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I'll be setting up my second 30 gallon aquarium after Christmas, and I'm planning on doing a South american community tank. As of now......
8-10 cardinal tetras(just love the colours)
5-6 pygmy corys
1 dwarf cichlid(as the center piece and to get the cardinals to school)
A wack load of plants.
I've never tried to use plants before but I've always liked planted tanks the most.
So.......
Where to start?
I'm planning on using fluorite substrate, 3-4 inches.
3 watts per gallon.
I'd like some suggestions on the plants. What are good, sturdy, high light plants that will provide my fish with interessting spots to hide and explore?
Also, what is a good, natural way to lower the Ph to about 6.8 to 7.2?(read this is best for plants and SA in general, correct me if I'm wrong)
Thanks in advance!

Alex

Hi,
Welcome to our site!
Your tanks sounds like it might be a good idea.
First, I suggest your read the two "stared" articles at the
top of this forum pertaining to first time planted tanks
and the use of CO2. With 3 watts per gallon you are into
the area where you will need to provide CO2, in some form,
for plant health and growth. While light is the engine of
plant growth, CO2 is its fuel.
In a 30 tank you can add Carbon in either liquid
or gaseous form.

For a South American planted tank, I would suggest you
look at this site:
http://www.azgardens.com/c-60-south-central-american-plant-habitat-packages.aspx

You will see some examples of tanks of your size and lists
of plants, with their quantities, necessary for the "look"
of those tanks. You can either order the plants as a
package from them, or you can write down the plant names
and procure them elsewhere.

In my 30 Tank, I have just two types of plants,
Crypts (wendii) and water sprite. I've a 65 watt,
compact flourscent bulb, on for 10 hours per day, and
inject CO2 at a rate of one bubble per second.
I throw out the trimmings of dozens of plants with
every weekly water change.

Have fun...
Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Hi Frank. Thanks for the fast reply.
I'd like this tank to be as low maintenance as possible, as in no Co2 additives. Would low light plants still require CO2 additives? If not, I might lean toward a low light aquarium.
Thanks!
P.S. The 30 gallon won't fit, so I have to downsize to a 25 gallon. Will this set up still work?

Alex

Low light plants can still benefit from CO2, though they don't require it. If your tank does have more than 2wpg of light you will need CO2 to help combat the algae that will use the excess energy that the plants aren't able to consume. Basically extra light gets taken up by whoever can grab it first, and without the CO2 algae beats plants.

Of course being right on the border line you may or may not have an issue. Tanks really area all about balance. Your stock load sounds good, and if you stick with hardy low light plants and keep water changes up you may not have an issue with algae. I'd go with java fern/anubias tied to wood or rock, and some vals as a starting point.

Since you've got flourite you might get some crypts just make sure you've got some root tabs as well as you're starting a fresh tank and won't have a lot of nutrients in the substrate. Anything that gets planted in the substrate will need a little more nutrition from substrate.


^_^

Thanks Babel. I'm thinking that I will actually go with the high light plants(3 wpg ). My LFS is having a huge boxing day sale and everything is 75% off, including a 150 dollar C02 system. Thanks all for the replies, I'll post pics once it's finished.

Alex

75% off!!!!!!

Wow! um pick up two! I want one! You're on strict orders from the fishtank gods to buy a CO2 system now!

That's one useful boxing day sale. wow.

^_^

Heeheehee
They do this every year so I picked up an aquarium last year aswell.
The wait was 4 hours in line and the people in front of us spent 4000 $! O.o
It was insane they bought a 250 gallon aquarium.

Alex