Where to plant plants?

[Paintballer99]

Some know, that I should be getting my goods this week, and setting up my tank. My question is, when I set it up, where should I plant these plants?
Java ferns
Anubias nana
Penny wort
Lidwigia ovakis
and e. schluenteri

I do want to create "depth" but I know I'm just starting out.
P.s. I'm going black background :)

[JimL]

What size tank?

[jpappy789]

Java fern and anubias species do best anchored to any hardscape (rocks, wood, etc.) although in my experience they do just fine in the substrate. You just have to be certain that their rhizome is not covered.

For pennywort, it works well as either a stem plant or a floater. I'd plant it near a back corner as it will grow tall and eventually across the surface.

Ludwigia is another stem plant so it will grow taller. Place near the back.

The sword will make a nice centerpiece IMO.

[jm1212]

put the sword either in the center or off to one side.

the ludwigia and pennywort should be near the back, with the others near the front.

[Paintballer99]

Cool, My size is a 20 long. I plan on getting wood soon, but not right away. Maybe I can get a rock from my backyard, boil it and plant it on there until I get some wood.

[dundadundun]

ditto what pappy said. also the ferns will do better on wood usually.

yes to the yard rock... same goes with collecting your own wood. it's much cheaper that way also.

[Paintballer99]

Maybe I'll go out and look in the woods.....

[coach_z]

i agree with jpappy with all the placements but i wouldn't put the sword in the center. i would put it just off center by about 3-6 inches.

[clb2196]

I have penneywort in the front. It requires more maintenance because it does grow fast, but if you keep it short and the stems close together it makes a nice little bushy plant.

[Paintballer99]

Ok, I also have 1 thing of hairgrass comming (I might get some more and maybe some baby tears) where should I plant thoes?

[coach_z]

the hairgrass and baby tears can go right along the front of the tank. i would put them in two separate 'grassy patches' and allow them to spread as they grow.

[Paintballer99]

Cool, I hope my hairgrass does carpet a little bit.

[Paintballer99]

Yo I found some driftwood in my woods.....Is this okay to use?

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w275/pntballer99/S7300596.jpg

[Paintballer99]

anyone?

[jpappy789]

I have penneywort in the front. It requires more maintenance because it does grow fast, but if you keep it short and the stems close together it makes a nice little bushy plant.
Are you talking about the same pennywort? Hydrocotyle spp?

Not exactly what I would call a "bushy" plant.

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/plants/StemPlants/images/BrazilianPennywort2WFPS_Ap12.jpg

[bushwhacker]

clean that wood really good and it should be ok, hair grass and baby tears need a lot of light and usually co2 to do well

[Paintballer99]

Ok I'll clean it up. I have 40 watts of light and DIY co2 for now.

[Paintballer99]

WIth the plants that I have, can I use flourish excel with all of them?

[coach_z]

Yo I found some driftwood in my woods.....Is this okay to use?
if you found it in the woods can you still call it driftwood? or do you have to call it woods wood ;)

that looks okay to use. what you generally want to use is 'hard' woods, aka not pine(soft wood) because hard woods last longer and dont rot as quickly.

i would boil that wood for a while, or put it in the tub and pour boiling water over it. or stick it in the oven for a while to kill anything that might be living on/in it that you might not want int your fish tank.

Flourish Excel - If you have any vals then excel wont really do very well.

[Paintballer99]

OK so I'll boil it for a few days....I don't think I have any vals...so I should be good