First Planted Tank - 46 Bowfront

[Second Hand Pat]

I have started a planted tank which is a 46 bowfront and it currently has 2 bags of the black eco-complete, some val, a little java moss and am receiving the following plants today (from aquarium plants).

Ozelot Sword (Echinodorus ‘Ozelot’)(potted)
Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis acicularis) pot
Vals, Jungle (Vallisneria gigantea)(sold 10 plants per order)
Sag, Subulata (narrow leaf)(Sagittaria subulata) - 10 Plants per order
Tiger Lotus, Red (Nymphaea zenkeri)
Sword, Red Melon (Echinodorus barthii) Pot
Ozelot Sword "Giant Mother Plant" (Echinodorus 'ozelot') Pot (size varies)
Diandra (Didiplis diandra)
Cabomba Purple (Red)(Cabomba pulcherrima)
Baby Tears (Hemianthus micranthemoides)
Limnophila ‘hippuroides’ (Limnophila hippuroides)
Pennywort, Brazilian (Hydrocotyle Leucocephala)(6-8 stems)(8"-10" tall)


I am targeting low to medium light plants and my light is a 78W T5 wavepoint and have ordered 6700K and the red wave (for plants) to replace the current saltwater bulbs. I believe I make some mistakes with my plant selection above after reading of the reviews but we shall see.

The tank has been up and running about a month. It has 5 rubby nosed tetra and 10 cardinal tetra and 3 corys which are doing well and eating good. I plan to adding some discus next week and maybe rams later. I also have fert. tabletsand a HOB filter with sponge and bio-media. I do not plan on running CO2.


So what am I missing or am doing wrong? I am doing water changes with RO/tap water mix (I'm on a well). Should I run carbon in the filter? I am currently feeding a good flake food and baby brine and cyclops ( have 3 reef tanks :22_yikes. Planning on getting beef heart for the discus. I will post pictures later. Any suggestions/comments welcome.

 

[Second Hand Pat]

My plant order arrived yesterday and some of the plants were bigger than I thought they would be and all arrived in good condition. So here is my first planted aquarium. The picture is not the best and it gives an idea. Suggestions on aqua-scaping welcome.

 

[jasonG75]

You might want to opt out on the discus and maybe go with 3 Angels.. I really don't think the space warrents discus.

it looks real pretty though.

 

[coach_z]

i wouldnt go with discus if i were you. i'd stick with rams or angels.

 

[Second Hand Pat]

Not enough swimming room? The discus are already on order and being shipping next week. Perhaps a rearrangement is in order? Suggestions on that!

 

[jasonG75]

Longer tank

 

[jasonG75]

Seriously though Discus require atleast 55 gal tank. Typically in Discus tanks the sides and back walls have the plants to open up running room in the center of the tank.

 

[jasonG75]

Now this is a IDEAL setup..however I would only have 4

 

[Second Hand Pat]

What length would you suggest? 4 foot?

 

[jasonG75]

What length would you suggest? 4 foot?

48" or longer.