Imput needed

[eveliens]

I really don't seem to have a talent for 'scaping. I can get the "hard"scape okay but the plants... :headshake2:. I think this is partly because I tend to kill them before they fill in and I get frustrated.

I have two tanks I want to work on.

The first is a 20L. It houses rummynose rasboras and loaches from Burma. As a result, I'd like to fill it with some appropriate plants. Right now I have water wisteria and Aponogetons Sp. I would like to add some crypts because they grow well in my water. I was thinking rotala sp. for the back/sides? The light is a little low (2x15w) and I add excel, but I've been considering doing some DIY CO2.

The second is a little 5 hex. The residents are 6 juv. spotted blue eye rainbows. It's just recently been set back up with dwarf sags, java moss, and water wisteria floaters. I'm looking for appropriate plant suggestions for such a tiny tank.

Comments and suggestions appreciated.

 

[1oooop]

I suggest adding excel or co2 to your 5g, no more plants needed

 

[eveliens]

Haha, I just realized you can see two of the little specks in the picture.

The water wisteria is temporary because I know it'll get way too big. I just happened to have two cuttings to steal from my other tank If the dwarf sags and moss (not looking forward to pruning) fill in, will that still be full? Or should I get a floater (and don't say duckweed; I've got a 20L of that stuff every week).

 

[jpappy789]

A general guideline is obviously smaller plants in front, taller in back and to the sides.

For the 20L I would try some anubias, crypts and java fern as foreground-middle ground and the aponogeton can be pushed more towards the back. I keep my wisteria more towards the back corner as is will grow taller under the right conditions. The rotola would definitely do better under more light so also consider vallisneria and/or cambomba for the background instead. Neither really need more light than you have IME.