Aquatic Plant help time!

Sorry guys! I'm pretty useless! Just need little guidance (if being annoying please ignore me :D )

I aint really greenfingered but due to recent algae probs in one tank etc, my new tank would like to plant up real good and get rid of silks in my current tanks, also because it looks nicer. The tank that is empty and awaiting setup is a 18" cube that is going to be divided in to 4 sections for bettas. The plan is to have a 2" substrate of sand (normal run of the mill variety). The flow in this tank will be very limited.

I was going to add usual cambomba, limnophila aquatica, perhaps java ferns as had realtively good success with these. I have been browsing Daz's site and came up with following what do you think, for a easy low maintenance?

These were some in mind mostly labelled easy care and believe low-mid lighting - gymnocorcnis spilantrade, nymphae ribra, riccia flutians, egena densa, barclaya longfolia, crinium calamistratum. I have some seachem excel but would like the easy life for planted tank

I need to purchase some sort of lighting for this tank (recommendations on a possible cheap setup for the type of plants in mind would be great).

The 14g with the algae problem (I do know the cause so no worries there) but are there any easy fast growing plants I can introduce, to help compete and also pad the tank out very well?

Lastly perhaps a silly question, some plants I have luck with planting in substrate (gravel) ok, but others I end up leaving in the ceramic pots as can't get them to stay put and even in the pots are awkward -tip? LOL.

One more question - fairy moss a nice floating plant to add that is beneficial? If not what other floating ones are good but not a pain?

Thanks for reading (and patience) I am still learning.

To recap as I ramble:
1. Substrate recommendation for the above requirements on 18" cube?
2. Listed plants a good idea, any to avoid or consider?
3. Lighting, fixture needs to be added, any recommendations, the cheaper the better!
4. Fast super growing plants for the 14g?
5. Tips on keeping plants planted?
6. Floating plants, fairy moss good or others that would be beneficial?

Thanks so very very much!

1. any Gravel or sand, if you're not on a tight budget I would buy some tetracomplete plant substrate to go underneath the gravel or sand.

2.I would reconsider the riccia as it doesn't grow very well unless there is co2 and very strong lighting, the rest seem ok.

3.Have a look on lampspecs they do some very cheap light bulbs, for the fixture look on ebay.

4. Vallis, cabomba, I found limnophilia aquatica quite fast growing aswell.

5. Put them in quite deep and if your using gravel, pile the gravel up around the plant sort of like a mound.

6. I have dwarf riccia as a floating plant, looks quite good as it grows downwards in big clumps.

Good luck with your new cube tank, it's gunna be a good one.

Thanks very much hon! Other recommendations welcome too, but that is a great start for me Hoping for a dense forest over a period of time!

Oh Wow! Dwarf Riccia looks great (googled lol) Quite fascinating stuff, going to have to source that me thinks. Righto lets go nosy on Ebay (can't setup yet but I do love window shopping and sourcing!). My budget isn't too tight but can't splash too much more drip. Will have a look into that plant substrate is it ok if it accidentally comes through sand/gravel to water?

Planning probably a speckled black/white sand mixed as dirt won't show too much! or perhaps the black. Either way Enigma will look good against it!

The substrate costs about £10 from the lfs, and if it leaks the water will be stained for ever. The tank has to be empty when you put it in, then you put the gravel or sand on top making sure there are no gaps.

I have black gravel and it looks very effective against the plants and my Bruno.

Was planning a good 2 inches of substrate ontop simply as the tank is deep and the plants will have plenty of substrate to grow through and root deeply.

Hmmmm black sand it may be then! Thanks xx

Yea I have about 1 inch of substrate at the front and then it slopes towards the back so 2 inches will definately be enough.

I did have natural coloured sand but the dirt showed up on it way too much, also I found it hard to plant in.

Ive been finding my gravel blooming difficult to plant in, think it might be too shallow! LOL. Definately black sand or gravel. Sand gets compacted though siphoning is easy I have found, gravel less trouble though really go for it when cleaning. White gravel never ever again!

I don't really like the look of white gravel anyway, especially when there's dirt on it.

It is a white/multi colour mix and looks really awful since the algae attack, hopefully I can change it over next month too, even if only take half out to mix more colour in!

Unless I rehome my khulis then sand it shall have to be, though reading on other sites, plants not so good in sand...hmmmm why can't everything magically fit lol

hmm, I have khulis on my gravel but they are starting to get a bit bashed up so I may have to rehome them.

what about this stuff that is smooth?

http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-ornaments/natural-gravels-and-sand/natural-gravel-beach-washed/pettex-pre-washed-dorset-pea-gravel-20kg-small-stone.html

If not I think I will rethink of changing the 14g/10g to sand just for them, though the 10g is open topped....

or how about polished chips?

http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-ornaments/natural-gravels-and-sand/natural-look-gravels/roman-gravel-amethyst-crystals-2k.html

That looks good, it looks smooth aswell so it won't hurt the khulis.

Hmmm I dorset pea gravel is native to me so that would make sense to use, amethyst chips I know are extremely smooth and light and of course gorgeous...hmmmm! Thanks so much Young one, helping me plan

That's ok, I notcied that riccia was in your original plant list, if you do want a plant that could create a carpet effect I would recommend tying some java moss to some slate. I have it in my tank, it grows slow but it looks good eventually.

I thought it would look pretty buy think there are plenty of other plants to be going on with and any low plants will be for the loaches, they like living in the moss balls so may as well pad it out with those! Im easy going Sorry to hear you may have to rehome your khulis No where else they could go???

Nope, it's just one of them getting bashed up because he keeps going mad, the other one is acting like a proper khuli and actually staying on the ground. It's funny to watch but I don't think he realizes he's hurting himself.

I was going to pad the ground out with moss balls but they cost £5 each where I am.

Whoa! That is hefty have you tried Ebay or our very own Daz as you can get multiple buys, at least three for that! I got mine initially off Ebay and they came a bit squashed but have padded out great and now the Khuli I never see lives in one. One of mine is manic, the other follows the manic one at times and the third is unusual colouring and see him once a week during cleaning time

I am thinking sparkly amethyst gravel!!! plus with that undersoil if can get it though on another forum there are lots of mentions of 100% cat clay litter stuff hmmmm or to get garden centre topsoil.

I've got one moss ball for the cherry shrimp, but they're more interested in Brunos helmet home thing, which he doesn't use!

Yea, I saw the cat litter post, but I don't see what nutrients it would give the plants?

Me thinks will stick to proper nutrients I will just have to budget it for it and decide sparkly amethyst or very smooth cool looking local pea gravel

Just an update after perusing a plant aquatic forum ( I like to share the love ) clay cat litter is NOT ideal for the aquarium, it was explained in complicated tones, but basically does not benefit! It was suggested some top soil from the local B&Q would be good underneath chosen substrate, so just passing the news on if helps

p.s. going with sand now simply because of the loaches, im not fickle honest!

I didn't think cat litter would be any good.

Yeah it seemed a little weird to me at the time! Apparently top soil layer is really good