Too Many Plants?

[dohntaut]

ok so i have set up my first fresh water tank.
it is a 15 gallon i have 2 flourecent bulbs(23 watt but it says 100 watts of output) using gravel as substrate
as for fish stocking i have 1 angel fish, 3 zebra danios, and 2 xray tetras

i have some plants on the left of the tank that are doing really well, and the other ones on the right seem to be dying, i think it is my angel that is eating it.
i wanted to make my tank look more attractive and i thought that using plants would be the way to go, however i want to use a low tech method, with no co2 or fertilizers.
there must be a way to determine stocking for plants i just havent come across it yet. so how many plants would be too many? i want to add more plants to fill in some space and make it more appealing. also any suggestions as to which type of plants, and ideas for placement would be helpful, thanks a lot

this is what my tank looks like as of now

 

[lljdma06]

What is the temperature? What kind of leaves did the plant to the right have before it went bare? Looks like egeria densa to me or hornwort, but both have different leaf shapes.

llj

You'll need more plants for sure. Anubias, cryptocorynes, aponogeton (crispus especially), some hygrophyla.

 

[dohntaut]

the temperature of the tank is about 79-82 Fahrenheit, and uh can someone identify what type of plant is on the right, because i think i might add some more of those since they seem to be doing well. i think anubias look good for the foreground, and maybe the aponogeton, and hygrophyla in the back-middle of the tank. and what about java moss and ferns
the plant looked like this before it lost its leaves

 

[lljdma06]

Better picture. Thank you. The plant is Egeria densa and the reason why it is not loving your tank is because it prefers colder temperatures than 79-82. Mine took off and flowered in the winter in Miammi, when the water temperature dipped to the low 60s. In indoor aquariums, you'll get a better plant between 72-76 degrees.

llj

 

[crabbylion]

Better picture. Thank you. The plant is Egeria densa and the reason why it is not loving your tank is because it prefers colder temperatures than 79-82. Mine took off and flowered in the winter in Miammi, when the water temperature dipped to the low 60s. In indoor aquariums, you'll get a better plant between 72-76 degrees.

llj

You're absolutely right! Egeria, or more commonly known as Anacharis, is a very invasive species. This plant grows really fast in our 29 gallon which is consistently between 72-76 degrees. We live in Tampa Bay, too! Very humid here. When I first purchased Egeria they were bunched up together like most plants from the store. They do better when separated and planted 2 inches apart.

As far as how many plants is too much...well, generally there almost is no such thing. I say this because you want as much simulation of the real world in your tank as possible. Also, I have live bearer fry all the time and I prefer to deck the tank out with natural hiding spots. Besides, some fish just like to be in recluse anyway. Now going overboard with the plants can cause the bio cycle to go out of wack. Plants use nitrates in the urine of fish so balance accordingly. Good looking tank, though. Very mystic.

 

[dohntaut]

oh thanks a lot for the help, i guess i can relocate the egeria into another tank i have that is at a lower temperature. "mystic" haha well too me it feels empty, i like some of the other well planted tanks on the forums posted by other board members, and i think it will look better with more plants, a more natural setting. i will check out my lfs later today and see what kind of plants they have in stock.
what do you guys think about java ferns, java moss, dwarf hair grass( saw these for sale in the classifieds section of the forums)

also just wondering since my nitrite and ammonia levels have stayed at 0ppm and my nitrate is usually at about 40 ppm with these plants in. so lets say i had more plants(with a low tech set up and no added nutrients), i am guessing that the plants would compete with the bacteria for the ammonia, if this is the case the plants would win right? leading me to have lower bacteria levels in the filter.

 

[lljdma06]

oh thanks a lot for the help, i guess i can relocate the egeria into another tank i have that is at a lower temperature. "mystic" haha well too me it feels empty, i like some of the other well planted tanks on the forums posted by other board members, and i think it will look better with more plants, a more natural setting. i will check out my lfs later today and see what kind of plants they have in stock.
what do you guys think about java ferns, java moss, dwarf hair grass( saw these for sale in the classifieds section of the forums)

also just wondering since my nitrite and ammonia levels have stayed at 0ppm and my nitrate is usually at about 40 ppm with these plants in. so lets say i had more plants(with a low tech set up and no added nutrients), i am guessing that the plants would compete with the bacteria for the ammonia, if this is the case the plants would win right? leading me to have lower bacteria levels in the filter.

See this article please.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/299827-why-we-should-not-fishless-cycle-planted-tanks/

It's a planted tank thing. You're fine.