Did i plant my garden correctly?

[noeken]

Just started my first planted tank, it's a 30gal and I got a sweet deal on the setup - everything except the fish and sand was free, picked it up on the side of the road. Filter, LED hood, 100w heater, and gravel, all good to go.

I've had the fish before, just moved them over, and I bought some new sand. I'm on a tight budget, so I'm trying to keep costs down.

Plants are in, java ferns and alernanthera are deep in the substrate so they don't float away, and I planted patches of dwarf hairgrass about half an inch to an inch apart everywhere. Does it look okay? Any tips for keeping my plants healthy without breaking the bank? I'll grab fertilizer if I need to, but I'm hoping to avoid it. I've heard dwarf hairgrass likes good substrate, so fingers crossed my fluval is enough.

EDIT: Just trimmed all the dwarf hairgrass patches that were over 2 inches, was that too much?

[rockyfox]

I'm pretty sure the Java ferns won't do well with their rhizomes buried in the substrate. From what I've read, it's better to attach them to rocks or driftwood using super glue or some twine.

[infold]

I think doing things on a budget and finding ways to save is actually a great way to learn about this hobby. We're mostly working with pretty hardy plants and small fish, so it's not like we're dealing with super delicate stuff. Anyone can just spend a lot of money and have a nice tank, but where's the fun in that?

[rockyfox]

Just started my first planted tank, it's a 30gal and I got a sweet deal on the setup - everything except the fish and sand was free, picked it up on the side of the road. Filter, LED hood, 100w heater, and gravel, all good to go.

I've had the fish before, just moved them over, and I bought some new sand. I'm on a tight budget, so I'm trying to keep costs down.

Plants are in, java ferns and alernanthera are deep in the substrate so they don't float away, and I planted patches of dwarf hairgrass about half an inch to an inch apart everywhere. Does it look okay? Any tips for keeping my plants healthy without breaking the bank? I'll grab fertilizer if I need to, but I'm hoping to avoid it. I've heard dwarf hairgrass likes good substrate, so fingers crossed my fluval is enough.

EDIT: Just trimmed all the dwarf hairgrass patches that were over 2 inches, was that too much?

No worries, just didn't want your new plants to struggle after all the effort you put in.

[rockyfox]

I totally agree, I've learned so much from just experimenting and researching on my own. Constantly looking up if things are safe for my fish has been a huge part of my learning process.

[rockyfox]

I'd still say, having TFF is awesome, but let's be real, we're still relying on search engines to find our way here.

[happyone]

I'm pretty sure the Java ferns won't do well with their rhizomes buried in the substrate. From what I've read, it's better to attach them to rocks or driftwood using super glue or some twine.

I was talking about researching fish stuff, lol. Once you're part of this community, you've got all the info you need right here.

[rockyfox]

I know, I was just joking around.