tank lighting and plant questions

[rocks]

Hi,
I have a tank thats dimensions are 48" long x18" wide x21" deep. Right now I have three small jewels and a 4" pleco in there and I'm planning on adding a few more fish and lots of plants. I've got plenty of rocks and some nice driftwood.

I don't have much money to work with but I need some ideas for plants that don't require a lot of light. Basically anything that would be ok with a couple small florescent tubes and the indirect lighting from outside. I plan on building lots of caves and hiding places so I'm also looking for ideas on other fish I can add to the tank. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Rocks

 

[WyldFya]

For plants: Anubias species, Egeria species, hornwort, java fern, java moss, cryptocoryne species, amazon swords, and najas grass all will work in low light.

For fish, a nice school of corydoras would look good in there.

 

[rocks]

For plants: Anubias species, Egeria species, hornwort, java fern, java moss, cryptocoryne species, amazon swords, and najas grass all will work in low light.

For fish, a nice school of corydoras would look good in there.

how will the corydoras get along with the jewels? I'd think the jewels would beat on them.

 

[1SiCk Mk3]

and also from what ive heard direct sunlight from like a window or what not will not help...only help when it comes to algea and problems...but wyldfya can confirm....

 

[WyldFya]

how will the corydoras get along with the jewels? I'd think the jewels would beat on them.

Corydoras are very resilient, and have a very sharp set of spines.

 

[WyldFya]

and also from what ive heard direct sunlight from like a window or what not will not help...only help when it comes to algea and problems...but wyldfya can confirm....

Depends, it is a hard thing to gauge for lumens, so generally the system won't be balanced, and algae will take over.

 

[rocks]

When I buy plants do I need to quarantine them or anything before putting them into my tank with the fish?