New Ctenopoma Acutirostre Project

[Louie Jago]

I'm buying a new tank thats about 160 liters and I am wanting to have it planted for Ctenopoma acutirostre, hoping to have about six juveniles introduced to the tank at the same time as i have learned this is the best way. I understand this fish is from the congo river basin and likes a heavily planted tank and this is the reason for my post, i know very little about planted tanks and this is my first project and want to know the best substrate to the the best filtration and media plus the right plants to use for there natural habitat, I've heard from the size of tank I might get away with just lighting with no CO2 but please tell me different if i am wrong.
Please I would be very happy to hear from anyones input that know more than me as I plan to take my time with this project and get it wright the first time round

 

[RadaR]

Ok, so you want a heavily planted tank.
Do you want growth to be high or low? Do you want to just sit back and let it grow and maintain itself or do you want to prune weekly and do large(ish) water changes per week?

 

[Louie Jago]

Well seen as I want to have fish in the tank I don't want to be putting my hands in there all the time pruning the plants so i would like it to look after itself to a certain degree so low growth would be the way I'd like to go.

 

[RadaR]

Here's what I would do.

Lighting - 1x39W T5 bulb (with reflector) powered by T5 Electronic Ballast.
Substrate - Tropica Plant Substrate 5Litres x2, capped with sand/gravel.
Circulation - 1120litres pumped round the tank every hour via mainly via the filter but powerheads can also be used.
Plant up the tank 75% with plants such as Amazon Swords, Crypts, Hygrophila, Ludwigia,Ambulia, Aponogeton, Vallis, Java Fern, Anubias.

Now here's where it can differ.
You can either dose Tropica Plant Nutrition+ 1ml per 20litres every other day and Easycarbo (a liquid carbon supplement)at 1ml per 20litres everyday
OR
Don't dose either and simply don't do water changes. Still make sure the filters are flowing well though and the floss is replaced bi-weekly.

You see, adding carbon whether it's liquid or gas increases the nutrient demand of the plants, hence the Tropica Plant Nutrition+. The plants growth faster though and give more vibrant colours. Giving the plants carbon will also increase your need to do water changes, so you'll probably have to perform a 30% weekly.
Not adding any carbon though (which will be ok for you to do with this lighting) means that the fish will hopefully provide enough nutrients for the plants combined with the nutrient rich substrate. The growth will be slower.