Starting My First Planted Tank - 55g

[mancin]

Picked up a few plants today from my LFS. Unfortunately, they don't stock many, so I'm waiting on an online shipment. It looks a little sparse right now, but it should come together, I hope. The plant on the far right is fake, if it wasn't obvious. My Rams seem to enjoy it so I'm keeping it there until I get my additional plants to fill in the space.

Edit: Found another battery so re-took the picture.

 

[azzaknight]

Picked up a few plants today from my LFS. Unfortunately, they don't stock many, so I'm waiting on an online shipment. It looks a little sparse right now, but it should come together, I hope. The plant on the far right is fake, if it wasn't obvious. My Rams seem to enjoy it so I'm keeping it there until I get my additional plants to fill in the space.

Edit: Found another battery so re-took the picture.

looking great!! what is your stocking levels??

 

[oopsy]

I love it i think it looks great well done.

 

[mancin]

Plants still on the way:

6 X Cryptocoryne Wendtii Tropica
6 X Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green
2 X Cryptocoryne Wendtii Red
1 X Anubias Nana (to be tied to wood)
2 X Java Fern (to be tied to wood)
3 X Narrow Leaf Java Fern (to be tied to wood)

I think that should be a great start for me. I also found some Star Moss online that I may pick up. I have 4 different pieces of wood in the tank (1 large, 1 medium, 2 small) and I have a perfect spot in mind for the Star Moss. I may have to do some re-arranging when the rest of the plants get here, but I'll post more pictures.

 

[azzaknight]

what is your stcking level for fish?

 

[mancin]

what is your stcking level for fish?

Oops! I thought I added that to the bottom of my other post. Guess not. I have 3 GBRs (2F/1M - the other F is going back once I've established the pair... another F has already gone back), 2 Klugei, 10 Harlequin Rasboras and a Common Pleco (about 3" - 4") that I'm going to be re-homing once I find a place to take him.

 

[azzaknight]

what other fish will you be adding? if you are?
how old is your GBR's as whichever female you dont want i will have depending on where you live?
but not for a couple of months yet.

 

[mancin]

what other fish will you be adding? if you are?
how old is your GBR's as whichever female you dont want i will have depending on where you live?
but not for a couple of months yet.

They are still quite small (around 1" - 1.5") but old enough to lay eggs! 6 months at least maybe? However, I'm actually in the US, so quite far away!

I will be adding another school at some point, but I haven't completely decided on what I'm getting. Possibly Rummynose Tetras, maybe another type of Rasbora or Tetra. I'm not a huge fan of Neons, so I've kind of ruled those out (even though I do like Cardinal Tetras, which are basically the same thing with more red). I saw some fish with bright blue eyes that schooled really well, but I didn't recognize the type of fish so I'll have to research them to see if they are acceptable (and now I can't even remember what they were called!!) Whatever it will be, I want either additional color or a tight school, because I think it's a lot of fun to watch them together! I also plan on replacing my Common Pleco with 1-2 BN Plecos, but I need to take a trip to a different LFS to re-home him as the LFS I bought the plants from are quite picky and will downright reject some fish.

After the mentioned additions, I think I'll just keep the stocking the way it is and play it by ear.

 

[azzaknight]

ok maybe i wont get them off you
ive seen some nice tetras but i cant remember what they are called
sounds good.
post picies when you get new fish.

 

[mancin]

Got some of my plants today! I'll post more pictures once I have them planted.

 

[oliesminis]

I saw some fish with bright blue eyes that schooled really well, but I didn't recognize the type of fish so I'll have to research them to see if they are acceptable (and now I can't even remember what they were called!!)

if you are thinking of the ones i am thinking of you want to lookup 'lampeyes'

 

[mancin]

I saw some fish with bright blue eyes that schooled really well, but I didn't recognize the type of fish so I'll have to research them to see if they are acceptable (and now I can't even remember what they were called!!)

if you are thinking of the ones i am thinking of you want to lookup 'lampeyes'

Good call! Thank you. That's what I saw and they made such a fantastic looking school. It looks like temperature and temperment wise, they would make a good addition. I'm between those and Rummynose Tetras at this point.

 

[azzaknight]

any new pics of the tank??

 

[mancin]

any new pics of the tank??

Nope, not yet. Hope to have some more tonight. I did take a couple videos of my Klugei though. You can see that post here

 

[azzaknight]

kool. cant wait to see the pics of the tank.