New Tank - What Plants?

I’m just starting a 29 gallon tank. It’s not yet cycled. I’m assuming that needs to be done before I add plants? I’m planning on only using real plants instead of fake plants. I’m possibly getting dwarf gourami, cardinal tetras, clown killifish, German blue ram, juliI Cory’s and a Malaysian snail. What plants would be good for this type of tank? I want to use sand substrate as well. Any type of information would be helpful

 

Plant your tank after you add water. The plants will establish while the tank is cycling.

Lighting is important. Some plants like hair grass need high light and CO2 supplementation .

Better to stick to easy plants. The types of plants depend on what sort of a look you are trying to create. What do you want to see when you look into your tank? A dense jungle or something more landscaped?

It helps to look at pictures or actual planted tanks to work out how to do your own.

 

Plant your tank after you add water. The plants will establish while the tank is cycling.

Lighting is important. Some plants like hair grass need high light and CO2 supplementation .

Better to stick to easy plants. The types of plants depend on what sort of a look you are trying to create. What do you want to see when you look into your tank? A dense jungle or something more landscaped?

It helps to look at pictures or actual planted tanks to work out how to do your own.

I want something more landscaped but plenty of places for fish to hide if they need to. I will do more research and see what seems to be the easier plants to care for. Thank you! Do you have any suggestions of gravel vs. sand?

 

Over time, I have generally come to prefer coarse sand. I loathe pool filter sand. Carib Sea sells loads of different colors and textures. It's a bit pricey, but substrate is an important part of a tank's look.

 

Over time, I have generally come to prefer coarse sand. I loathe pool filter sand. Carib Sea sells loads of different colors and textures. It's a bit pricey, but substrate is an important part of a tank's look.

I will definitely check that out. I really like the look of sand, pricey doesn't bother me if I'm getting something good quality. I much rather have good quality things and pay more.

Over time, I have generally come to prefer coarse sand. I loathe pool filter sand. Carib Sea sells loads of different colors and textures. It's a bit pricey, but substrate is an important part of a tank's look.

Would you suggest the Super Naturals or the Instant Aquarium line?

 

Would you suggest the Super Naturals or the Instant Aquarium line?

I really like my black diamond blasting sand. It looks great, is super cheap for 50 pounds, and my plants are doing great in it. As with all sands, you need extra ferts like root tabs or soil underneath it. Plants will struggle if not supplemented in sand. Plantwise, dwarf sag goes nuts in sand, looks nice, and makes an excellent carpet plant, and is super easy to grow. Rotala looks great as a thick stem plant and consumes a lot of nitrates. Things like that.

 

I've used both. It really depends which sand you like the look of. Mixing and matching can yield some great results too.

 

I really like my black diamond blasting sand. It looks great, is super cheap for 50 pounds, and my plants are doing great in it. As with all sands, you need extra ferts like root tabs or soil underneath it. Plants will struggle if not supplemented in sand. Plantwise, dwarf sag goes nuts in sand, looks nice, and makes an excellent carpet plant, and is super easy to grow. Rotala looks great as a thick stem plant and consumes a lot of nitrates. Things like that.

Where do you get that sand? Also, where are the best places to purchase plants? I have 1 local aquarium store that isn't a chain pet store.

 

Blasting sand can be had at places like Tractor Supply.

Amazon and ebay are good resources for sand and plants. There's a buy, sell trade board here where plants can be had too.

 

Where do you get that sand? Also, where are the best places to purchase plants? I have 1 local aquarium store that isn't a chain pet store.

Most stores, even chain stores with the plants in cups and vacuum packages, are a good place. I wouldn't trust plants from chains that aren't in packages.

 

Blasting sand can be had at places like Tractor Supply.

Amazon and ebay are good resources for sand and plants. There's a buy, sell trade board here where plants can be had too.

Thank you! I think I will probably go with CaribSea off of Amazon and maybe some plants too. I also saw that amazon had snails. Would you trust them from there?

 

What kind of snails?

 

What kind of snails?

Malaysian Trumpet

 

Malaysian Trumpet

I got my foundation stock from ebay, but often your local lfs will give them away for free or cheap, because they are pests in their tanks.

 

I started low-tech 29 planted tank a little over a month ago. I used EcoComplete for the substrate and everything seems to be doing great.

Moneywort is nice and stays contained.
Anubias Nana is lush green that is a good balance of manicured and 'bushy'.
My dwarf hairgrass is growing well with no CO2 and weekly ferts.
Ozelot sword can grown kind of wild, but my little fish love darting and hiding behind the big leaves.

Hope this helps!