My First Planted Tank

[Ri-Za]

I'm about to begin work on my first tropical planted tank and need some advice. I am hopefully going to order my tank tonight, a fluvel roma 125 and will be filling it with electric blue rams, some species of tetra and a plec of some kind (all to be decided yet though!)
I would get a piece of bogwood, however as this is my first planted tank, I would appreciate any ideas and suggestions of what to do. I am going to read through the guides on here but I would appreciate any suggestions of what to get that would keep my fish happy and healthy
Many thanks!

 

[lljdma06]

I'm about to begin work on my first tropical planted tank and need some advice. I am hopefully going to order my tank tonight, a fluvel roma 125 and will be filling it with electric blue rams, some species of tetra and a plec of some kind (all to be decided yet though!)
I would get a piece of bogwood, however as this is my first planted tank, I would appreciate any ideas and suggestions of what to do. I am going to read through the guides on here but I would appreciate any suggestions of what to get that would keep my fish happy and healthy
Many thanks!

Hi, welcome to Planted.

First question I'm going to ask you. Do you know what the lighting is in a Fluval Roma 125?

Stocking list is very nice, just be careful on the pleco you eventually settle on. Some species are not planted tank friendly, but the smaller species tend to be. Otocinclus species are wonderful for planted tanks and enjoy being in groups.

Again, welcome.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Welcome to the planted side, good luck with the tank, any bogwood you get will be worth a good soak first so the tannins are minimal and then hopefully it won't turn your water brown.

As for plants, fish appreciate any plants as you'll find the best water quality with good levels of oxygen come from well maintained planted tanks.

Hard to advise you on plant types yet as we need to know what lighting is in your tank (wattage).

 

[Ri-Za]

Hi,

Thanks for your help guys

Woops, I probably should have said in my original post, it would have been handy the lighting that comes with the tank is 2 x 24" 20 watt GLO fluorescent lighting.

Thanks for the advice on the plec, the Otocinclus species do look very nice after a quick look on google images, I was considering getting a bristlenose pleco to date but I still need to decide on this.

When I soak the bogwood, is it best to just use hot water or use something else with chemicals etc?

Hope this now helps Thanks!

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Just hot water is fine, plant wise you'll need some low light plants such as:

Most Mosses
Java Fern
Anubias
Crypts
Swords
ETC

You shouldn't need ferts or CO2 either unless you upgrade your lighting.