VC 240L beginner freshwater

[VC]

Hello all. It's time to start plant shopping, and yes I am going to use aquarium gardens based on reviews!

If I'm honest I'm not sure where to start and the more I look at aquascaping videos the more overwhelmed I get.

I have sat down and written some of the beginner plants I like the look of from AG website. I have a rough plan (I think!) Any comments / experiences / recommendations are welcomed. I have a sand substrate but have flourish root tabs.

Background: Vallisneria Spiralis or Echinodorus bleheri (Amazon Sword). Anyone had luck with Echinodrus harbich?

Midground: Bacopa Caroliniana (baby's tears)

Hardscape attachments (I guess this counts as midscape too?): Anubias Nana / Golden Nana / Barteri
Vesicularis dubyana (java moss)
Microsorum pteropus (java fern)

Foreground: Cryptocoryne Wendtii / Nevellii / Beckettii - with these plants I assume they won't grow too tall if they're classed as foreground?

Sagittaria subulata - would this work in a sand substrate and is it a carpet style plant?



I guess my overall question is: is it ok to have a mixture of different plants, pick and mix style?!

Also I'm going for beginner, low budget set up (i.e. no CO2). I don't mind using liquid CO2 or liquid fertilizers as long as it isn't something that is going to cost me a lot.

Thank you!

[TropicalFishForums]

[plankton]

My cryptocoryne wendtii grows quite tall, it's ok in the corners though.

[VC]

My cryptocoryne wendtii grows quite tall, it's ok in the corners though.

So it'd be more appropriate towards back or behind hardscape?

[Rdel]

As a feature fish then south American peaceful cichlids are good.
Bolivian rams (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus), Cupid cichlids (Biotodoma cupido) and Keyhole Cichlid (Cleithracara maronii) are all fine at 25C.

If you could only choose one of those cichlids Stephen which would it be? Which has the best personality and best to watch?

[VC]

I have ordered some plants from Aquarium Gardens! Woohoo!

All beginner plants that claim are low tech.

Do people recommend adding liquid CO2 and / or fertilizers too? If so, which ones are good please?

Thank you!

[Rdel]

I was having problems with my plants going bad and brown faded leaves ect and Stephen recommended easy-life root sticks to me that I've found have made a big difference to the health of my plants.

Not had to cut of any decaying leaves since.

[plankton]

My cryptocoryne wendtii grows quite tall, it's ok in the corners though.

So it'd be more appropriate towards back or behind hardscape?

I'd say so.

[VC]

Thanks for the tip! I’m getting Wendtii and Nevellii crypts.

I’m really excited / nervous about actually planting everything. My homework this week is to watch YouTube videos on where and how to plant / glue each one.

Having fun arranging the hardscape though. It’s not in the tank yet, but I’m going to attempt a triangle composition a third from left hand side. Something along the lines of this:



I woodn’t say it’s set in stone though. (Sorry!)

[plankton]

Good idea.

[VC]

Hello all!

Exciting / nerve-wracking day! My plants arrived (thanks Aquarium Gardens):



I've glued and planted them accordingly (I hope):



Rocks have Java moss on them.
Driftwood has Java fern and Anubias nana.
There are Vallisnera spiralis and Amazon swords towards back.
Some Cryptocoryne Wendtii and Nevelli in mid ground.
And finally some Sagittaria subulata at the front.

Heater and Filter both plugged in and ready to go!

Seachem Prime added to water. Root tabs going into substrate.

Anything else I need to do before right now? I intend to start the fishless cycle tomorrow evening.

I have an Eheim air pump 200 but I'll have to do that during the week too.

Any opinions on layout welcomed! Hope you're having a great weekend so far.

[VC]

Also - the bubbles will disappear in time, right? 

[Gingerlove05]

Nice i imagine you will add more to it as you go, but i quite like the “island” of hardscape idea
Yes the bubbles will disappear, its just the water settling in and it having plenty of oxygen etc

[Si4geckos]

Also - the bubbles will disappear in time, right? 

They will clear in a few days on you can just rub em off.

Plants look good.

Have you decided on stocking yet?

[VC]

Nice i imagine you will add more to it as you go, but i quite like the “island” of hardscape idea
Yes the bubbles will disappear, its just the water settling in and it having plenty of oxygen etc

Yeah I like the island type set up! There is a lot of space on the right hand side but I’ll fill that only if it looks unblanced (once all the plants have had time to grow out a bit). Like you said though I can always add more if needs be.

Also - the bubbles will disappear in time, right? 

They will clear in a few days on you can just rub em off.

Plants look good.

Have you decided on stocking yet?

Thank you! Once cycled I’m going to start with a large school of tetras. As to which ones I’m still not 100% sure. I made another post about tetras to find out which ones are often overlooked as I don’t want bog standard neons!

I would like to have some sterbai corydoras one day and maybe honey gourami or cherry barbs.

[VC]

Sorry forgot to ask - I have seachem flourish and easylife easycarbo for my fertiliser / CO2. Do I start that treatment now? Thanks