Advice On My First Tank Please

[Ryandsimmons]

I am starting my first tank and was wondering if anybody could advise me on suitable plants given the following scenario, I have been reading the FAQs etc, but would like a more tailored answer that I don't get so confused with. ;-)

Anyway, tank is a Fluval Roms 125.
125 litre, 80 x 45 x 35 dimensions.
Filter is Fluval U3 Internal
Lighting is Fluval GLO lighting, one of each 20watt PowerGlo & AquaGlo.

Tentative fish stock is 1 Pearl Guarami, 5 Sparkling Guarami, 6 Black Ruby Barbs, 10-15 Raboras (depending on type) 4 Zebra Loaches and some Cherry Shrimp.

My initial idea is 50% planted, 50% rock formation in the tank. The room will be very brightly lit during the day (my flat has walls almost entirely composed of ground to ceiling windows on the East and South) so the tank will be brightly lit, I can keep it out of direct sun, but ambience will be high.

Can anyone please suggest plants for the tank, and if possible any pitfalls. I'd like low maintanece stuff as I am learning here if possible. I was going to aim to plant these during a fishless cycle in possible.

Many thanks

Ryan

Edit: Just realised, I have gravel being delivered as a substrate. I don't know how that affects things.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Hi All,

Sorry to bump this, but I was just wondering, rather than go into detail as I know it is a pain for you guys dealing with all these questions, just is there a list of plants that can just be thrown into gravel with no extra care needed?

I understand you can do this with the following from gleaning info from the threads I am reading.
Vesicularia dubyana (Java Moss)
Java Fern
Anubias
Elodia
Camboda

I will get into the plants later and learn about caring, but I just want to focus on fish for now and have some plants that I don't need to stress over.

Many thanks

Ryan

 

[aaronnorth]

Hi, take a read of these:

Why we should not fishless cycle planted tanks

Back To Basics

those plants are fine what you have listed, also

echinodorous sp
cryptocoryne sp
hygrophillia sp

buy a fertliser too, something like tropica plant nutriion+ and dose weekly. If any defficiencies appear then dose more frequently.

I would advise buying a nutrient rich substrate, just as a back up for the plants, it takes the stress of the water column dosing (nutrients in water) and overall makes it easier.
It doesnt have to be expensive, something like JBL Aquabasis+ then cap it with the gravel.
cheapest i have seen it for is £8 for 5l from zooplus. (Usually £15 per 5l). A 1" layer capped with 1-2" layer of gravel is fine.

there are plenty of alternatives out there, i'll let you have a look for something in your price range, that is if you want to use a nutrient rich substrate which isnt necassary.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Brilliant.

Thanks very much for your help.