Help with tank

[InTheBox]

Due to a huge fail in my tank, I completely restarted the tank, starting from scratch. My current plan is a tropical community tank with live plants. I am a beginner and I do not know if a beginner should keep live plants. Basically, I just need help with equipment and tips for what I will need, such as filters, lighting, gravel, etc.

Thanks!

 

[ProudPapa]

• Live plants are a good choice for beginners. Just start with easy, low maintenance plants. Crypts, anubias, water wisteria, vallisneria, and bacopa are just a few of the many that usually work well for beginners, and don't need special lighting or CO2.
• As far as equipment, I'd suggest keeping it simple. In fact, keep everything simple.
• I'm a big fan of pool filter sand for substrate. It's relatively inexpensive, good for bottom dwellers like Corydoras, and needs little to no rinsing.
• For filtration, a hang-on-back is usually a good choice. I like Aqua Clears, but there are other good ones out there. You don't need the most expensive, but don't get the cheapest either. You generally get what you pay for.

 

[InTheBox]

• Live plants are a good choice for beginners. Just start with easy, low maintenance plants. Crypts, anubias, water wisteria, vallisneria, and bacopa are just a few of the many that usually work well for beginners, and don't need special lighting or CO2.
• As far as equipment, I'd suggest keeping it simple. In fact, keep everything simple.
• I'm a big fan of pool filter sand for substrate. It's relatively inexpensive, good for bottom dwellers like Corydoras, and needs little to no rinsing.
• For filtration, a hang-on-back is usually a good choice. I like Aqua Clears, but there are other good ones out there. You don't need the most expensive, but don't get the cheapest either. You generally get what you pay for.

Ok awesome! Thanks for the help! I really want corydoras so the pool filter sand will be a great option.

 

[CPTropicalAquatics]

I can confirm that anubias is a great plant. Java fern is another good one. They're good for wedging in between rocks and small crevasses in wood. They can even be attatched to wood and rocks.

 

[bettafairy]

I’d recommend chola wood and Java moss as they look amazing together and are a simple yet beautiful way to decorate a tank. I also recommend Vals, bacopa, and frogbit, all are super easy to take care of and end up looking breathtaking once grown out. Also, if you want to get corydoras and want a tropical community tank, why not get a betta as a center piece fish? I’m a little biased to bettas haha. But I have a 20 gal long with cories, a betta, and x ray tetras that is quite easy to maintain and rewarding. They all get along amazingly, it all just depends on betta temperament. Super fun for a community tank.

 

[InTheBox]

I’d recommend chola wood and Java moss as they look amazing together and are a simple yet beautiful way to decorate a tank. I also recommend Vals, bacopa, and frogbit, all are super easy to take care of and end up looking breathtaking once grown out. Also, if you want to get corydoras and want a tropical community tank, why not get a betta as a center piece fish? I’m a little biased to bettas haha. But I have a 20 gal long with cories, a betta, and x ray tetras that is quite easy to maintain and rewarding. They all get along amazingly, it all just depends on betta temperament. Super fun for a community tank.

Ok thanks for the help! I was planning on getting a centerpiece fish but I don't know what to get lol. The betta sounds like a great idea, what type of betta would you recommend?

 

[bettafairy]

Ok thanks for the help! I was planning on getting a centerpiece fish but I don't know what to get lol. The betta sounds like a great idea, what type of betta would you recommend?

I recommend dumbo bettas as they are IMO one of the prettier and gentler types of bettas. I also am particularly fond of plakats and delta tail bettas.

 

[InTheBox]

I recommend dumbo bettas as they are IMO one of the prettier and gentler types of bettas. I also am particularly fond of plakats and delta tail bettas.

Yeah! They look sick! Thanks for the help!