Plants for first tank

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Kylefight11

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
Aug 8, 2013
Messages
42
I have an old 5 gallon Aqueon mini bow 5 gallon starter set that I wanted to use for guppy breeding. A little later on I want to try adding some red cherry shrimp. I have a list of 5 plants that I think that I want to use:
Anacharis
Hornwort
Moss Ball
Anubias
Java moss
Are all of these plants easy to care for?
Will they work with each other and with my fish?
Do I need fertilizer? If so, what kind? I want to be cautios; I've heard that some fertilizers will kill shrimp.
By the way, the hood light that the tank comes with is only 15 Watts if it makes a difference.
Would plain aquarium gravel work for a substrate? If not, what would?
Thank you,
Kyle
 
The plants are easy but how many guppies do you think you can fit in a 5g and deal with fry?
 
The plants are easy but how many guppies do you think you can fit in a 5g and deal with fry?
I will get 3 or 4 to start, 1 male and 2-3 females. I forgot to mention that after about 6 months or so, I will be moving them to a larger tank (26 gallons or so, I haven't decided exactly how big). I only plan in a couple births in this time and about as many surviving fry. In fact, I think that I'll add the RCA first and wait a couple of month before adding the guppies, making their time in the small tank even shorter.

In other words, I know it's crowded, but I am prepared to be diligent about water quality. And it's only for a relatively short time so I'm not too worried about population growth.
 
The plants that you listed such as hornwort and anachris will quickly overgrow in only a 5 gallon that I would recommend looking into some over plants if you plan on dosing ferts because the plants you listed don't really need them. I would recommend only rcs in a tank that size and no fish. Look into some moss like ricca.
 
The plants that you listed such as hornwort and anachris will quickly overgrow in only a 5 gallon that I would recommend looking into some over plants if you plan on dosing ferts because the plants you listed don't really need them. I would recommend only rcs in a tank that size and no fish. Look into some moss like ricca.

I think I'm going to just put in the shrimp and maybe revisit the idea later.
How much do you think that these plants would grow in 6 months without fertilizer?
 
Ok those plants you just listed would be massive afternsix months accept for the java fern and the anubias and moss ball. I had a small 1 foot piece of hotnwort in my tank and came back from vacation a week and a half later I came back to a six foot monster plant so that is why I said that. If you choose to get them just know you will have to trim regularly.
 
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