Good setup? Any adivice?

[ThomasAllen]

Currently have my first actual planted aquarium, it's 55 gallons, 2 aqua tech 20-40 gallon filters, 21 inch marineland led light bar(6500k white and 460nm blue) viva aqua 300 watt heater(keeps temperature at 75.3℉) 3 inches of seachem black flourite substrate, for plants there is dwarf hairgrass and dwarf sag that so far is doing extremely well. So far there is 3 cory catfish, 1 Siamese algae eater, 4 ghost shrimp, 3 nerite snails.(had a brown dust algae to get rid of now is completely gone) does anyone have any suggestions or should this setup be good? I do intend to get more plants just haven't decided on what to get and I know for sure I will soon be getting some kuhli loaches. Suggestions on what's plants to get and what fish will be greatly appreciated.

 

[ThomasAllen]

Currently have my first actual planted aquarium, it's 55 gallons, 2 aqua tech 20-40 gallon filters, 21 inch marineland led light bar(6500k white and 460nm blue) viva aqua 300 watt heater(keeps temperature at 75.3℉) 3 inches of seachem black flourite substrate, for plants there is dwarf hairgrass and dwarf sag that so far is doing extremely well. So far there is 3 cory catfish, 1 Siamese algae eater, 4 ghost shrimp, 3 nerite snails.(had a brown dust algae to get rid of now is completely gone) does anyone have any suggestions or should this setup be good? I do intend to get more plants just haven't decided on what to get and I know for sure I will soon be getting some kuhli loaches. Suggestions on what's plants to get and what fish will be greatly appreciated. Also I forgot there is 2 mollies(3 weeks old)

 

[tanker]

Will you be adding CO2, ferts?
Always nice to get some stem plants for either one side or back ground.

Me, I always like sword plants--Echinodorus.

 

[ThomasAllen]

I put some root tabs just for basically a booster, had these plants for a few years now and they didn't take the transfer so well. I'd like to stay low-medium tech but I know better and I will eventually start co2 and switch to canister filter. But for as of now that won't happen any time soon, I also use API leaf zone every two weeks, I tend to get brighter green from the dwarf sag using this, without they tend to get a very dark green

 

[ThomasAllen]

I like the amazon swords. The broad ludwigia and water sprite are the ones that really caught my attention

 

[FreshyFresh]

An amazon sword will take over a 55g. I've got one in my 55 and have to cut it back. I don't give it any root tabs and it's in ordinary aquarium gravel.

Thomas, I'd double or triple your number of cory catfish and maybe add a centerpiece fish like an angel or gourami.

In my 55 with plants, I've got a mish-mash of fish:

1 koi angel
1 female pearl gourami
1 zebra danio
1 male neon swordtail
2 siamese algae eaters
7 panda corys.

Plants are the amazon sword, java fern various anubia and most recently, some crypts. My wisteria and water sprite has died off to basically nothing over a few years.

 

[ThomasAllen]

I do plan on having for sure no less then 6 Cory, and 12 kuhli loaches, reason I only have 3 cory right now is I was having diatom issue and with me putting small amount of food and used filter systems that were running on other tank for a month to jump start this one I didn't want to get 6 Cory right off the back with the aquarium just got done cycling 2 weeks ago

 

[FreshyFresh]

Yep, that's wise. As long lived as corys are, they don't do well if water params aren't quite there yet.

 

[ThomasAllen]

I was being very cautious about them. I never have any type of schooling fish in any less then 6 per group

 

[fishorama]

Water sprite is a fern & easy to grow either floating; attached to rock or wood or in any substrate as long as the crown (where the leaves & roots meet) is NOT buried. Low-medium light is fine, it's pretty & bushy in my tank. 1 is enough, well, maybe 1 at each end.

Swords, as Freshy said, can get big!

I'd wait to add kuhlis, they like a mature tank. & yes, get more corys of the same species. Both are fun!