Need Your Input For Starting A 29 Planted

I’m thinking about starting my first “realâ€￾ planted aquarium. I dabbled with some naïve plants that I collected from the lake I live on. However, I did not have the proper lighting to keep them alive or the money to buy the lights. Now I’m in a position to do this the right way, with regular tropical aquarium plant. I was to have Amazon swards for the middle and background. Maybe some java fern and java moss. I need a low some ideas for low growing plants for the front, and more ideas about plants for the middle, and back. I have many tanks available to start this project with. They range anywhere from a 2.5gal to 29gallons. I’m leaning toward the 29gal. I have green colored gravel in there now. I have a diy-power head sponge filter and tons of aeration from my bubble walls the line the back glass panel. I have a standard lighting unit on there now. I would prefer low to medium fast growing plants. So I guess that will determine what type of lighting I will end up getting. I plan to make a CO2 admitter. I might buy one, depending on what you guys suggest. I would also like to make a nitrate removal system. I haven’t thought about the fish that much yet. Maybe six zebra danios, maybe some gauramis, a cory cat or two.
Any ideas, suggestions, thoughts would be appreciated


Here's the 29 I'm thinking about using

It really depends on what you want to do. Have a look at the pinned topics above this section. The articles there will explain the basics on what you'll need to have a sucessful planted tank. In addition, take a look at the member's tanks in the pinned section too. All of the tanks there feature detailed specifications on lighting, plant species, substrate, etc. This will help you narrow down what you would like to plan for yourself. There are many, many options for planted tanks. You can go high-tech, low-tech, or in between. Dutch style aquascaping, or Nature style. The choices are yours and you decide what you're up for as far as maintenance and equipment budget are concerned. Though I love all styles, right now I'm focused on easy-to-maintain, jungle-type tanks. I just don't have the time with studying and dissertation writing to be bothered with high-tech tanks, nor do I have the finances. But there are people here that have high-tech tanks that will blow your socks off! Likewise, there are low-tech people with a million times more decorating flare than I.

I will say that a 29g will be easier than a 2.5g in the long run, especially if your new to this. Just because larger tanks are much more stable. Also have a look at some of the planted sections of major online retailers and browse around.

I'll probably have to buy my plants online because my local pet stores have a horrible slection, and limited, section on live aquarium plants. You can't find java fern or moss anywhere here. What they do have is all requires very high-lighting.

About a month and a half ago I started my 29 gallon planted tank and it's going great.

What is your WPG going to be for the project?

We have only .7 WPG and are doing fine with Hornwort, Jungle Val and Corkscrew Val (large background plants) Dwarf Sag and Java Moss.

We've failed to get Moneywort, Dwarf Hairgrass and Camboba to thrive however.

Tsi_User said:

What is your WPG going to be for the project?

Click to expand...

I don't know yet because I haven't picked out all the plants yet. I wanted some suggestions about plants for the front, middle, and background that require a medium amount of light.

I know I want amazon swards, java fern, and java moss but this is all I have so far. Any recomendations?