My dirted planted tank

It's a 35 gallon bow front dirted planted tank. It has 6 neon tetras, 2 black angels, 2 blue emperor tetras, 7 rummy nose tetras, 6 harlequin rasboras, 3 red minor serpae, 2 kuhili loaches, 1 albino kuhili loach, 3 fancy guppies, 2 otocinclus , 2 nerite snails, 3 albino cory, and 1 rubber lip pleco. Its not heavily grown out yet . What you guys think?

Current 35gal bow front set up[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Before new design on 35gal bow front set up
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Before 30gal eclipse set up[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

You have a 'green (wet) thumb', the plants are looking good! I love to look of planted tanks but am too afraid to try.

 Good stuff! Please keep us updated on the plant growth:)

It evolved as I got more information on here and some plant help from fishbox members like you guys. The 3rd pic bottom tank was my 1st attempt on planted tank on a 15 gal with sand substrate, then 2nd pic middle pic was dirted planted on a 35 gal bow front but design and layout looked too ornamenty (not real word I think) and 1st pic top is the current set up on a 35 gal bow front I think I happy with it for now. Just always have to poke the substrate for gasses to be out or belly flop goes the fishes.

Hey Wes,

what kind of soil setup did you use?

I read some articles in the plantedtank.net and I think I'll use a silica sand (2-3 parts) to any topsoil (1 part) mix. The sand will cut down on the mess, and I'll use it as the top layer for "looks". I can get them all at Home Depot for cheap.

Are you using Co2? Excel Flourish? Supplements?

Im using 1 inch top soil and 1inch gravel/flourite mix as the cap. Im also using DIY co2. Sand caps will hold down debris more and also bad gasses that needs to be released. With gravel, the gasses escapes much easier. Gasses that accumulates in substrate because poison to the livestock. And Malaysian trumpet snails will help stir up substrate a little to release the gasses.

Updated new look of planted tank. Thanks to Seattle_Aquarist.

Hi SiRWesDragon,

Pic?

Updated picture. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Hi SiRWesDragon,

Looking good, I see several species survived well!

Hi Roy.
Yes. The blyxa japonicas, Nymphoide sp taiwan, and some red rotala thrive but rotala seems too small for what I've seen in others tank. What am I doing wrong? Thanks roy for the plants. The growth of these plants was able to trade others for other plants that I dont have like in plant it forward thing.

Hi SiRWesDragon,

A closeup picture of the plant and leaves might help to determine the problem. That said, I find problems with calcium and magnesium deficiencies are not uncommon in our area due to our soft water.

Tank looks great Wes! All there is to do now is sit back amd watch plants grow

What do you mean; " Rotala not big like you've seen in other tanks"? Plant looks normal to me. Once it stretches out its feet (roots), it should start growing pretty quick. The leaves are still pinkish. That means the plant is getting its iron and good light.

Looking very nice Wes...plants look happy and healthy.

fishNAbowl wrote:Tank looks great Wes! All there is to do now is sit back amd watch plants grow

What do you mean; " Rotala not big like you've seen in other tanks"? Plant looks normal to me. Once it stretches out its feet (roots), it should start growing pretty quick. The leaves are still pinkish. That means the plant is getting its iron and good light.

Sorry guys meant to say ludwigia red. On left side behind the moss tree. Ludwigia red got some from Roy and other fishboxers. They arent red as much (the 1st day i got them) and leaves are smaller too. I did forget to put clay in soil when I first set it up. Is it that?

Thanks for the kind complements.

I'm definitely enjoying your updated pictures, Wes! Good job!
You could always try adding red clay for iron, or just dose liquid fert (Seachem Iron), to get more red coloration in your plants. I'd prefer just poking small clay balls into the substrate.

Where to get some clay in small amount?

Your best bet is to go to craft stores and buy the mexican potting clay... they sell them in like 10lb packages... maybe even 5lb boxes. That's the smallest I've seen.

Of you could buy some from me, I still have a 5lb box LOL... I could sell you some, but I live so far away. Hahahaha

Boooooooo.

for my last dirted tank i just went down to Pt. Defiance and snagged some off the beach, the cliffs there are pretty much all clay. not sure if it was the best choice but free is great in my book