Plant Choices and Stocking

[Talvari]

Ive spent the better part of this week researching different types of plants for the 46 gallon bowfront I will be doing.

I would like some opinions on the different types I've picked out... I dont plan on doing all of them, but the plants I looked up, I tried to keep in the same lighting/PH range, and I tried for hardier plants since I am new to planted aquariums. Availability and price were big factors, too.

Here goes...

Foreground:
-Crypt parva
-Eleocharis aciculars (Dwarf Hairgrass)
-Hemianthus micranthemoides (Baby Tears)

Midground:
-Crypt pontederifolia
-Microsorium pteropus (Java Fern)
-Rotala roundifolia (Rotala Indica)
-Shinnersia rivularis (Mexican Oak Leaf)

Background:
-Hygrophila difformis (water wisteria)
-Vallisneria gigantea (Jungle Val)
-Vallisneria spiralis (Italian Val)
-Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort)

I will be using eco-complete for substrate, an aqua clear 40-70 filter, a T-5 fixture with a floramax bulb, and flourish plant fert.

For stocking... I'm thinking:

-2-4 German Blue Rams (Id prefer Bolivian Rams, but i cant find them any where in my area and I dont want to order online)
-6 Red Minor Tetras
-6 Black Skirt Tetras
-6 Cardinal Tetras
-1 Bristlenose Pleco
-3 Cory Catfish
-10-15 Ghost Shrimp


Advice, Suggestions?

 

[severum mama]

Ive spent the better part of this week researching different types of plants for the 46 gallon bowfront I will be doing.

I would like some opinions on the different types I've picked out... I dont plan on doing all of them, but the plants I looked up, I tried to keep in the same lighting/PH range, and I tried for hardier plants since I am new to planted aquariums. Availability and price were big factors, too.

Here goes...

Foreground:
-Crypt parva Lucky you, if you can get your hands on it. Great choice.
-Eleocharis aciculars (Dwarf Hairgrass) This one's kind of a pain. Does better with CO2 and higher lighting IME. I wouldn't really recommend it for a first time planted tank.
-Hemianthus micranthemoides (Baby Tears) I can't keep these alive for squat and I've had planted tanks for years. You could maybe sub in Lilaeopsis brasiliensis or Dwarf sag- these make good foreground plants and are much easier to keep.

Midground:
-Crypt pontederifolia Nice, easy plant and a very pretty light green color.
-Microsorium pteropus (Java Fern) This one's super easy to keep.
-Rotala roundifolia (Rotala Indica) I grow this like crazy with no CO2. Very pretty pink color.
-Shinnersia rivularis (Mexican Oak Leaf) No experience with this one.

Background:
-Hygrophila difformis (water wisteria) This is easy to keep.
-Vallisneria gigantea (Jungle Val) You'll have tons in no time. Great plant.
-Vallisneria spiralis (Italian Val) Same for this.
-Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort) This never does well for me when planted in the substrate so I consider it a floating plant.

I will be using eco-complete for substrate, an aqua clear 40-70 filter, a T-5 fixture with a floramax bulb, and flourish plant fert. I would go with a double bulb fixture for this tank.

For stocking... I'm thinking:

-2-4 German Blue Rams (Id prefer Bolivian Rams, but i cant find them any where in my area and I dont want to order online)
-6 Red Minor Tetras Known fin nippers
-6 Black Skirt Tetras Same for these
-6 Cardinal Tetras Great choice with rams
-1 Bristlenose Pleco Great choice
-3 Cory Catfish Bump this up to 6 IMO
-10-15 Ghost Shrimp Should be fine


Advice, Suggestions?

Comments in purple. Hope this helps!

 

[Talvari]

Thank you so much! I think I'll take your advice on the dwarf-sag instead. I really like the look of it.

The crypt parva Im probably going to order online from aquariumplants.com or something along those lines... Its got great reviews.

Do you think I should do bloodfin tetras, rasporas, and/or zebra danios instead of the red minors and black skirts?

 

[severum mama]

Those would be fine, or you could keep the cardinals and do bloodfins or rasboras (I assume you are talking about harlequin, although espei or hengeli would be good too).

 

[Talvari]

Think this is better?

3 Rams, hopefully two females and a male. After looking it up, Ive heard that the male can pester a single female too much, so its better to have a pair of females.

8 Harlequin Raspora
8 Cardinal Tetra
5 Cory Cats
1 Bristlenose catfish
Ghost Shrimp