Planting a 180 gallon

[fishfreak2009]

So I have decided to plant my 180 gallon aquarium. I have T5 lighting and Pool Filter Sand for a substrate. I do not plan on using CO2, but I will be using root tabs and Flourish excel.

Fish:
7 Angelfish (Already own)
7 Diamond Tetra
7 Bronze Corydoras
1 Peacock Eel (Already own) (I've tried him with small fish. All he likes is worms)
5 Australian Rainbowfish (Already own)
1 Blue Gourami
6 Platy
7 Glass Catfish
2 Kribensis
1 Elephantnose Morymid

Plants:
Onion Plants
Cabomba
Willow Moss
Riccia
Red Tiger Lotus
Vallis
Amazon Swordplants (Already have)
Water Sprite
Giant Hygro
Elodea
Water Wisteria
Java Fern (Already have)
Anubias
Cryptocoryne wendtii (Already have)
Alternanthera
Aponogeton ulvaceus

Sorry for the long post. Does it sound like this tank will work?

 

[Burto]

Sounds pretty good. What does your T5 lighting consist of? Too much could cause algae issues.
I think you might be missing out on the opportunity for big schools of fish the 180G allows for. I'd probably go for at least 20 diamond tetras, and maybe one or two schools of other tetras or barbs or rasboras.

 

[fishbum]

It would be much cheaper in the long run to go with pressurized CO2 on a tank that size. Excel will get very expensive, very quickly.

 

[Bhack91]

I think to sustain that many plants in that large of tank you need to up your stock or look into co2. I am in the process of setting up 125 as a planted tank myself, and tanks that big its hardier to provide nutrients needed. Im using ecocomplete from an established tank and them some, and will be stocking my tank with what will mostly likely be a larger list than what you have. And Im concerned I won't have enough nutrients, my suggestion is don't drop the bills on expensive plants just yet. Play around with what you have and/or cheaper stuff and read through the planted stickys. In my experience and observations thats how most aquarists get comfortable with planted tanks. By playing with what you have hands on and seeing the results in front of you, if you do all the reading and asking all the questions helps but not nearly as much. I don't know if you have a smaller tank to play around with first but thats how a lot of people get started. Im sure Jcardona will have some advice to put in soon as well.

 

[fishfreak2009]

I probably won't dose excel then, I'll just save it for my papyrus (it seems to have a growth spurt every time I use it).

I'm definitely going to add alot more fish, I only listed the fish I know are going in there. The problem with small fish like cardinals and harlequin rasboras is that they fit through the holes in the overflow. How does this sound as an updated stocklist:

7 Angelfish (Already own)
1 Peacock Eel (Already own)
7 Corydoras (Any species)
5 Australian Rainbowfish (Already own)
12 Platy
7 Diamond Tetra (I don't want more than 7 of them)
7 Odessa Barb
15 Red Tailed Rasbora
3 Dwarf Gourami (Instead of the blue gourami, 1 male & 2 females)
2 Kribensis (1 male, 1 female)
7 Glass Catfish
9 White Finned Rosy Tetra
7 Silver Hatchetfish
1 Elephantnose Morymid

Sound good?

 

[fishfreak2009]

add three giant danios to the list. my severums in my 125 gallon decided they could hunt and eat my poor danios, the danios they've been living with for over a year.

 

[nikond70s]

i think your plant list is fine. they are all pretty much low light easy growing plants. so co2 isnt needed. you can occasionally doze excel and dry/wet fertz and that should be enough nutrients for the plants. looks like you have a good amount of fish. the fish and there waste are good nutrients and co2 for the plants.

 

[fishfreak2009]

any other fish suggestions? Just no rummynose tetras please. I just do not like them that much.

 

[nikond70s]

any other fish suggestions? Just no rummynose tetras please. I just do not like them that much.

i say get about 20 congo tetra's. i missed mine and wished i didnt sell them. i currently have 20 young ones in a grow out pond outside.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Stock list? SKIP THE PLATYS. Skip any popular livebearer IMO... over bred and extremely prone to disease.

Check out Puntias Denisoni, AKA Denison barbs. Also, drapefin barbs are cool.
I agree with the Congo tetras, awesome fish! My buddy has a couple dozen of them and they look killer!
I also hate hatchetfish, that's just me. Oh and I hate rasboras! can you tell I worked in a wholesale fish dealer? Those fish are a PAIN to catch.
You need some loaches! And there are much cooler corys than bronze corys. If you like Odessa barbs check out Melon barbs.
I own an elephant nose as well. Cool fish.
I love my black ghost knife, but you wouldn't want to keep him with any tiny fish. He leaves my juvi Denison barbs alone.