Easy Plants?

[Rhindon]

I realized after posting that "new" isn't where I should have posted this. Feel free to move (mods) and I apologize.

I've avoided plants for a long time. Even got rid of artificial plants there for a while because I was having a red (looking) algae problem. I have some green algae that's manageable, yet the water stats are good, so I'm not sure what's causing the algae. Seems too stuck to the tank for the algae eaters to be able to get off.

Anyway, I am thinking of adding some plants. What's pretty and easy to maintain? I have a 37 gallon tank 22 3/4" tall x 30" wide x 12" deep with the following stock and a Fluval 204 canister filter:

3 Black Skirt Tetras
2 Neon Tetras
2 Medium bala sharks
1 Angelfish
2 algae eaters

Other info:
1) I live in Tampa, Florida. It's hot. I have never had to use a heater for this tank and it stays between 70 and 80 degrees.
2) The bala sharks are a fairly new addition. We really like the look of them, and are considering replacing any fish that die with sharks until it's eventually an all shark tank. Thoughts?

 

[Aqua Tom]

vallis & cobumba to start with, both will grow extra fast & take the nutiants away from the algea.

 

[KittyKat]

Anyway, I am thinking of adding some plants. What's pretty and easy to maintain? I have a 37 gallon tank 22 3/4" tall x 30" wide x 12" deep with the following stock and a Fluval 204 canister filter:

[…]

Other info:
1) I live in Tampa, Florida. It's hot. I have never had to use a heater for this tank and it stays between 70 and 80 degrees.
2) The bala sharks are a fairly new addition. We really like the look of them, and are considering replacing any fish that die with sharks until it's eventually an all shark tank. Thoughts?

Bala sharks will grow to 16" long. Your tank is no where near big enough to even consider them, let alone buy them. If you wish to keep Bala sharks, you should upgrade to a *much* larger tank immediately. When I say *much* larger, I used to look after some in a tank which was around 8*4*4 ft and they looked cramped in there, but an absolute minimum is 6*2*2 ft. Also, the sharks will eat the tetras once they grow a bit more.

Schooling fish like tetras and Bala sharks should be kept in groups of at least 6 individuals per species, and preferably in groups of 10-15+ individuals.

What species are the algae eaters? Most are too aggressive to keep more than one in a tank that size (the aggression increases with age) and most grow too large/are too active for a tank that size.

Please sort out your stocking and research all species before buying them.

Undemanding plants should work, here's a list: http/www.tropica.com/plants/difficulty/easy.aspx
I recommend you manually remove all algae, do a blackout for a week, manually remove all algae, then heavily plant right from the start. Some plants take to certain aquariums, some don't, so if you try this method, get as many species as possible, but avoid getting more than 2 swords.. your tank will probably be able to support only one Amazon sword in the long term.

 

[Rhindon]

We got the medium bala sharks. The little tag said they would grow to 8". I told them what we had in the tank too. I wonder if PetSmart will take them back as I cannot afford a bigger tank. It's a shame because we really like them too.

 

[KittyKat]

We got the medium bala sharks. The little tag said they would grow to 8".

I do not know of any species which exists that looks like Balantiocheilos melanopterus which is not Balantiocheilos melanopterus. Just to be on the safe side and make completely sure that we're talking about the same species, search for "Balantiocheilos melanopterus" and compare images to your fish please, or post a photo. There are at least two colour varations: normal and albino.

 

[Rhindon]

That seems to be them.

 

[KittyKat]

Yeah, unfortunately this happens very often… but now you know the value of "research first and then research again" before buying. It really is hard to resist sometimes, and even I have had a few moments of weakness, but the guys at my LFS let me use their computer to look up any info I want while I'm at the store… it really is well worth finding a good LFS and supporting it with your wallet.

 

[Rhindon]

Ok, just got off the phone with PetSmart and they said I can return the balas

I have mixed feelings about this as I really like them, but I can't afford a huge tank and want them to have a good home. Little one is disappointed too.

That being said, I know that neons are the natural food of angel fish, but I've never seen our remaining angel go after the two that are in there now. He hasn't gotten very big even though he's several years old. I think the very tall castle that was in the tank for a long time stunted his growth as the tank is almost 23" tall. After I return the balas, should I build up the neon shoal and if so, how many should I add.

