Noob needs advice planting 20g community

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Whiteboi_J

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 8, 2010
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Texas
Hey everyone.

I'm relatively new to the hobby (< 6 months) and have a 20 gallon octagon community tank (pictured below). My stock is in my sig and i'm lookin to see if i got a green thumb.

I've got a Aqueon 20 HOB and I got a 10k 24W T5 HO and an Actinic 24W T5 HO under the hood. Pool filter sand substrate that's been in the tank for about > 2 months and a snail population that is a bit more under control.

I also have an air pump (no air stone and not set up) and a Turbo Co2 Bio System (also not set up).

I've read up on here some recommendations, and understand that I'm probably looking for some low light plants (saw a 1-2.5 WPG thrown around in a post) and not sure what type of plants to look for, or what might look good in this tank. it about a 30"x14"x18" (w & h are appx, can't get to tape measure now cause parents are in town and asleep in our bedroom) at it's widest points.

I've seen people say to use some type of fert in the substrate and/or liquid dosing, but not sure about pros/cons of either and i'm just lookin for some help.

Thanks in advance!

DSC_0277.jpg
 
I would get some cobomba for a back ground plant, some anubias nana for some foreground. And some smaller swords for the middle ground, java fern would be good for this too. I know your probably not looking to spend a lot of money but i would suggest some real driftwood with the live plants, it really looks nice all together. A black background would look nice too. And to mention it I would suggest getting like five more cardinals, and 3 more corys. They are both schooling species, and plus schools of each fish would look killer in your planted tank. Most LFS are willing to take trade ins for store credit if you want to get rid of your colombians. You may not get a lot of money but at least they will be gone without you killing them. On to ferts and the such, I have a 29g running on about 1watt per gallon without CO2 or ferts. But I invested in ecocomplete substrate, and flourite. So I would wait until someone with more exprience on that subject chimes in...hope this helps some.
 
Bhack91;4274565; said:
I would get some cobomba for a back ground plant, some anubias nana for some foreground. And some smaller swords for the middle ground, java fern would be good for this too. I know your probably not looking to spend a lot of money but i would suggest some real driftwood with the live plants, it really looks nice all together. A black background would look nice too. And to mention it I would suggest getting like five more cardinals, and 3 more corys. They are both schooling species, and plus schools of each fish would look killer in your planted tank. Most LFS are willing to take trade ins for store credit if you want to get rid of your colombians. You may not get a lot of money but at least they will be gone without you killing them. On to ferts and the such, I have a 29g running on about 1watt per gallon without CO2 or ferts. But I invested in ecocomplete substrate, and flourite. So I would wait until someone with more exprience on that subject chimes in...hope this helps some.
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cool thanks. and yes, since i've got most of what i need i'm not lookin to spend a ton of money. i'm googling what all those plants look like. lol....the swords and anubias nana look similar. lol. and when u say some, does that mean 2-3 plants of each and then let them grow or what?

Ya i had 5 cards, but 1 of colombian's fin nipped 2 of them to death......then one morning i woke up and he was dead....that's karma for ya. lol. but 1 of my mollies just passed away unexpectedly, and my buddy also has 3-5 cards and said if i want them they're mine (dumping his community into the big 150 that his roomate is currently cycling so he can get some chiclids in his tank) and i'll see if i can drop off my colombian's there. So i was planning on taking on his cards, but afraid adding another 3 cory's will make my tank overstocked, or it will when the cory's get to their full size of 3-4" (I have no means of upgrading for about 12-18 months....in 1 bedroom apt that doesn't allow fish tanks :screwy: that jus got smaller with addition of our baby and we'll be in here at least another 12 months)

would u consider this to be overstocked: 6 Cards, 4 Cory's, 1 balloon molly, 1 oto (might pick up another one cause he is lazy)
 
I'd swap out the actinic lamp with a 6700 plant lamp
 
Correct
 
Tank looks good. I can pick you up some driftwood the next time out by my parents house and quaranine it for a while....get it to release some of the tannin so it wont brown up your water.
 
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