I'm looking to make my smallest tank a planted tank with a few shrimp and possibly snails.

I already have gravel, and have washed it thoroughly, and deep cleaned my tank.

I want to have a really good go at planting this time, as my plants in my axie tank don't seem to be growing much!

Basically, what plants would be suited to cherry shrimp (or any other available shrimp that someone can suggest)? And any suitable snails as "tank mates" for these shrimp?

Also, most importantly, is it worth getting plant, eco substrate to support the plants?

If there was any left over, it would be going in my next tank.

(I have a 25W heater and a matured sponge filter, along with salvinia natans - floating)

Thanks!

Do you know what lighting the tank will have and what the water hardness and/or ph will be?

Yes to planting substrate - depending on plants but anything with roots will benefit from it.

Low lighting, and currently my ph is around 7.8, experimenting with bogwood and RO currently to get that down, and getting gh and kh testing kit over the next few days.

For cherry shrimp and a planted tank I'd leave the PH alone.

Plant species that should work for you include:
Anubias Nana (small leafy plant often attached to bogwood - no need for root nutrients)
Christmas Moss (a dense moss that covers surfaces with a little encouragement and again needs no root nutrients)
Java Fern (a taller plant for the background that's easy to grow in lower light conditions - again root substrate not required)
Cryptocorne (many varients available but it's an easy grow plant that should do well and spread out. It will benefit from planting substrate)

Those should get you started off, I selected those as they're commonly available and fairly easy going. Have a look at whats in the lfs too. All proper aquatic plants should carry a care label telling you the scientific name, light, temperature and PH requirements plus the height they grow to.

So, I'd only need the substrate if I were to get the Cryptocorne? And could just plant the others in the gravel? Or should I just get the substrate anyway? Any brands you can recommend?

Thanks for the help :) finding it all very interesting :D

Anubias, Moss and Java Fern are normally bought attached to rock or wood. If not they're bought loose then attached to something with a little fishing line. They don't root into the gravel so don't need any nutrients there. If this is all your going to add then root substrate would be a waste of time and money.

Plants that do root into the gravel like Cryptocornes and pretty much 99% of everything else should get the substrate nutrients either through a product like eco-complete (that's not a recommendation btw, I don't currently have a favoured substrate) or root tablets put into the gravel. Ideally they'd have both, the tablets recharge the nutrient rich substrate. So having it really does increase your flexibility and chances of success with more species.

Part of the problem is that many great plants like the Amazon Sword and Vallis will grow far too large and swamp the tank and many of the smaller ones like Hydrocotyle sibthorpiodes require a lot more light than you have. That said new plants are being introduced every week and even with just the few currently suitable you can still have a great looking tank.

Thanks, been really helpful!

Wanting to get my tank sorted ASAP as its just taking up room in the kitchen.

Off to get plants tomorrow then :) Thanks for all of your advice.