My tank is a 180 gallon.
I have also combined it with a 125 gal, meaning one drains into the other and they share the same pump.
Before adding fish I usually plant, and decorate the tank, and it sits filtering and allowing the plants to establish a solid root system at least a month or two before adding fish. Because all tanks are mini-ecosystems in themselves they are not static, new tanks always go thru phases, there can be alga blooms, some new plants die back or melt, before rebounding or grabbing hold, according to where the tank is situated, under what light etc etc
And then once fish are added things can change, but usually not as much as when new plants and fish are put in at the same time.
As you can see, I consider plants to be a very important part of my setups (when the fish allow)
In tanks where fish eat or destry plants, I usually set up planted refugium tanks as part of the system line up to allow the unplanted tanks, the benefits the plants give.
I have also combined it with a 125 gal, meaning one drains into the other and they share the same pump.
Before adding fish I usually plant, and decorate the tank, and it sits filtering and allowing the plants to establish a solid root system at least a month or two before adding fish. Because all tanks are mini-ecosystems in themselves they are not static, new tanks always go thru phases, there can be alga blooms, some new plants die back or melt, before rebounding or grabbing hold, according to where the tank is situated, under what light etc etc
And then once fish are added things can change, but usually not as much as when new plants and fish are put in at the same time.
As you can see, I consider plants to be a very important part of my setups (when the fish allow)
In tanks where fish eat or destry plants, I usually set up planted refugium tanks as part of the system line up to allow the unplanted tanks, the benefits the plants give.
