Finally Might Be Setting It Up

[Meggie :)]

Hi so I have had a 50 gallon tank for a while now and haven't been able to set it up yet for lots of reasons. But now I might finally be able to...It won't be immediately as we need to have someone put in electrical outlets where I am putting it, but I'm getting there...The tank dimensions are 48"(l) x 13"(w) x 18"(h)

So a couple of questions: I want to do a planted tank...not sure what plants yet, I haven't planned it out yet. First question: what substrate do you suggest? Can any plant grow in sand (or tied to wood) or is there a need to do the fluval plant substrate? Second question: What kind of cycle should I do? And should I put in the plants before or after this cycle?

Next question: Do I need an external filter, or will I be okay with two internal ones?

Also, this is my stocking plan as of right now, anything you think I should change? I am open to any suggestions or changes, I welcome them...Any other kind of fish you suggest that is compatible? Any numbers I should change or knock on the head?
~Guppies x 8
~Balloon mollies x 4
~Platies x 4
~Cardinals x 12 or 16
~Pygmy hatchet fish or glass fish? x don't know yet
~Panda cories x 12
~Shrimp x 10 (don't know what kind yet, probably a mix of several kinds)

I might need help later with the layout of my tank and what plants to put where, I still need to find some nice wood...

I will probably have more questions, as I forgot the rest I was going to ask

Please reply if you can answer any of these questions or offer suggestions

Thanks so much,
Megan

 

[wan1967]

Hello there,dont know much about plants but i do know with your guppies you are better getting more females than males to stop them getting constantly harassed eg, 6f-2m or 5f-3m.As for your substrate if you are getting corys the experts on here will advise sand.Sorry i couldnt be of more help.

 

[Meggie :)]

I would rather have male guppies than female ones in this tank and I don't want to mix them, so what do you suggest my number of guppies be?

And a quick question I forgot to ask, can I still have corys if I carpet my tank with something like baby tears?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

If the pland substrate is relatively smooth, it should be okay with the cories. I have a gravel/sand mix, and my cories were find with it. Or a really smooth gravel(like little round gravel pieces, not jagged ones)

With Platys, Mollies, and guppies, you will have to worry about over crowing eventually as they will spawn....ALOT. I have 6 female platys, and two male swords, and I have at least three batches of babies a month. and the issue with a lot of plants means that the babies will have a lot of place to hide and you will more than likely have a high survival rate. So something to think about is what you are going to do for population control (i.e fry tank, donations to LFS, free to a good home)

I highly recommend doing a fishless cycle, but you will need to wait to add plants as the plants will eat the ammonia rather than letting the bacteria build up. Or if you choose to do a fish-in, go ahead and plant it as the plants will keep you from doing water changes 2-3 times a day. If you do fish-in, do not add your entire stocking list at once, as you will have a high chance of losing some. If you do fishless cycle, you can add your entire stocking list at once as soon as the cycle is complete.

It sounds like it will be lovely when you have it put together.

 

[Meggie :)]

Yes, I think I will end up doing a fishless cycle and add the plants later...I will only have male livebearers in my fifty gallon. I have a ten gallon that will be for the fry and a female or two of some kind of livebearer so that I can constantly have a few babies as I love them but I have a store that will take them...

And the substrate is fluval plant substrate...Do you suggest doing either all fluval plant substrate or all sand, or would you personally do a divided substrate with sections of each? Or is that too much of a pain? I have the divided substrate in my ten gallon and I know that can be a pain sometimes...

Thank you

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I don't know about divided substrate. I have never done it personally.