I have a 5 gallon rectangular shaped tank I just purchased. I want this to be my first planted tank. The only plants I've had in the past are the tube plants from Petco, which I just popped into the gravel and fertilize once a week. Luckily they haven't "melted" or rotten yet.
I plan to put in a male betta and either mystery snails or ghost shrimp. Also considering some small cory's, but not sure I can add enough in a 5 gallon tank to create a shoaling group. I bought a 5 lb bag of black aquarium sand I planned on using for the substrate. Then I started reading about how many of you have had success using organic soil. Im open to using either. So whichever you think would work best and is easiest for a beginner. My second question regarding the substrate is how much? I know the general rule for gravel is 1-2 pounds per gallon of water. So is the same true for sand/soil?
I plan on buying my plants online from aquariumplants.com. It seems like they come pretty highly regarded by a lot of people. So I was wondering what plants you would recommend for a moderately planted tank. When I say moderately planted, I want it to have nice plant coverage, but not so much that it limits the inhabitants for moving around. When suggesting plants, please keep these things in mind.
1) My tank will be a west facing window, so I get lots if indirect sun this time of year with the long summer days. Naturally, as autumn and winter approach, the amount of natural light will diminish. I have a single full spectrum 10 watt cfl bulb in the tank hood.
2) I'm a beginner, so I am looking for plants that are relatively easy to grow and don't require a lot of special care.
3) Plant layout. I know this somewhat a matter of personal preference, but I know there are some general rules. I believe taller plants should go on the back, and shorter stuff should go in the front.
4) The general look I am going for is taller, more dense plants along the back 1/3- 1/2 of the tank, and more grassy looking, short plants for the front. Here is a picture I spotted online that I like the look of. Not sure what types of plants are in these photos, or how easy they are to grow and maintain, but this is the look I had in mind. http://img329.imageshack.us/i/img3303ms5.jpg/
5) I notice aquariumplants.com sells both loose and potter plants. Is there a benefit of one over the other?
I plan to put in a male betta and either mystery snails or ghost shrimp. Also considering some small cory's, but not sure I can add enough in a 5 gallon tank to create a shoaling group. I bought a 5 lb bag of black aquarium sand I planned on using for the substrate. Then I started reading about how many of you have had success using organic soil. Im open to using either. So whichever you think would work best and is easiest for a beginner. My second question regarding the substrate is how much? I know the general rule for gravel is 1-2 pounds per gallon of water. So is the same true for sand/soil?
I plan on buying my plants online from aquariumplants.com. It seems like they come pretty highly regarded by a lot of people. So I was wondering what plants you would recommend for a moderately planted tank. When I say moderately planted, I want it to have nice plant coverage, but not so much that it limits the inhabitants for moving around. When suggesting plants, please keep these things in mind.
1) My tank will be a west facing window, so I get lots if indirect sun this time of year with the long summer days. Naturally, as autumn and winter approach, the amount of natural light will diminish. I have a single full spectrum 10 watt cfl bulb in the tank hood.
2) I'm a beginner, so I am looking for plants that are relatively easy to grow and don't require a lot of special care.
3) Plant layout. I know this somewhat a matter of personal preference, but I know there are some general rules. I believe taller plants should go on the back, and shorter stuff should go in the front.
4) The general look I am going for is taller, more dense plants along the back 1/3- 1/2 of the tank, and more grassy looking, short plants for the front. Here is a picture I spotted online that I like the look of. Not sure what types of plants are in these photos, or how easy they are to grow and maintain, but this is the look I had in mind. http://img329.imageshack.us/i/img3303ms5.jpg/
5) I notice aquariumplants.com sells both loose and potter plants. Is there a benefit of one over the other?