Easy planting 44G Hex tank

[Winterose]

Hey guys! I am picking up a 44 Gallon Hex tank today that I want to stock with tropical colorful fish and plants for my baby to look at. This will be my first fully planted tank and I am looking for recs on everything from substrate to plants to care of said plants. Keeping in mind I want easy to care for and something to pop and be pretty as well as make the fish shine so its easy and fun for my baby to look at. what ideas do we have?

 

[dougall]

I think the big question is going to be budget....

Plants can get to be really expensive to buy and then the upkeep , so bear it in mind . Done you can get cheap or free from Facebook, or forums, or maybe you have a local fish club you could join .

And assuming your baby is a young child rather than significant other or pet cat, I would go with something fairly active.. maybe something simple, small and easy like guppies, with the dimensions of the tank there isn't much room for larger fish ... You aren't really going to want something that hides all the time.

Maybe a school of microrasboras?

I'm going to give the same advice I give to anyone wanting to stock a tank .. follow your own tastes, you are gonna be the one who takes care of the tank, and shouldn't get bored of seeing it . Anything that you are personally interested in should be a high priority.

 

[Winterose]

I think the big question is going to be budget....

Plants can get to be really expensive to buy and then the upkeep , so bear it in mind . Done you can get cheap or free from Facebook, or forums, or maybe you have a local fish club you could join .

And assuming your baby is a young child rather than significant other or pet cat, I would go with something fairly active.. maybe something simple, small and easy like guppies, with the dimensions of the tank there isn't much room for larger fish ... You aren't really going to want something that hides all the time.

Maybe a school of microrasboras?

I'm going to give the same advice I give to anyone wanting to stock a tank .. follow your own tastes, you are gonna be the one who takes care of the tank, and shouldn't get bored of seeing it . Anything that you are personally interested in should be a high priority.

I already have an idea on fish but since I am newer to plants was looking for guidance in the plant department. Yes my wants are going to be prioritized I still need a start point since I am newer to planted tanks

 

[dougall]

With a tall tank I would likely go with something epiphytic or rheophitic - I.E. something that attaches to wood/rock/things in the water rather than being in the substrate.. they are generally lower light and this will put them closer to the light anyway .

For substrate I would go with something plant friendly but not specialized to give you a few future options . If you have a tractor supply close safeTsorb is a good, cheap option that has a high CEC (cation exchange capacity) so will hold nutrients for rooted plants and you can add fertilizers to it.

For epiphytic plants think things like :-
Bolbitis
Bucephelandra
Java Fern
Anubias
Hygrogilia Pinatifida

Things like water sprite can grow well. But can take over easily.

Otherwise, start slowly try cheap plants to see what does and does not work with your water chemistry.. knowing hardness of your water is especially important as to what will grow.