Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm on the verge of ordering plants for my new 100ltr tank and I'm having a tough time deciding on the number of species to include. What's your take on this?

Do you lean towards tanks with loads of variety in terms of leaf types, sizes, and textures, or do you prefer a more straightforward approach?

At the moment, I'm inclined to go for a mix of species to create some contrast. My plan is to have a carpet of Monte Carlo and Marsilea Hirsuta with some Ranunculus Inundatus thrown in, and then have some ferny and fine textures towards the back with Myriophyllum Mattrogrossense and Eleocharis to add depth. The front will have bigger leaves, and the midground will be a mix of textures and colours, including some reds and purple/browns.

That being said, I do like the idea of keeping it simple with fewer species. What's your thoughts on this?

I've got a suggestion for your background plant - Anacharis is a great option, it's a fast grower and really adds to the overall look. I've always been a fan of plants with lush, "soft" leaves, you know, the kind that give a tank a really natural feel. Broad leaved Anacharis is a great example of this. Java Moss is another favourite of mine, it's just so versatile and looks amazing in a well-planted tank.

Hey willie32, I'm curious - what's your setup like? Substrate, lighting, CO2, and current can all impact the types of plants that'll thrive. I've always gone for a diverse approach, personally - my 55g started with around 14 species, and my 150g had about 20. I figure some will inevitably take over, while others will fade out over time.

I'm a fan of variety myself, I find that minimalistic setups tend to lack a certain something. A scape with a range of textures and sizes just looks more natural to me.

My go-to plants are crypts - I've got about 12 different types, but I always like to mix it up with other species in my tanks. Your plan for the 100ltr sounds great, by the way - what are your thoughts on stocking for this tank, willie32?

I've found this site that's been really helpful for inspiration - Tropica Aquarium Plants. It gives you a good idea of different layouts and aquascapes, and also suggests the difficulty level for the plants used. I like that it allows you to get a feel for a particular style, and then you can swap out plants to suit your own tank. For me, it's about finding a balance between creating a visually appealing scape and considering the needs of my fish. I've got corydoras, so I'm not looking to create a dense carpet, and I'm also thinking about how the background plants will grow and affect the lighting for the mid-ground plants.

kingrise wrote: ↑Tue Dec 10, 2024 9:23 pm I've got a suggestion for your background plant - Anacharis is a great option, it's a fast grower and really adds to the overall look. I've always been a fan of plants with lush, "soft" leaves, you know, the kind that give a tank a really natural feel. Broad leaved Anacharis is a great example of this. Java Moss is another favourite of mine, it's just so versatile and looks amazing in a well-planted tank.

I've decided on a high-tech setup for this tank, with an Oceanix 10 600 tank and a Twinstar SM II light. I've also got a CO2 setup planned, using a CO2 Art regulator and a 2kg fire extinguisher, along with a stainless steel diffuser and ceramic plate - I just hope it's not all form over function. I'll be using the Tropica all-in-one fertilizer and a mix of Tropica Aquasoil and Aquasoil Powder for the substrate.

Given my hard water, I've tried to research and choose plants that should do well. My current shopping list includes:

Foreground: Micranthium 'Monte Carlo', Eleocharis Acicularis Mini, and Ranunculus Inundatus.

Midground: Micranthemum Umbrosum, Hygrophila Araguaia, Myriophyllum Guyana, Hydrocotyle Tripartita, and Cryptocoryne Albida 'Brown'.

Background: Eleocharis Acicularis and Myriophyllum Mattogrossense.

Moss and epiphytes: Anubias Petite, Taxiphyllum 'Flame', and Vescularia Ferriei 'Weeping' - I'm also looking to add some nice Bucephalandra.

Floating: Limnobium Laevigatum.

As for stocking, I'm still undecided - I was originally thinking Red Eye Red Tail Puffers with Galaxy Rasboras, but now I'm considering Microdevario Kubotai instead. I'm also worried about the open top and whether it would be safe for the puffers, so I might opt for a bigger school and add some Tiger Badis and Dwarf Moth Catfish instead.

Thanks for the input, guys - it's been really helpful. I love the Tropica website, it's a great resource for inspiration and plant information. I've also been watching a lot of George Farmer and Juris Jutjajevs' videos on YouTube, which has been really informative.

Your plant list is shaping up nicely, I must say.

Considering adding Myriophyllum Mattogrossense to my own tank, love the texture it would add against some of the ferns or Anubias, really makes for a nice contrast.

I'm a bit of a minimalist when it comes to planted tanks, personally I think having too many species in a relatively small tank like 100 litres can be overwhelming - for me, it's hard to appreciate the beauty of each individual plant when there's just so much going on.

I pick the ones that look great but I struggle to keep alive, or can't even pronounce their names, they're just for show.