Never Planted Anything But Want To Try

[AlitaConejita]

Hi all - I need guidance on adding plants to my current 5 gal tank and planting my new 10 gal.

5 gal:
The substrate is black aquarium gravel
Has an HOB filter and a heater (about 80-82 degrees F)
I have 2 ADFs in there - they don't like bright lights so plants would need to be low light. (The hood has a light but the frogs seem to hate it so I keep it off)
I want to add 1-2 shrimp (either amano or ghost) and I read they need a planted tank.

10 gal:
Will be divided in half for two bettas.
I WILL START cycling it in two days.
Sponge filter and heater (plan to keep it around 82-84 F as my current betta seems to thrive in that temp)

Should I replace the gravel for a different substrate?
Which plants should I plant in the 5 gal ADF/shrimp tank?
Which plants should I plant for the 10 gal betta tank?
Can I start planting while cycling the tank (I've read yes and no in different forums so I'm confused)

Anything else I need to start planting these tanks?

Thanks for the advice!

 

[mike455555]

i use john innes no 3 with a sand cap but thats just me, its all down to your plants, and how densly its planted / if you want to add ferts weekely/each day 
 
what do you want it to look like in the end? there are so many plants out there 
 
iv planted when cycling but again it depends on your plants, cyrpts for exmaple dont like change so a rise in ammonia and then a fall off will mean they will probally melt, but they might still grow back after

 

[AlitaConejita]

I want the 5 gal densely planted because both the frogs and shrimp like lots of cover (currently it is densely artificially planted )

For the 10 gal I want more of a landscaped look - the look being comprised of plants/moss as well as stones and/or a nice piece of wood. I want to theme the 10 gal but I haven't decided on a theme yet. And I want to be able to see the bettas swimming around so not densely planted.

I need easily managed plants - I haven't been able to keep non-aquatic plants (like basil and lavender for example) alive for longer than 6 months. Hopefully not having to water aquatic plants will help me succeed this time!

I don't know anything about fertilizer but if it is more than a few bucks, I'd like to avoid it since my husband doesn't support my burgeoning aquatics interest and he's the one with the paycheck

All I know about aquatic plants is that anubias, swords, and Java moss are commonly planted in betta tanks.

 

[mike455555]

 
limnophila aromatica
Cryptocoryne 
Taxiphyllum sp
Barclaya longifolia 
Aponogeton sp
Microsorum pteropus (java fern)
anubias 
swords 
 
take your pick, just buy some root tabs and stick it under the plant with weekely water changes you should be ok with low light 

 

[AlitaConejita]

Thanks

Are there any rules about spacing between plants or plants that shouldn't be next to each other?

 

[mike455555]

not really besides dont bury anubis and java fern under the substrate 

 

[AlitaConejita]

So by "don't bury" you mean just drop the plant in the aquarium?

 

[mike455555]

i mean put its roots under but not the rhizome 

 

[AlitaConejita]

Oh, OK