Thank youBaccus said:The other thing I forget to mention with using zip ties (cable ties) is that once the plant naturally attaches to what ever you had it tied to you can usually then remove the zip ties. It might take a few months to be certain the plant is well attached by its own roots, but worth it in the end. It is also possible to make "trees" with your attached plants if the wood is a branch with different lengths, just stagger the heights off the plants your attaching.
One thing I have learnt that almost no plant (except pest algae) will attach to is anything plastic, so any plastic ornaments live plants just wont cling to, but put them on natural things like rock and logs and watch them thrive.
This anubius has only fairly recently been attached to this piece of timber, you should be able to see the zip tie.
This anubius has been attached to the rock for ages now and no longer needed its zip tie.
The only thing I would warn about using zip tie (cable ties) is don't do the tie up so tight that you squeeze the stem of the plant to death or damage it. Only do the zip tie up tight enough to stablise and secure the plant where you want it. Just remember to be creative and artistic, have fun with your plant attachments.
As for stocking your tank, the size/ volume of the tank will be your main issues, active shoalers need room to move while larger sedate fish could just end up too big in the long run. A group of around 5 male (and ONLY male) guppies can look very nice and they will still be very interactive with each other although you will see at least one male that will end up being bullied by the other males. That is just natural heirachy behaviour and would be a hundred times worse if females where present. Another option and generally slightly smaller is Endlers. I fell in love with blackbar endlers the first time I saw them, the electric colours where amazing. It can be hard to find pure endlers since they hybridise readily with guppies, but once again a group of 5 or 7 males would be very pretty.
I see threadfin rainbows have been suggested, and a stunning fish they are, but there are small species of Blue Eye that are suited to hard water too and they could also be well worth keeping an eye out for.
I have seen where Siamese Fighters have been suggested for hard water ( I have always considered them more soft acidic with plenty of tannins) a soriety of females may work for you in the tank. I kept a soriety of females at one point and they did not disappoint and just as beautiful and full of character as their male counter parts.
the cable tie idea is such a good one. Will do that at some point this week. I'm going to keep one anubias part buried. I kinda like the way it looks - almost like a trunk of roots. Fish wise, I've decided now that I'm going to have either red cherry or ghost shrimp once the tank has established. The hard bit is what I fill the top portion with. In reality I know I should go for easy, Hardy fish. Otherwise I'm going to be put off too easily. Male endlers or male guppies sound nice for some colour - my LFS has some particular colour strains on both which are unbelievable.
I just then have room for maybe 5inches more of fish... I'm then just lost
(It's just marine. Affectionately called the dark side.) Oh... and then there's brackish!
