plants for asian biotpe

[Butters Skotch]

I have a bunch of crypts in my 10 gallon that I will move to this tank. I have the plant stock list ready to go but I'm still not sure about the fish. I was thinking something like this:
1 Dwarf gourami
10 Harlequin rasboras
6 Kuhli loachs
RCS colony
Does that sound good or should I change it?

 

[Notophthalmus]

No, vals are from the Amazon and have been introduced to the Southern US.

Vals are actually native to the US (Vallisneria americana) and Asia (V. asiatica), as well as Europe and South America. I think the varieties of Asian val usually offered in the US are 'contorted' or 'corkscrew' varieties similar to V. spiralis var. tortissima (which can be used as a substitute if you aren't too finicky).

*EDIT* just found a list of areas to which V. americana is native: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?400354. Looks like most of Asia is in its range.

Butters- there are a few cosmopolitan species that will work in almost any biotope, hornwort and riccia being two prominent examples. As far as other plants, is your biotope theme more specific than 'Asia'? Different parts of Asia have different flora. Your stock list seems focused on southeast Asia; is this going to be a running theme?

 

[Butters Skotch]

Yes, this was my focus from the begining... South East Asia. I probably should have been more specific. I'm not to picky though, not like all the fish have to be from one certain river or something like that. And thank you for the information on the vals!