My first ever tank!

[ambrosia0426 6]

Hi!
I'm so excited to start this hobby! Just yesterday started my first ever cycle too!
I have Java Fern, Spiky moss, Anubias nana and the two plants on the right of which I don't remember the name of because they were not in my plans but the fish store guy recommended! XD
I'll add substrate plants in about a week from now and when it's completely cycled I'll add some Neocaridina and Clithon Corona for a month before adding the fish!!

 

[gwand28 144]

Welcome. What kind of fish are you planning on having?

 

[ambrosia0426 6]

Welcome. What kind of fish are you planning on having?

Thanks! I'm still not entirely sure and I'll ask in my fish store too when the time comes, but for now my research made me want to get these:

 

[Innesfan27 11]

Welcome! I'm excited for you. You are embarking on a fascinating journey.

 

[ambrosia0426 6]

Lots of tannins in the water this second day! I have to see if I add or not more food today for the ghost feed!

 

[sharkweek178]

Hi!
I'm so excited to start this hobby! Just yesterday started my first ever cycle too!
I have Java Fern, Spiky moss, Anubias nana and the two plants on the right of which I don't remember the name of because they were not in my plans but the fish store guy recommended! XD
I'll add substrate plants in about a week from now and when it's completely cycled I'll add some Neocaridina and Clithon Corona for a month before adding the fish!!
View attachment 378586

One of those plants on the right is a java fern windelov variety. The other looks like it could be Anubias frazieri. But it could well be another Anubias variety.

 

[sharkweek178]

This looks great. If you're open to suggestion, a good floating plant would help a lot. A surface floater like salvinia minima (my personal mvp), Amazon frogbit or red root floaters. For one thing, they grow fast. So they suck a lot of the nutrients directly out of the water, making them great for water quality. They'll diffuse the light going into the aquarium which helps control algae. (Don't worry about your current plants. They're all low light plants). And the fish will appreciate the shade and feel safer with the surface having some cover. Especially that honey gourami. Those guys really need floating plants. (just add some feeder rings so that you can drop food in and the honey has access to surface air).

 

[Naughts28 100]

New tanks are not suitable for shrimps as they are grazers who eat continuously. They need a good supply of biofilm which a biologically immature tank will not have. Let the tank become established for 6 months then add them.

 

[Munroco]

I would put the heater vertically next to the filter. Would look better IMO, and filter would disperse the heated water better.

 

[gwand28 144]

I prefer a heater to be placed horizontally near the bottom of the tank. Heat raises through the water column.

 

[ambrosia0426 6]

This looks great. If you're open to suggestion, a good floating plant would help a lot. A surface floater like salvinia minima (my personal mvp), Amazon frogbit or red root floaters. For one thing, they grow fast. So they suck a lot of the nutrients directly out of the water, making them great for water quality. They'll diffuse the light going into the aquarium which helps control algae. (Don't worry about your current plants. They're all low light plants). And the fish will appreciate the shade and feel safer with the surface having some cover. Especially that honey gourami. Those guys really need floating plants. (just add some feeder rings so that you can drop food in and the honey has access to surface air).

Yes! I'm planning on getting some Amazon frogbit and red root floaters when I get all the substrate plants!

 

[ambrosia0426 6]

New tanks are not suitable for shrimps as they are grazers who eat continuously. They need a good supply of biofilm which a biologically immature tank will not have. Let the tank become established for 6 months then add them.

Couldn't I provide algae wafers and blanched vegetables for them?

 

[Naughts28 100]

Couldn't I provide algae wafers and blanched vegetables for them?

If you did this to the extent that it was available all day every day it would rapidly pollute the tank. You would have much better survival rates of neocardinia if you wait for nature to provide for them.

 

[ambrosia0426 6]

After a week, I added the substrate plants (for my next tank I'll put them in before the sand, what a nightmare xD). The only one I know is the hornwort and the Cryptocoryne beckettii, the other two on the left where my aquarist recommendations! Also got some free floaters! Don't know which one they are but I wanted to get Red Foot Floaters and Amazon Frogbit but they were out

 

[ambrosia0426 6]

Added a backdrop! (Really difficult to see lol). Also I just read the hornwort can be a floating plant too so maybe I'll cut some in a while to let it float!