Amazon Biotope

[J_S]

I did a Rio Negro Flooded Forest in a 29g a few years ago and was very pleased with it. It looked like this. Knowing what I know now, I would probably go for something different than angels, but my wife wanted some, which was the whole impetus behind the setup.

This is another setup I’d look to do. Were you specific with plants etc ? I don’t think I’d put angels in either.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

A 29g is a bit small for a pair of angels. Mine got along great for a few months, then one started mercilessly picking on the other. Angels seem reasonably happy solo, so I got rid of one and the other was fine. But they'd do better in a school and a larger tank.

Plants: Rosette Sword (Echinodorus parviflorus)
Melon Sword (Echinodorus osiris)
Java Moss (Taxiphyllum barieri)*
Cabomba (Cabomba aquatica)
Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laeviatum)
Dwarf Sagitaria (Sagittaria subulata)
Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis Parvula)
Brazilian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala)

Animals: Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)
Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis)
Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)**
Common Otocinclus (Macrotocinclus affinis)
Bristlenose Plecostomus (Ancistrus sp.)***
Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda) ****
Mystery Snail (Pomacea bridgesii)

*Java moss is not native to South America, but represents similar species that do grow in these drainages.
**Black neons are not native to the Orinoco or Negro rivers. I purchased this one because he was all by himself at the pet store, and I felt sorry for him. He seems to enjoy schooling with the lemons.
***My daughter named him "Brisslplacky"
****I appreciate the scientist that gave this species such an original name.

 

[J_S]

A 29g is a bit small for a pair of angels. Mine got along great for a few months, then one started mercilessly picking on the other. Angels seem reasonably happy solo, so I got rid of one and the other was fine. But they'd do better in a school and a larger tank.

Plants: Rosette Sword (Echinodorus parviflorus)
Melon Sword (Echinodorus osiris)
Java Moss (Taxiphyllum barieri)*
Cabomba (Cabomba aquatica)
Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laeviatum)
Dwarf Sagitaria (Sagittaria subulata)
Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis Parvula)
Brazilian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala)

Animals: Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)
Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis)
Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)**
Common Otocinclus (Macrotocinclus affinis)
Bristlenose Plecostomus (Ancistrus sp.)***
Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda) ****
Mystery Snail (Pomacea bridgesii)

*Java moss is not native to South America, but represents similar species that do grow in these drainages.
**Black neons are not native to the Orinoco or Negro rivers. I purchased this one because he was all by himself at the pet store, and I felt sorry for him. He seems to enjoy schooling with the lemons.
***My daughter named him "Brisslplacky"
****I appreciate the scientist that gave this species such an original name.

Same with my old angels, thanks for listing the plant and fish species. I’ll maybe use it as a guide in the right direction.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Glad to help. With the exception of dwarf hairgrass, these are all really easy plants to grow under moderate light. (I used soil under sand substrate) All the fish are pretty easy to get along with too. All do well in soft to moderate water. And except as noted, all of them are native to northern SA!