you want to go with a co2 or non co2 approach. based on that we can work out a tailor made fert routine very easy.

Have everything in place ready to go. Plant very heavily from the start. A good start and patience are the key.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.