How To Improve My Plant Health

How about something like this?
http://www.aquariumgardens.co.uk/vesicularia-dubyana-java-moss-wood-428-p.asp

I've always struggled to fix moss to things (which is why my latest attempt looks like knitting!) but it has always grown really well and I've previously had to take it out of my tank because it was taking over.

I've never bought moss on anything, but bamboo doesn't strike me as the best wood for something like moss. Mainly because bamboo has quite a shiny surface, I would have thought that moss would struggle to get a hold enough to grow.

There are also various types of java fern that you could put low down in the tank on rocks or wood.

Or you could just use small bits of wood or pebbles without plants to fill the substrate.

The leaves of anubias will grow algae on them over time because they are long lasting and face the light directly. I have mine placed low in the aquarium as a result. When I had a large anubias which was consequently less shaded I had to keep taking the worst leaves off and ultimately the plant did not last as I was taking leaves off faster than it was growing them.

• Draped in various locations in the tank, with one end twisted around bogwood: Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
  Front - left to right: Hygrophila polysperma; Hemiographis colorata; Cryptocoryne beckettii; Vallis - 2 different types;
  Middle - left: Java fern (Microsorium pteropus)
  Back - left to right: Hemiographis colorata; Hygrophila polysperma; Hemiographis colorata; remnants of an Alternanthera rosaefolia; Echinodorus martii x2
  Oversized-for-my-tank plant, wedged in the bogwood to hold it upright and contain it: Echinodorus fancy twist. Also on the right of the bogwood: anubias, which struggles with BBA.
  Middle - right: Cryptocoryne parva.

Finally got round to researching these plants for you @fcmf ...
Hornwort - will drop needles if not happy and creates a mess when it does but once it's off it's a quick grower. Grows faster in higher light
Cryptocoryne beckettii - no special requirements, obviously crypt melt can be an issue when newly planted.
Vallis - I've had mixed results over the yeara and have found its definitely a root feeder and benefits hugely from root tabs. Sends out runners to propogate itself. Quite fragile so avoid dammage during water changes etc.
Java fern - pretty indestructible, needs some form of liquid feet dosing but not much. Leaves will go brown and die off if they produce plantlets.
Hygrophila polysperma - I have found this plant to need a fair bit of light else it looses its lower leaves.  Benefits from liquid fertilisation.
Hemiographis colorata - I suspect this is not a true aquarium pant and would fair better in a. Terrarium... to be honest I don't this this would last long even in the best high tech setups.
Alternanthera rosaefolia - needs lots of light and iron fertilisation to do well - eg. Root tabs
Echinodorus martii - presume this is doing ok from what you've said... A root feeder so would benefit from root tabs
Fancy twist - couldnt find out a lot about this plant but likely ro be as above.
Anubias - aleady discussed and you have put in a shaded location to minimise BBA. Do you have any liquid carbon? Soaking the leaves in this for a while would kill the BBA off. You could wash the carbon off before replacing into the tank.
Crypt parva - stated not to need much light but that growth rate will increase with more light.

I don't know if any of that fits with your experiences or helps in any way??

Just found this... looks right up your street @fcmf

 

They look great Matt...!!! 

I have a new problem in my tank at the moment, on the subject of plant health...   

After having been so lucky, so far, when it comes to algae, I have started to notice a filamentous algae appearing on some of the leaves of some of the plants in my tank just lately...  I don't know exactly what they are but recognise that this is the first essential step in dealing with it, identifying the problem...!!! 

In this article: http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm  it looks something like Oedogonium or Cladophora...  Either of which sounds tricky to sort out and in both cases suggests low CO2 levels and poor flow in the tank...!!!

I may have to rush the new canister filter along, sooner rather than later, and I also may have to re-think my views on the TNC Carbon...!!! 

Gutted...!!!   

Also, somewhat frustratingly, after the various new plantings, I have more of the tiny little (about 3mm to 6mm in diameter) ramshorn shaped pest snails turning up...!!!  They are very small, but I did quarantine the new plants and they all looked to be clear of pest snails...  I'm picking them out manually at the moment and I am a great believer that this is ultimately the best method of pest snail control when not overwhelmed by them...  Just frustrating as I was on top of them from previous plantings, only for them to reappear after the new plantings...   

It is appearing high up on the taller background plants pretty much in-line with the filter outflow, which is a bit bizarre...!!!  I have trimmed off the worst affected leaves already, and it is the H.Costata and Echinodorus plants that are the ones affected so far... 

So many previously talked about issues at hand here, such as potentially low tank flow, lack of CO2 and of course the high phosphate levels... 

Frustratingly, my Amano shrimp are completely disinterested in eating this stuff - either that, or they are eating it but losing the battle...  I suspect the former more than the latter...

Good point @Matt...  Easy sometimes to look past the easier to implement solutions assuming that it must be something more difficult...  I Shall turn my tank lights timer down a little as there is stronger daylight now that winter is out of the way...   

Uh-oh...   

How's the phosphate level in your tap water fcmf...?

Ditto...!!!

Makes me wonder if in fact there are possibly a LOT of fishkeepers with high phosphates, and that are simply unaware of it... 

Anyways, what's your view on the issue fcmf, and what - if anything - will you do about it...?