I've replied to PMs. Sorry, no more weeping moss, still have half a dozen portions of pellia available.
Sorry, I can't make any trades. I'm actually tearing down all my tanks to get ready to move and I didn't want all these good plants to go in the trash.
It kind of does both. I have it in one tank as a "foreground" plant where it just sits on top of the substrate. There it grows in pretty mounds but I can pick it up because it's not attached to the substrate. In my shrimp tank I have it attached to a piece of driftwood just like moss. There...
I have Assassin Snails (Clea Helena) available for sale for $2 each or 6 for $10. Snails range in size from ½ inch to 1 inch. Shipping is $6 for USPS Priority Mail. I accept PayPal only and can only ship to locations within the U.S. Thanks for looking!
I have multiple golf ball sized portions of Pellia(Monosolenium Tenerum) and Weeping moss (Vesicularia ferriei) for sale for $5 each. Price includes the cost of shipping. Buy any two and I’ll throw in a third (your choice) for free. I accept PayPal only and can ship only within the U.S. Thanks...
I think it depends on whether you are using a filter or plants for filtration and whether you have an organic or inorganic substrate.
If you grow plants in an inorganic substrate and rely on the bacterial colony in your filter to break down fish waste then you need to keep doing gravel...
Here are my recommendations:
You will need artificial light. The plants won't be able to photosynthesize properly with window light alone, which will keep them from absorbing ammonia at the rate you need to keep the colony of inverts and two fish healthy. Shoot for around 2 wpg in addition...
Since you are using deionized water I'd recommend continuing to add fish food to the tank as a source of phosphates. The cycle will take forever and a day if the bacteria don't have access to phosphates.
Diana Walstad's Ecology of the Planted Aquarium is the best and only book you will ever need for keeping a healthy planted tank. You can find everything else you'd ever want to know and pictures of aquascaping online for free.
Oh darn, I was hoping for an easy fix. Yeah, you should pull out the bad looking plants but I think you could save that sword. It doesn't look too bad yet.
Is that a reverse flow undergravel filter I see? If so, that's your problem. Plants have a heck of a time getting established when their roots are being flooded with rushing water 24/7. With plants sitting there decaying like that you can't help but have algae problems.
You are doing a great job. I also keep crushed coral in my filter (my tap water has a high pH and a low hardness) and it does a wonderful job of keeping the KH stable. It does take a few days/weeks before you see the full effect. I would not recommend using baking soda to do the same thing...