60 Gallon Planted Tank Help

I'm in the process of getting a 60 gallon tank ready that I really want to stock with guppies, neon tetras, small Corys, and maybe some variety of shrimp. I also want this tank heavily planted. I was thinking about ordering Java moss and guppy grass (naja grass). I have already bought caribsea ecocomplete substrate for the planted aquarium and a couple pieces of mopanI wood from the LFS. Any suggestions on how many plants I should order or how many fish I could stock it with and what shrimp I could use would be awesome thanks!

 

As soon as you fill it up and get it running I would add a large amount of plants. Let the cycle take its course then make a new thread on stocking options. Good luck!

 

I agree. Best time to aquascape a new tank is while it is cycling.

That way, if your moving plants around getting them exactly how you like, you're not disturbing the fish.

Boil the mopanI wood then let it soak for at least a week, changing out the water daily. That will reduce the tannins released when placed in the tank.

As for stocking a 60g, there are a lot of possibilities.

Divide the tank into three levels..... bottom, side and top.

Then make a list of different fish you like that live in each level.

Then narrow down the list of bottom dwellers, mid dwellers and top dwellers.

Regarding bottom dwellers for example, I suggest looking into kuhlI loaches, peacock eels, Bolivian rams and different types of corydoras. I have 2 peacock eels that have lived in our 75 gallon for over a year, and they never has messed with the kuhlI loaches, ghost shrimp or Corydoras that also live on the bottom.

You can never go wrong with a nice school of neon tetras.

Guppys are very good top dwellers, I have some as well in our 75g. I suggest getting males only, because guppys can breed prolifically. The Endlers variety of guppys are very cool looking.

One fish you haven't mentioned that does very well in planted community tanks are Rainbowfish.

They grow to about 4", are very colorful, active, hardy and very peaceful. I have a pair of BoesmanI and Australian Rainbow fish and they look very nice.

They are compatible with the fish you've mentioned.

I would suggest to look into Boesmani, Millennium, and Turquoise Rainbowfish.

The males have the most color. Although they cost more per fish than the average community fish, they make it up in both size and color.

 

Get as many plants as you can afford right off the bat. The more plants you have the less likely it is you'll have algae problems. Lot's of stem plants will fill the tank up quickly since you can just cut them and replant them to create a new plant, myrio, cabomba, hygrophila all grow fairly fast. Large sword plants and crypts will help fill the tank quickly as well. I usually find the largest bundles of plants for the lowest price from sellers on ebay.

 

Mac88 , what lighting do you have planned for the planted 60 gallonbuild ?

 

Mac88 , what lighting do you have planned for the planted 60 gallonbuild ?

I got a fluval 35 w LED 48" light