Planted tank help!

Right, sorry guys I've scrapped this idea, sorry if I wasted any of your time. I'm just going to go with a moss mat to cover the floor, a moss stick to go diagonal across the aquarium and a moss coconut cave.
Do any of you know where I can get a moss mat?
Also I'm going to silicone the coconut cave into the top left hand corner of the aquarium so it is high up, more natural for the fish.

I was looking at the plants in my original idea and I realized it would just all cost too much, as I'd have to upgrade lighting and possibly have C02.

Thanks for the help
Joe

No problem There are lots of plants that are quite happy in low light tanks :D
When you stick the coconut cave up, make sure any water trapped when you do a water changed gets removed, otherwise you may get nasties growing in it :D Maybe drill a hole in what will be the bottom so it drains out

Thanks for the good idea! I'll drill a hole in the bottom, also I'll probably have some vallis in the corner.

Hey Joe, there are lots of low light plants, val, crypt, anubias, java fern and most all moss. And I understand about the cost too, the plants I started with I got a pretty good deal and free shipping, thats what sold me...lol....but they only ship US or I would share that link with you...
And the only upgrade I think you would have needed was new bulbs if they are old, 2wpg that you have is perfect IMO for most plants.
Still can't wait for pic of your set up either way.......I love looking at other folks tanks and fish

Thanks again Brenda, My dad has now given me my £21 pocket money early! :D

I'm going to buy some plant nutrient substrate stuff and some black gravel to go on top.

Then I will probably have to buy the plants next month as I won't have enough money.

Also will cherry shrimp be ok with bettas?

Thanks for the help
Joe

here's a sticky i wrote for keeping shrimps in betta tanks hun

http://www.bettaparadiseforum.com/the-general-fish-tank-f13/tips-for-keeping-shrimps-in-betta-tanks-t895.htm

If you have tons of hiding places and put them in first, maybe, just maybe the shrimp might make it, they are so small that bettas will eat them up fast or just kill them.
I have got two dedicated planted tanks for the red cherry and yellow shrimp, I do use their tanks for grow-out of my betta fry until the betta fry/juvie are big enough to eat the baby shrimp, and looking now I need to move some fish today...lol boy these betta grow fast, they are only about 8 weeks old, my special stuff works well......
You might have better luck with ghost shrimp, they would show up nice on your black gravel you plan, they are bigger, but IME, betta can and will kill them too, just too big for them to eat, but they do try or at least mine do.....

i keep shrimps happily in all my betta tanks - yes they might munch some babies but as long as cover adequate - see post then be ok

Ok thanks for that pip, I will probs go with the cherry shrimp, Also would khulis be alright with bettas? I suspect they will as they are very fast if they want to be. Oops, just answered my own question there :D

Thanks
Joe

yup khulis too are fine with bettas hun

Cool I'll have 4 khulis on one side of the divide and tons of cherrys on the other side.

Also Modaz is selling a mat with riccia on but it is only 4x4 inches, would it start spreading onto the gravel or would I have to buy loads of mats?

Thanks
Joe