How much is too much

[woodyblueeyes]

Good morning gang,

I have another question about this new 5 gal setup I have at my desk here at work. I have a java fern and a red wendth? in the tank along with three small tennessee flagstone rocks for cover. I think I've made a final decision on moving my betta Nash back to it, along with the two cherry barbs, and moving the clown loach to my home tank.

With that said, how many plants are too many for the 5 gal setup? I don't want to overfill the tank with plant life, but I do like the look of having a plush green aquascape in the tank, and the fish swimming around the leaves and etc...

So I'm up for any tips y'all wanna throw my way please??

Woody

[OrionGirl]

It's an old joke--the tank is over planted when people ask if you have fish in there. When you can't see any substrate, just the plants...Anyway, there isn't a too much for planting. Bettas in particular will be happy with a thickly planted tank--they love squirming around in plants. Fish that swim in open waters, like barbs, will not be happy in a packed tank--they like having open areas.

The bigger issue with a small tank will be providing enough light and ferts for the plants. Supplements can be a pain, and require more work.

Many people have two types of tanks--planted tank with fish, and fish tanks with plants.

[TKOS]

I would suggest due to the barbs that you put plants along the sides and back and leave the center open. They need the swimming room and the bettas that I have had generally like to stick to the sides anyway. My 5 gallon with just a betta and his pet snail i scrammed with water sprite and he seems to love it.

[woodyblueeyes]

So, right now all I have on the floor of the tank is the normal aquarium gravel. Should I consider using something else...the substrates stuff that I've read about on here, to help in the planting and the growth of the plants?

Woody

[TKOS]

It would really depend at this point on what you wish to grow. Java Fern or Stem plants do fine without special soil. Stem plants get their nutrients from the water column.