New to this - Which plants?

[MOJO]

Hi all,

I've just bought a small tank set-up. (With Heater, Filter e.t.c)

Length - 15"
Width - 8"
Height - 9"

I was wondering which plants would be best for a beginner like myself?
I'm planning to 'cycle' the tank with just the plants for a while. (Is this right?)

Also, what is the best temperature to set the heater to? I've read between 21 - 27C.

Thanks.

 

[ferrikins]

Java Moss is great for a first plant.

But dout you will cycle your tank with just plants, can't see them rotting quickly, so will take forever.

 

[MOJO]

Cheers,

What fish do you recommend I put in there to cycle then? And how many?

 

[jimbooo]

Hi There,

try this link

beginner aquatic plants


you will benefit hugely from CO2 injection. sounds complex and expensive but i've found a shortcut.

hagen nutrafin natural CO2 kit


as to fish, zebra danio's are good for cycling but your tank is too small to keep them in permanently. fine if you have a bigger tank to move them too. otherwise a couple of guppies should do the trick (you'll have to keep a very close eye on the water quality though)

i take it you have test kits for the Ammonia, NitrIte and NitrAte. they are the most important. If not you can get paper strips which incorporate most tests in one (like the litmus paper we all remember from science lessons at school) although they only give approximate readings, better than nothing.


good luck with the tank, please feel free to PM me if you have any more questions (i'm no expert but i bought my first tank in may 04, i now have 55 gallons of water in my little flat, a 40G, a 10g and a 5G)


happy fish keeping


sorry forgot the last question, all my tanks are at 26 degrees.

 

[MOJO]

Thanks Jimbooo,

You're a star mate!

Yeah, I'm gonna get my hands on a water testing kit a.s.a.p.
That CO2 kit looks the bee's knees n' all.

I'll let you know how I'm getting on. B)

 

[ferrikins]

sounds about right.

White Cloud Mountain Minnows, are great cycle fish, small, colorful and hardy.

 

[sylvia]

Platies are also good. They are hardier than guppies but do not need the swimming space of danios (or minnows which preffer a lower temperature).

HOWEVER, why not fishless cycle? There's a link to more info in my signature.

 

[MOJO]

Thanks to you too Sylvia,

Some very good info there. I'm gonna get some real plants in there quick sharp I think.

 

[Slyspy]

Thats just like my little tank. I have an anubias nana, some small crypts (nervii or somesuch, I forget), some java moss, some floting salvina (sp) natans soon to be replaced with hornwort and a brutally pruned java fern.