hi glen, and yes, that is exactly what i do--if i take a gallon out, i put in a TB of salt, i use pickling/canning salt as it has no additives (at least the kind i buy). i am going to start using a device though too called a hydrometer (i think thats what its called) to measure the salt, it measures the "thickness" of the water basically. if your teaspoon per gallon is working for you, then i wouldnt change it--dont fix what aint broke is how i feel about it. i keep mine at that because it works with my water and thats what they are used to, but not everyone has the same water types or the same philosophy--for years i used no salt at all and had mixed results. as far as the plants go--thats exactly what i do, put some on the bottom (regular type aquarium plants) and then i have some floating grass mats that cover about 1/2 of the top of the aquarium. babies tend to be born, fall to the bottom, open up from their round state, and then swim to the top for cover. i like to have enough regular plants so that they are hard to spot when they fall out, and then enough cover to hold lots of fry when they dart to the surface. with enough plants and not a terribly large number of adults in the tank, i have never had a problem with fry being eaten that i have seen. the natural birthing of fry puts less stress on the female too i think, they stay near the plants until they are ready and then when done, they are free to swim--dont have to be moved. anyhow, thats my opinion for what its worth. as far as your 30 gallon tank, i would keep about ten adults max in there if you are having fry in it too. that keeps them from becoming too predatory. more females than males--a one to two ratio, works best for me. good luck to you, i hope this helps. i have been raising these little guys for about 30 years now, i hope i know what i am doing. if not, then i guess i am just old. :)

Just to mention that all cacti are succulents (but not all succulents are cacti). I think that they should grow easily, just make sure they are not in dense, slow draining/water retaining soil (can't tell from your photos what they are potted in). I don't know what you call dirt - no plant should be potted in dirt (but I understand that some ppl call soil dirt :( Succulents need well draining potting mix - garden soil doesn't in containers.

Straight potting soil, even "cactus and succulent" soil is much too water retentive to sustain a healthy plant for long. At the very least cut it 50/50 with perlite. I'd do that for both. You can keep the offsets in the same pot even if there's enough room

Laura Those instructions are typical when plants are sold in containers without drainage holes. They will work for a while, but are not suitable for long term health of most plants - not only succulents. If you think of where most succulents grow, and why they are 'succulents', you'll realize that good drainage is very important. Just because you see offset growing well in a month, it doesn't give good picture of overall health of plant - mother or offset. Containers like that are very nice looking, and much better as décor than a plastic or even many terracotta pots. It is up to you to decide if you want plant to grow to it's best potential, or you want best possible décor - that could possibly decrease plants vitality. (And I am not even considering the extra attention needed by the grower in tracking time and measuring amounts of water - but that may not be a problem if there are just few plants requiring it). I am not criticizing, everyone should do as they please. Many of us go to quite extremes (and those could be really extreme to some too!) - and that includes supplying 'the best' growing conditions same as not so best, to get results we want.