Putting plants into a new aquarium

Hi there,

As I've posted in the Intro forum, I'm starting my first tank. It's a 165L and I've decided that I'd like to add some plants to it. My basic plan is to plant just the back left corner (maybe 20%-25% of the tank will have plants in it). I don't want to call it a 'planted' tank, 'cos there won't be a lot of plants in it, and calling what I'm doing 'planted' seems like a joke compared to some of the stunning tanks on here!

Anyhow, I've a few, hopefully quick, questions! I've got some AquaBasis Plus and some gravel to go over it. I'm thinking of putting the AquaBasis Plus into the back left section, and then covering the whole lot with gravel, as that will then give me the other effect I'd like, a slope from the back left to the front right.

So, firstly, when do I put plants in? Do I put in the AquaBasis, and then the plants, and then the gravel and then water? Do I put AquaBasis and Gravel in, then plants, then water? Or should some water be in before adding plants (maybe fill the tank halfway)? Basically, what's the order to do it in?

Secondly, I have a gravel cleaner for the tank, but I've heard that you shouldn't use a gravel cleaner on the Gravel over the AquaBasis, as it'll suck up the AquaBasis too. If that's true, how do I clean the gravel in that section?

And finally, what will I need to 'feed' the plants? I've heard I need some plant food, and also something to give them CO2 (I won't have a CO2 setup with a cylinder and all that).

Any other advice really would be appreciated, I'm only going to use hardy plants (so I don't kill them!), maybe some Vallisneria in the back and something smaller in the front.

Hope I've explained that all clearly, thanks!

J.

1stly don't go putting down your initial effort at adding a few plants based on fully planted tanks, I'm sure yours will look just as well and without a positive attitude I don't think it'll be to your best so stay positive pal
I added plants when my tank was full and it was a pain to keep them down so id say add them before the water but keep spraying them so they don't dry out. No need ferts at the start realy and with vallis ye won't need co2 either. I'll let the more knowledgeable expand on that though because I wouldn't really be a plant person
Best of luck with it

Place your substrate in the way you want and i would fill the tank about 30% with water.Put a plastic plate into the tank and when you start filling aim for the plate, this stops the water messing up you substrate.Once your at 30% full start positioning your plants(leave them in the pots for now) once you think you have them where you want them whip em out of the pots and plant them. Make sure you bed them in well so you don't have any floaters.Seen as you will be planting a fresh tank, the plants will have no food what so ever, so i would start adding ferts right away.I have found that new plants in any of my set ups will start to wither in the first week or two after planting, but then they get used to their new surroundings and start to come to life.If this happens just remember to keep removing any dead leaves(this is a must)The plants will eat fish waste so i wouldnt be too worried about the gravel cleaner, just a light tidy up should be ok. Hopefully the more experienced plant people will have more detailed info.

Stuart.

Excellent, thanks for your replies.

So basically I put in the AquaBasis Plus and the Gravel and then about 30% water? Sounds like a plan, thanks...

J.

There's a few ways to plant,
It's really down to personal preference
You can use gravel only
Or soil base capped with your choice
Of substrate.
Also plants weighted down sitting on top
Of substrate
There roots will find there way to the bottom
If left alone-

Cool, thanks for that. I hadn't even thought of having to weigh the plants down. Beginning to wonder why I decided to go with real plants!

Another quick question: how many plants do I need? If I want around 30-40cm of Vallisneria along the back, how many individual plants do I need to buy?

Thanks...

J.

Valis will grow and spread as with most aqua plants, so if i were you just buy a few pieces of it and once it takes hold you can split it and spread it.

Stuart.

Thanks for your reply Stuart.

Imagine you're talking to someone who knows nothing about this! When you say a few, do you mean around 3 or 4? And when you say split it and spread it, you mean what exactly?

Thanks...

J.

As soon as it starts growing it will start sending out runners
Like little roots.

Yeah sorry lol. Just like Angle said as it grows it will send out shoots under the substrate that will pop up and grow and so on . So if i were u id by maybe 3/4 clumps of it (probably about 5/6 shoots in a clump)plant them and see how you get on and soon enough you will be cutting the stuff out because it will out grow you tank lol.

Stuart.