kiwik

hey. my tanks been running for about 2 weeks with ferts. Most plants have been in the tank about a week and a half. the rotala has been in there for like a day. i need some recommendations for a midground bushy plant.

i have some glosso in the front which you can really see cuz of the light.

ryzilla

For starters get a black background from your LFS and move the ladder to the side glass. Grab some rocks or driftwood from them whan you go pick up the background. Grab some amano's and otto's to help fight the initial algae outbreak. I think you look fine for now on plants. Add slowly and beat algae in the tush now.

erijnal

kiwik, I personally really like the look of Blyxa japonica as a midground bushy plant. It forms an incredible root system though, so it might help to put some root tabs under the plants if you can. I personally have had great success with it without the help of root tabs with my Eco-complete substrate. If it really likes its surroundings, it will be imbued with a red patterning on its leaves. As time goes by, a single plant will turn into multiple plants, which will add to the bushy look.

Another plant that you might want to look at is Downoi. It might be a little too small to be a midground plant in your ten gallon tank, but I've seen a lot of people use the plant and it might work with your layout. In my personal opinion, though, Downoi looks a little unnatural.

Finally, you can use groupings of stems such as Hemianthus micranthemoides and Didiplis diandra to create a bushy look also, although you might prefer to use those plants as background plants rather than midground plants.

Hope that helps! So far it looks like the plants look healthy, so you're probably doing things right, keep it up! If you want to try Blyxa japonica out, let me know, I think I have four plants haha

kiwik

ryzilla, ya i've been wanting to get a black background for about a year o.O whenever i go i just forget about buying it. i took your advice about the ladder. i wish i hadn't cut that hole out of the mesh to fit the ladder. -.- well i patched it and i think it will look better now that the ladder is on the side and the background can grow fuller. i never really knew what amanos or ottos were. aren't amanos shrimps? maybe i'll get some sae? or will those outgrow my tank? i got Hemianthus micranthomoides as midground plants, and planted them near the front temporarily. that was yesterday, today i found some BBA and GBA growing on it. shoulda checked it more carefully before putting it in the tank. i removed the infected parts and hopefully it won't spread. i dont really have an algae problem, besides green algae growing on some glossos. i believe that's because of too long photoperiod? well here's a picture from yesterday and today.


o ya...i kinda like the algae growing on the two rocks in the front, so i left it there. it's not really a problem on my other plants.....yet...