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Overcrowded with plants?

UseHerName

Member
Joined
15 Mar 2022
Messages
47
Location
London
Hi all, I finished setting up my first tank and I’m worried that it might be a bit too busy/ over crowded with plants. Can I have your input on this please? Images attached
Hadar
 

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Hi all,

No, you are fine. Personally I'd regard that as the bare minimum of plants you require, but others will be more keen on "negative space".

cheers Darrel
Thank you for your reply Darrel, that's good to know.
 
There a lot of empty space in the middle of the tank - i guess you are waiting for some plants to arrive in the mail so that can fill up that space?
After it grows in , you won't be able to see the rocks anyway, so might as well get a head start and remove them to make space for more plants! :)
 
Hi @UseHerName, The tank looks great! As far as plant mass goes, I think this is just okay... I personally would add more smaller ones in the front - perhaps some slower growing Cryptocoryne, and perhaps take out one or two of those rocks on the righthand side and put in some bigger ones there - like fast growing stems. In addition, I suggest adding some floating plants such as Frogbit.

On the 2nd picture of the back corner of the tank, it looks to me like you buried the rhizome of the Java Fern in the substrate (the rhizome is that "horizontal green stem" the the leaves are growing from). If you bury the rhizome it will most likely rot and kill the plant. You have to make sure only the roots are in the substrate, or better, attach the java fern to a piece of wood or rock - the same goes for the Anubias in the lower right corner - I can't tell from the picture if they are buried in the substate though - sort of looks like it. Also start regular dosing of a complete fertilizer right away.

Cheers,
Michael
 
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Hi @UseHerName, The tank looks great! As far as plant mass goes, I think this is just okay... I personally would add more smaller ones in the front - perhaps some slower growing Cryptocoryne, and perhaps take out one or two of those rocks on the righthand side and put in some bigger ones there - like fast growing stems. In addition, I suggest adding some floating plants such as Frogbit.

On the 2nd picture of the back corner of the tank, it looks to me like you buried the rhizome of the Java Fern in the substrate (the rhizome is that "horizontal green stem" the the leaves are growing from). If you bury the rhizome it will most likely rot and kill the plant. You have to make sure only the roots are in the substrate, or better, attach the java fern to a piece of wood or rock - the same goes for the Anubias in the lower right corner - I can't tell from the picture if they are buried in the substate though - sort of looks like it. Also start regular dosing of a complete fertilizer right away.

Cheers,
Michael
Hello Michael,
Thank you for your reply!
So, some lower plants for the front will be moved from the previous fish tank, once I move the livestock (Cories, Guppies and shrimps). I have a decent amount of Tropica Pogostemon helferi plants, but they'll have to wait.
Thank you for the tip regarding the Java Fern, I pulled it out a bit and now the rhizome is exposed.
Can I ask regarding the fertilizer - so I started dosing with a complete mixture, commercial brand. There is the recommended dose and it is once a week, but with the frequent water change, should I dose differently? perhaps you know.

Thank you again for your comments!

Hi @UseHerName, The tank looks great! As far as plant mass goes, I think this is just okay... I personally would add more smaller ones in the front - perhaps some slower growing Cryptocoryne, and perhaps take out one or two of those rocks on the righthand side and put in some bigger ones there - like fast growing stems. In addition, I suggest adding some floating plants such as Frogbit.​

On the 2nd picture of the back corner of the tank, it looks to me like you buried the rhizome of the Java Fern in the substrate (the rhizome is that "horizontal green stem" the the leaves are growing from). If you bury the rhizome it will most likely rot and kill the plant. You have to make sure only the roots are in the substrate, or better, attach the java fern to a piece of wood or rock - the same goes for the Anubias in the lower right corner - I can't tell from the picture if they are buried in the substate though - sort of looks like it. Also start regular dosing of a complete fertilizer right away.

Cheers,
Michael
 
Hi there,
I think you'll find when the plants grow in you will still have the central area clear so it doesn't look too busy.
Personally I think it looks great, a nice mixture of colour & leaf shape with the rocks & wood. 👍🏻
Thank you!
 
