I've got some HC from one of my carnivorous plant buddies that I am going to grow immersed for a while as well as a small portion of dwarf hairgrass just to see if I can get it to grow that way. I am hoping to add a few blyxa japonica as background plants once I can submerge the tank.
As for fauna I was thinking of some RCS and maybe some Neons after the shrimp are doing well. I really like the crystal shrimp but I think I want to start easy... This type of tank is supposed to be difficult in the first place so I don't want anything too difficult to care for. MTS are a given haha.
For lighting I plan to just keep it on my grow shelf with my carnivorous plants until I can get a nice light/lid thingy for it. I've also got a 65watt CPF that I used for my carnivores that I can rig up for it if need be. I'll be looking into DIY CO2 while I'm waiting for my HC and dwarf hairgrass to spread so that's something I want to incorporate.
I have a 30-60gallon AquaTech HOB filter that I plan on using. People say it's best to over filter right? haha. It's got a carbon packet filter which needs to be replaced every so often (from what I read I can use a certain kind of foam instead) and a "bio filter" that "removes ammonia and nitrites 'on contact' " that doesn't need to be replaced. I plan on putting on a prefilter for the shrimps etc which shouldn't be a biggie- just have to go steal some nylons haha.
The substrate is actually an aquatic pond plant soil that I purchased at a garden center. I just had to wash it forever but it seems alright to me and will be covered in HC anyway so no worries there. Rocks have been bleached, washed, boiled and vinegar tested.
If I just wanted to keep Neons, RCS, MTS and maybe one snail (if i find one with a colored body I can't pass up) in this tank, what realistic numbers am I looking at for the Neons and RCS so I don't overstock?
Love the arrangement, though I wish the right side was moved a bit closer to the edge. As far as stocking, I'd go with 5 neons, and allow them to keep your rcs numbers in check.
I agree that I need to shift the right side arrangement a little bit to the right. I overshifted the last time I decided and it didn't look right anymore but I'll give it another go before I replant.
And it is hard to see in the pic but the foreground stone in the right hand arrangement is pointing in the same direction as the larger one.