That update to the stock being in place, what plants would you recommend?

The "algae eaters" are one "rubber lip"? pleco I'd never heard of and a small otto looking, but not otto one I picked up at Walmart that we've had for a couple of months now and doesn't seem to to be getting very large since we got him. Tag said he should only get to be about 4" long.

 

[Hmongol]

I feel your pain. I too love bala shark and had to resist keeping then as i cannot afford money and space for any tank larger then 40 gallon.

 

[KittyKat]

That being said, I know that neons are the natural food of angel fish, but I've never seen our remaining angel go after the two that are in there now. He hasn't gotten very big even though he's several years old. I think the very tall castle that was in the tank for a long time stunted his growth as the tank is almost 23" tall. After I return the balas, should I build up the neon shoal and if so, how many should I add.

Well, not for small angels and not for well fed angels… If you're quite sure that they won't get eaten, try to get the number of neons up to at least 10. I recommend you go for larger fish, not young ones. You should also add at least 3 more black skirt tetras or swap them for more neons.

That update to the stock being in place, what plants would you recommend?

What's your lighting and lighting regime? Potentially any undemanding ones: http/www.tropica.com/plants/difficulty/easy.aspx

The "algae eaters" are one "rubber lip"? pleco I'd never heard of and a small otto looking, but not otto one I picked up at Walmart that we've had for a couple of months now and doesn't seem to to be getting very large since we got him. Tag said he should only get to be about 4" long.

Maybe Chaetostoma aff. milesi? If not, have a look at this list: http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/quick_find.php?AJAXtxtsearch=rubber&AJAXlabel=search

Is the other maybe a Crossocheilus siamensis or Gyrinocheilus aymonieri?

 

[Rhindon]

That update to the stock being in place, what plants would you recommend?

What's your lighting and lighting regime? Potentially any undemanding ones: http/www.tropica.com/plants/difficulty/easy.aspx

I have the time set for lighting about 10 hours of each day.

The "algae eaters" are one "rubber lip"? pleco I'd never heard of and a small otto looking, but not otto one I picked up at Walmart that we've had for a couple of months now and doesn't seem to to be getting very large since we got him. Tag said he should only get to be about 4" long.

Maybe Chaetostoma aff. milesi? If not, have a look at this list: http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/quick_find.php?AJAXtxtsearch=rubber&AJAXlabel=search

Is the other maybe a Crossocheilus siamensis or Gyrinocheilus aymonieri?

Looks a little like that second one, but it's narrow and not very big. I'd say I'll get a picture when I get home, but I have a heck of a time getting decent pictures of any of the fish.

 

[Rhindon]

Would it be ok to add the other neons today or tomorrow? I am returning the bala sharks on Friday evening.

 

[Rhindon]

Is the other maybe a Crossocheilus siamensis or Gyrinocheilus aymonieri?

Maybe that second one? This is the best picture I could get...

 

[KittyKat]

Would it be ok to add the other neons today or tomorrow? I am returning the bala sharks on Friday evening.

It is probably fine to get the neons today, although it's most likely even better to swap the sharks for neons on the same day.

Is the other maybe a Crossocheilus siamensis or Gyrinocheilus aymonieri?

Maybe that second one? This is the best picture I could get...

That photo does look like G. aymonieri, although I really hope it is one of the similar looking species. G. aymonieri grow to 12" (so a 4 ft tank is the smallest they should have) and become very aggressive with age.

As you can see, it makes a lot of sense to do at least some research on the species you want before you buy it. I recommend that one aims to know *everything* about the species before one buys it, and with time you will have enough background knowledge to know the general trends in different groups of fish.

 

[KittyKat]

That update to the stock being in place, what plants would you recommend?

What's your lighting and lighting regime? Potentially any undemanding ones: http/www.tropica.com/plants/difficulty/easy.aspx

I have the time set for lighting about 10 hours of each day.

10 hours is a good place to start, I find. I prefer slightly longer hours, many people use less to avoid algae.

What's the wattage of the lights?