New planted tank, looking for advice

N

NERZ

Registered Member
Sep 1, 2010
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Hey everyone, I'm new to the forums here and a relatively inexperienced aquarist. I've had a few tanks before, but I'm planning a new set up and I'd like some feedback.

So, I'm starting up my 10 gallon aquarium again, and this time I'm going to try a planted community tank. previously, I've only had a lone betta for a couple of years and then a school of tiger barbs, and I've never kept plants before.

As far as plants:
I went to look for plants at the nearby petco the other day, and they were having a sale so I impulsively (and maybe a little foolishly) bought some plants. I have a rotala wallichii, two corkscrew vals and six white ribbon plants under a 15W flourescent bulb. enough light? suitable beginner plants?

now the stocking questions:
my current plan is a community setup involving a pair of neolamprologus multifasciatus and a small school of zebra danios, maybe four to six. I have read that the shell dwellers need pretty hard water, around 10-25 dH, can anyone confirm the numbers? I have read that the danios are pretty hardy and should be comfortable up to 20dH. Also, does anyone know the usual hardness of New England, or specifically Vermont, tap water? and finally, will the shellies have issues with the plants? some people say they dig them up while others say they're perfectly compatible.

Thanks for reading, any advice would be appreciated
 
"will the shellies have issues with the plants? some people say they dig them up while others say they're perfectly compatible" Slap em next time you see them, LOL j/k

Shellies are Tang Cichlids, plants aren't required just a bunch of shells and a loose substrate.
 
Hey Welcome!

I'm no plant expert, but out of everything that i've tried Java Fern, Java moss and most Anubias seem to be the hardiest/adaptable plants.
 
The 15w light should be suitable for some low light plants like Java Fern, Anubias, some mosses, some Ludwigia species. You will have trouble with the Wallichi. IME, this plant needs more light, CO2, and ferts. I haven't kept any Vals, thought i've read many instances of them doing well with little help from the aquarist.

I disagree with your stocking plan though. The multies may not eat the plants, but they certainly would dig them up (especially since you should have a sand substrate for the multies) in their endeavors to "redecorate their shells". I can't confirm the numbers for hardness, but they are a Tanganyikan species, and as such, come from very hard water.
 
Thanks for the feedback so far everyone. I ordered some more vals and some anubias today, as well as some flourite black sand. I'm going to get rid of the ribbons and the walichii, but i'm sort of determined to have some live plants in the tank. I've also settled on Lamprologus Ocellatus. Reservestockcichlids.com has blue ones for 6.50 each, which look great in the picture but I don't know about buying fish without seeing them first. Has anyone used that site before?

One more question, If anyone here keeps shellies,where do you usually buy their shells?
 
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