Possible Changes To The Tank - Thoughts Welcome

Agreed 

Observations on the plant situation:

The more recently purchased Eleocharis acicularis, Clinopodium brownei and Echinodorus rubin bought a few weeks ago seem to be faring well, and the Anubias and nano moss balls continue to do so. It’s possible that this is because I’ve reduced the time the light is on to no more than 10 hours per day or it’s possible that those bought in the LFS (from a different supplier than the online purchases) are of better quality – I plan to buy plants there from now on if possible.

Java moss (one lot partially hidden by overhanging silk plants; the other out in the open) and thin-stemmed vallis (nano) didn’t fare well at all and gradually died altogether. The water sprite also didn’t fare at all well – but it was bent double in the way it was packaged and the lights were off for most of its first week, so that most likely accounts for its sudden demise. Red root floater rotted away leaf by leaf. Each of these might fare better if the lights were on for this shorter duration rather than the ~12 hours that they had been on while I had them.

Java fern has been gradually turning rusty-brown coloured but this presumable demise seems to have halted since reducing the length of time the light is on for – and none of the rusty-brown coloured leaves are weak enough to be easily removed so I’ve left them in situ. The demise of the thicker-stemmed vallis (tiger) also seems to have halted since reducing the length of time the light is on for although there are only a few stems of it left.

The Brazilian pennywort and Amazonian frogbit have been gradually dying but at a slower rate since reducing the duration of lighting.

Bought an Alternanthera rosaefolia this morning – fingers crossed for it as it is lovely.

Latest observation: didn't put the aquarium lighting on for a day, with the consequence that the dwarf hair grass went from 95% to 40% green overnight (the remainder having turned yellow). Dwarf hair grass clearly requires good/regular lighting!

I also had no success with hairgrass fcmf...

Yes, so I recall. That's partly why I updated the thread, to add to the knowledge base and my own memory/record of what the requirements might be for that particular plant - it seemed to be fine until the day I didn't put the lights on but went into a swift demise the following day.

FCMF - I've recently started experimenting more with plants. It's still early days, but I having great success with Rotala rotundifolia. It's a stunning stem plant that is very easy to grow and turns a beautiful pink as it gets closer to the light.

Two weeks ago I bought Ludwigia palustris. After initially losing a lot of leaves, it seems to be growing well and is also turning redder as it grows. The Tropica website shows it turns to a very dark red as it matures and I hope this is the case in my tank.

I'm experimenting with carpeting plants of Lilaeopsis brasiliensis and C. Parva. Neither have done much since planting a month ago, but still appear healthy. They're supposed to be better suited to low light than E. acicularis, but require a fertile substrate. I'll keep you posted!

I also replanted C. balansae, C. willissii and C. wendtii from my previous setup. Neither were doing particularly well in the old gravel substrate, but early signs are that the Colombo Florabase is much more to their liking.

I've also had mixed results with Java ferns and moss. I honestly feel that the less I do for these plants, the better they do. They looked at their best so far after I had been away for almost three weeks!

Will be doing a water change and general tidy up in the next couple of days and will hopefully get some pics up then.

I honestly feel that the less I do for these plants, the better they do. They looked at their best so far after I had been away for almost three weeks!

That's my conclusion, too... including house plants and garden plants. I think a lot of plants are 'killed by kindness'.

Interesting... I don't seem to be having the same results here.

I have crypts (when I don't plant them too deep), pennywort (when not being eaten) and now the hygrophila that Paddy sent me which seem to be doing really well ( ill update my thread this weekend)...   would you see these as being thin?

I've not had much luck with dwarf hairgrass whenever I've used it.
Great to hear that your other plants are doing well. 

Speaking as someone who has hornwort I can recommend this plants. The stems just grow and grow so you can let them grow long enough so the free ends float on the surface providing some shade for the fish. If you don't like that effect, they can be cut to keep them shorter. The only downside I've found to hornwort is that the older stems drop leaves like an old Christmas tree.

Where are you thinking of sourcing your darker sand from?? I can never seem to find cheap sand that isn't really light in colour and it just looks so fake to me. I have also considered mixing them to reduce brightness...