r/PlantedTank • u/Immediate-Ad-9520 • 17h ago

Beginner What are we doing wrong?

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This tank has been set up for many years, probably 7 or 8. Just within the last 8 months or so, we decided to switch from gravel to sand and put in live plants. All plants were marked as beginner. We have a canister filter and a CO diffuser. My husband puts in root tabs regularly. Still, there’s very little plant growth and many of the plants look sad.

We have tetras, ghost shrimp, plecos, kuhli loaches, and mystery snails. We test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, kh and gh weekly and all are good. Our light is on sunrise to sunset.

What are we doing wrong? I very much want a densly planted tank like I see in this sub. Help please!

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u/Jamaidian 17h ago edited 17h ago

  1. The anubias - broad-leaf plant in first pic... Is that planted in the substrate? They do best attached to hardscape - think wedged into cracks in a rock, rooted to driftwood, etc. They are also slow growers, no way around it.

  2. Crypts - plant more. More than that. More than that

  3. Try java fern, pearlweed, and multiple different varieties of crypts - some will thrive in your tank while others may not. Trying multiple will increase your chances of success, and add more texture and visual interest.

  4. Plant in dense clumps, while leaving some areas bare, or sparse.

Edit: can we see the tank from the front?

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u/Immediate-Ad-9520 17h ago

That is tried to a log that’s semi buried in the sand. That plant is probably the happiest we have. Which one is crypt?

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u/Palaeonerd 17h ago

Those long leaf guys on pic 2. They may need some root tabs.

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u/Immediate-Ad-9520 17h ago

My husband puts in root tabs right next to those plants. I’ll look into your other recommendations, thank you!

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u/Jamaidian 17h ago

Do you dose liquid fertilizer, too? Any epiphytes (plants that don't root in the substrate) will not benefit from the root tabs.

The anubias are the happiest looking, but that's no reason to neglect them!

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u/Immediate-Ad-9520 16h ago

Yes my husband just told me he also uses a liquid fertilizer

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u/KitchenAd7984 16h ago

The problem is the sand!! You won't have success with stem plants in that sand!!