There a lot of empty space in the middle of the tank - i guess you are waiting for some plants to arrive in the mail so that can fill up that space?
After it grows in , you won't be able to see the rocks anyway, so might as well get a head start and remove them to make space for more plants! :)
I'll take that as a no;) I have some plants that I would like to transfer from my current tank, along with the livestock, but I like some 'dead space'. i'm not sure i'll fill it all.Regarding the rocks, I really like them, I brought them especially from the Sea of Gallilee in Israel. It's the one thing in the tankthat I can change as I like without causing too much mess, disturb the plants etc'.
 
Thank you for the tip regarding the Java Fern, I pulled it out a bit and now the rhizome is exposed.
Sounds good 👍 also do the same with the Anubias if nessesary
Can I ask regarding the fertilizer - so I started dosing with a complete mixture, commercial brand.
What is the brand/product of fertilizer you are using?
There is the recommended dose and it is once a week, but with the frequent water change, should I dose differently? perhaps you know.
Yes, when you do large water changes you should replenish the fertilizer - To make it easy, some commercial fertilizers base their weekly dosing recommendation on a certain amount of water change. If we know exactly what product you're dosing and how much water you are changing and how often, we can help you figure it out.

Cheers,
Michael
 
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Sounds good 👍 also do the same with the Anubias if nessesary

What is the brand/product of fertilizer you are using?

Yes, when you do large water changes you should replenish the fertilizer - To make it easy, some commercial fertilizers base their weekly dosing recommendation on a certain amount of water change. If we know exactly what product you're dosing and how much water you are changing and how often, we can help you figure it out.

Cheers,
Michael
Hello again,
Yes it is Flora grow, I attached an image too
 

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Hello again,
Yes it is Flora grow, I attached an image too
Hi @UseHerName, I am blank on that one... I couldn't find any good info on this product... whats it saying on the label about ingredients and dosing instruction? Perhaps someone else knows this product.

You may want to pick up some TNC Complete or Tropica Specialised. Those are reputable products that many hobbyists have good experience with.

Cheers,
Michael
 
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Hi @UseHerName, I am blank on that one... I couldn't find any good info on this product... whats it saying on the label about ingredients and dosing instruction? Perhaps someone else knows this product.

You may want to pick up some TNC Complete or Tropica Specialised. Those are reputable products that many hobbyists have good experience with.

Cheers,
Michael

@George Farmer has used it before and has commented on one of his tanks when using it - Superfish Expert 70

Had a quick look because it's the one my LFS suggested today - they use it in all their own tanks in store - so today was my first dosing of this.
 
Hi @MrMarlow, Good to know. Do you know the list of ingredients?

Cheers,
Michael
I didn't, but I've just peeled the label back and found this list - I'm not a mad scientist, so I have no clue what this all really means, but here's the list:

Solution of K (+Mg)-fertiliser 0.48 (+0.17) with micronutrients. Guaranteed composition in a percentage by weight:
  • 0.48% Potassium Oxide (K20) - Soluble in water.
  • 0.17% Magnesium oxide total (MgO) - Soluble in water.
  • 0.003% Boron (B)
  • 0.004% Cobalt (Co)
  • 0.002% Copper (Cu)
  • 0.062% Iron (Fe)
  • 0.02% Manganese (Mn)
  • 0.005% Molybdenum (Mo)
  • 0.001% Zinc (Zn)
  • Chelating agent: EDTA.
 
I didn't, but I've just peeled the label back and found this list - I'm not a mad scientist, so I have no clue what this all really means, but here's the list:

Solution of K (+Mg)-fertiliser 0.48 (+0.17) with micronutrients. Guaranteed composition in a percentage by weight:
  • 0.48% Potassium Oxide (K20) - Soluble in water.
  • 0.17% Magnesium oxide total (MgO) - Soluble in water.
  • 0.003% Boron (B)
  • 0.004% Cobalt (Co)
  • 0.002% Copper (Cu)
  • 0.062% Iron (Fe)
  • 0.02% Manganese (Mn)
  • 0.005% Molybdenum (Mo)
  • 0.001% Zinc (Zn)
  • Chelating agent: EDTA.

Hi @MrMarlow, Thanks for providing this list... So no Nitrogen or Phosphorus I guess? I wonder if thats the exact same product as @UseHerName is using (?). For a fertilizer to be considered "complete" by the nomenclature, it must provide both Macros (NPK) and Micros.

Cheers,
Michael
 
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