CalebLS

Pm'd  
 

Hello! I am from Wellington, I have a 90 litre aquarium which houses tetras, platies, and some bristle-nose. I am currently planting it out, with Java moss, Java fern, Cyperus Helferi, and Stargrass.

Correct.
It is easy to see how fast they will go through that. Take a tank of green water and add one mussel. I guarantee that within a few hours the tank will start to look clearer. Within a day it will be almost clean.
No matter what we do we cannot supply the quantity of food they require.

No matter what the petstores try to tell you, they are not captive bred. All Kakahi sold in the pet trade ( or any trade for that matter) are wild specimens removed from their natural environment.

http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/fresh ... ies/kakahi

So I got a 50L and want to start a new planted tank. I want crypts in it, anubias, java fern and cyperus helferi in it. Is 11watt sufficent or how do I get a stronger light, the light is one of those inbuilt ones. I want to use sand substrate from a river, is this possible. Next what do you recommend daltons soil, the one from palmers, or jbl. If I dont use soil do I use tabs or liquid ferts.
 
Thanks 

Yeah that's what I was thinking of using, almost exactly! But I will add paprika as I've heard it can enhance the colours of red and orange fish.