First shot at planted tank
 

Hi, i've been reading up quite a bit though its nothing much as this is my first shot at doing a planted tank. Please advise me especially if you see me doing something stupid in this journal.

Let the pics do the talking for now:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg831...jpg&res=medium

2ft crystal glass tank.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg109...jpg&res=medium

Can't afford ADA, so try this Japanese brand. Don't have a clue about what it says on the back.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg38/...jpg&res=medium

Please stop me if theres anything not done right so far. especially before i add water later on.

thats all for now, will update as soon as something new is done. =] thanks for reading!

Your tank looks more like a marine tank setup. Kinda tall. You should do some sloping for your gravel so that the scape will have the illusion of depth. I hoped u will add more wood rite? Your piece of wood does not have much "character" to bring out the scape.

Fill some water to more or less the level of the gravel and start planting. It will be harder to plant when you fill the water to the brim first.

By the way, what plants do u have in mind? Looks to me like a planted shrimp tank. Yes?

thanks for the advice, the wood was just placed in for fun. actually planned to get another one for the other corner and maybe a taller one.

How should i slope it? from the back downwards to the front?

Erm, no intention to keep shrimps but might just add a few if it goes well.

Actually gex soil and Ada is abt the same price not much diff... Slope as in back higher than the front... U should get more same of the wood u display to scape as u are in a forest might look good... Main thing is what plant will be in and any co2 injected... Great start bro...

yes, i'll be collecting my Co2 cylinder tmr.

actually im still undecided whether to go forest look or iwagumi style.

thinking of adding HC and tenellus as foreground and some other taller plants in the background. Do you think if colourful or green chapter will have these plants? do not want to make a wasted trip as i got most of my equipment today.

Lastly, thanks for the compliments!

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg51/...jpg&res=medium

added some water and bought a $1 plant, don't even know its name but just wanted to try planting- it isnt as easy as i thought it was!

Am i doing it right?

See your intention of soaking the gex soil, leave it in this condition for three more days before adding in more water, try not to disturb the soil again when adding water the next round, to do this try putting in a plate or magazine on top of the soil to prevent that, ada do have lot of other unwanted sustenance need to be cleared, not sure about gex

yeah, i did put a plate in the centre. i tried to do some sloping as what the bros mentioned so that'll explain why it is uneven. i plan to plant all my plants first before filling it up. just worried that i may have planted the plants wrongly

From the plant u said u intend to plant u can't to iwagumi style bro... All the plant u mention suits wood scape... Bro u need to source for ur hardscape equipment first before planting... As placing of wood or rock comes first than start planting... Well maybe u can slope a little more higher at both corner... Will look nicer after ur scaping...

Pasir ris farmway there has a ahpek selling all sorts of plant and the plants u have mention... maybe u can visit there... Is on the right after otf... Is jis beside the place where they sell marine fish and near the fishing pond...

One more tips is use a planting pincer and since u have filled water now than fill the water till it cover the soil n slightly higher when u plant foreground plant will be easier to push in... When planting back ground u can either continue planting or fill it to half and continue planting... Planting is real tiring... Enjoy bro...