Some advice on improving my aquarium please.
 

Hi Guys . I'm looking at improving the plants in my tank . I want to keep what i have but maybe add something small and make the bottom of the tank more attractive . Could i get some ideas of what to use and get please .

http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/a...1e604_full.jpg

micro chain swords have been a good small plant for me. you can find them in the tropical fish profiles under plants.

i have also been on the search for somethign that stays small so this is a good post.

If you give us the parameters of your water and the amount of light you have, we can better help you. These plants may not work (we need to know your parameters), but you could try dwarf hairgrass, dwarf sag, or HC. You could also try some floating plants like duckweed or amazon frogbit.

also invest in some floating plants i think i see a gourami in there and he/she would love u for it. floating platns really round out an aquarium

Substrate plants would really make a difference. Pygmy chain sword would be ideal. You can read about it in our profile, click on the shaded name. Other plants are there too.

Floating plants also would be good; Water Sprite if you can find it, or the stem plant Brazilian Pennywort which makes a lovely floating plant.

Have you considered replacing the substrate? I would suggest a fine gravel or sand, in a dark shade, would work to soften the brightness and the fish would be more colourful.

Byron.

Nothing livens and brightens up the substrate like bottom feeders!

My Ph is 6.6 to 6.8 ( pet shop i buy from has thier discus tanks at 6.8 )I really can't take it any lower than that with the other fish i have . My ammonia is 0.00 . Temp is 78 to 80 . Because i work some long hours the tank lights are only on for maybe 3 to 4 hours a day .

I'm probably more interested in a fine gravel rather than a sand. I like the idea of the darker gravel to help make it feel more natural to the fish . And to get rid of some of the brightness for less stress to them also .

You should get a timer for your lights if you want your plants to do better.

i second what mikalia said, dont think you will ever get much out of a planted tank with 3 hours of light..

hi, i think u can add depth effect first before add bottom plants. many aquascapers usually sloop their substrate from the back (higher substrate) to the front (lower), or mound substrate at 1 spot (third person rule is the best, u can goggle it to find more) to create higher ground. for bottom plants i suggest u small leafed plants like echinodorus tenellus which undemanding and can create bushy effect to your tank. and sorry for my english.