My 20 Gallon Planted/Fish Tank

[Aqualady40]

Hi, I would like to have a planted tank with community fish. I have a 20g high. I have 2 clip-on lamps and the lights are CFL 13 watt daylight 6500k. My top is a piece of glass I cut to fit as a cover/hood. I plan on mixing flourite with my PFS subtrate. I also have liquid flourish as the weekly fertilizer, if needed. I have a Aqueon quietflow30 and a 100 watt heater. Currently, I am letting the painted background dry a bit then I will place tank in its spot. I would like to know all plants that FISH DON't SEE as a TREAT to EAT..lol....low light, low maintenance...basically all that I can grow with the current light set-up I have and withOUT co2....Thanks all suggestions and help will be taken in consideration.
Oh here is a pic of the tank and the double stand I built myself.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Anubias, Crypts, Java Fern, Java Moss, and Swords (if you put some root tabs with iron in the substrate under the swords).

 

[Aqualady40]

Anubias, Crypts, Java Fern, Java Moss, and Swords (if you put some root tabs with iron in the substrate under the swords).

Okay so do I need those tabs in order to plant these types of plant or any plants at all? break it down why you suggesting root tabs...newbie

 

[Rivercats]

Well the first question is what type of fish are you planning to keep? Many fish will eat or at least nibble on plants so knowing what kind of fish will determine what type of plants.

 

[Aqualady40]

Well the first question is what type of fish are you planning to keep? Many fish will eat or at least nibble on plants so knowing what kind of fish will determine what type of plants.

Whatever will get along with my current (2) male guppies...any suggestions?? I am not being picky with this tank

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

I suggested the root tabs because Amazon / Argentine Swords are heavy root feeders. They really need high iron to do well. With my list of low-light tolerant plants (Anubias, Crypts, Java Fern, Java Moss, and Swords), I have successfully kept Tetras, German Blue Rams, Gouramis, Cory Cats, Otos, Zebra Danios, Kribs, Guppies, and Dwarf Puffers with that assortment of plants with no issues. Of course I didn't keep all these fish in the same tank due to compatibility issues... I do have MTS

Pretty much a lot of fish would get along with your guppies. Just not something large enough to eat them or a Betta.

 

[Rivercats]

Other plants that would do well would be water sprite, wisteria, temple plant, dwarf sag, and ambulia. Before adding/buying any fish research to see if they like to eat/nibble on plants. In a 20 you could do a nice school of neon tetras with perhaps a nice Sunset/Honey gourami and 6 Panda cory's for bottom dwellers. These would give you a fairly colorful/bright tank.

 

[Aqualady40]

Okay here is an updated picture of what I have done so far....
Just need bubble disc, thermometer, and air pump...then equipment will be completed

 

[Aqualady40]

Yayyyy! My shipment from hcourts came today.....I love my plants...lets hope I can develop a green thumb...here are some pics....water is cloudy because I noticed my subtrate is so thick and I did not want to harm the plants roots trying to dig deep nor bury part of plant/leaves...so sorry for the cloudiness will post better ones after it clears up...

 

[callisto9]

I have a 20G high that's moderately planted. I have guppies, tetras and peacock gudgeons. So far, none harm the plants. I have snails from hcourts and they only eat decaying plants.

 

[Aqualady40]

Added my java moss (letting it float till I decide if I will be getting dw) and rock cave I built...

 

[Dallascowboys16]

These plants will do fine without co2 but you will have much faster growth.

 

[Rivercats]

These plants will do fine without co2 but you will have much faster growth.

Another option is liquid carbon such as glutaraldehyde or Flouris Excel. I run a 220g high light heavily planted tank using only glut.

 

[Cichlid Kid]

I agree with rivercat. You don't need co2, especially with 2 cfl bulbs. I have the same bulbs that your using in my 40b, only difference is i have 4 of them and always ng with liquid ferts, glut and root tabs all my plants do fine.