Did I plant everything right?

[Koenator]

Hi, I just started my first ever planted tank. It’s a 30gal, I got everything including tank, filter, LED hood, 100w heater and gravel on the side of the road for free.

The only things I have bought so far are the fish which I owned previously in another established tank, and the sand. I say all this to emphasize that I’m on a bit of a budget .

Here are the plants currently. I planted the java ferns and the alernanthera deep in the substrate so they wouldnt float away, and the dwarf hairgrass I planted patches of 6-10 blades about a half inch to an inch apart everywhere in the substrate. Does everything look okay, and do you have any other tips for ensuring my plants stay healthy? I will buy fertilizer if i need to but I’d prefer not to spend a whole lot of money. I heard that dwarf hairgrass prefers really good substrate so hopefully my fluval is enough.

EDIT: Also I went around and trimmed every patch of dwarf hairgrass that was 2 inches or higher, is this too aggressive?

 

[Rocky998]

The Java ferns will die if the rhizomes are under the substrate. It's best to super glue or tie them off to something like rocks or wood

 

[Koenator]

The Java ferns will die if the rhizomes are under the substrate. It's best to super glue or tie them off to something like rocks or wood

Oh my goodness I didn’t know that, thank you. I will move them ASAP.

 

[Back in the fold]

Being on a budget and doing things on the cheap is the best way to really learn and find things out about this hobby. We are dealing with simple plants , for the most part , and generally hardy small fish. Anybody can buy their way to a nice tank .

 

[Rocky998]

Oh my goodness I didn’t know that, thank you. I will move them ASAP.

No problem! Just didn't want those plants to die off after you bought em' ...

 

[Koenator]

Being on a budget and doing things on the cheap is the best way to really learn and find things out about this hobby. We are dealing with simple plants , for the most part , and generally hardy small fish. Anybody can buy their way to a nice tank .

It’s true, I wouldn’t be where I am with my humble aquarium knowledge if I wasn’t constantly googling if things are safe for my fish

 

[Rocky998]

It’s true, I wouldn’t be where I am with my humble aquarium knowledge if I wasn’t constantly googling if things are safe for my fish

Started out the same way

 

[Slaphppy7]

It’s true, I wouldn’t be where I am with my humble aquarium knowledge if I wasn’t constantly googling if things are safe for my fish

Forget Google, you have TFF now....

 

[Rocky998]

Forget Google, you have TFF now....

But... you can't get to this site without it

(Unless you have another searching tool)

 

[Slaphppy7]

But... you can't get to this site without it

(Unless you have another searching tool)

I meant as far as researching fishkeeping, lol....once you join here, no need to search anywhere else

 

[Rocky998]

I meant as far as researching fishkeeping, lol....once you join here, no need to search anywhere else

I know lol... I was just messing around