how should i set up my aquarium with plants and community fish?

Question

i was thinking
july-september: plant plants and let them grow for 2 months
october-november: slowly add groups of community fish
december: add the bigger sized fish


also, is it normal to want to bite of the heads of chichlids, when you see them?

Answer 1

Time to do some reading :) Running a good planted tank is not easy and takes loads of planning. There is certainly too much to cover in a single post about it and I would highly recommend the site below as a good starting place for tons of information

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PlantedTksSubWebIndex/AquariumGardenSubWebIndex.html

Hope that helps and best of luck with your planted tank!

MM

Answer 2

Depends on the size?
Undergravel heating wire, substrata mixed with silver sand, and then gravel on top of that.
Co2 infusion system,
Suitable lighting minimum being t5 flourescent depending on the depth.
Filtration should be on the light side, not a strong turn over you get with a canister.

Of course you could just use gravel, and get stronger growing plants like Valisnera, Cabomba, and some crytocormes.

and this all depends on the bigger sized fish are they cichlids that are likely to dig?

AJ

Answer 3

I would go with the faux plants, as they are easier to care for and clean. Make sure that you have cleaned everything to go into the tank before you put them in.

Just be sure that the fish are compatible or they will fight to the death. This may sound humorous, but its not funny when you've got dead fish on your hands.

Also, make sure that you put the fish in AFTER you have cleaned and filled the tank.

I had fish a few years ago, and they loved the fake plants and a background.
I have had a turtle for a year and i always make sure to clean his plants and tank really well before I put him back in.

Answer 4

mollies. some varieties, like dalmation, get exceedingly large (5in?). swordtails are good too, they get 4in and the adult males have those cool swords. you besides would would desire some extra otos, they are social fish and prefer communities of four or extra. so which you have got all your unique fish, some extra otos, a male swordtail, and a pair of or 3 mollies. no discus, they get 8in, desire 50g+ tanks, and prefer temps of eighty 3, larger than what maximum different fish like. tinfoil barbs get exceedingly large, and desire a larger tank than a 30. parrot cichlids desire large tanks and are in many cases dyed and for this reason do no longer stay long. steer away from all cichlids different than rams in that tank, considering the fact that discus get too large, african cichlids are aggressive and territorial, and you pronounced no angels.

Answer 5

I think you planning is really good. I would try switching the plants and the fish scheduling though. The bacteria that the plants need for nitrates need fish first.

Answer 6

Answer to first Question: That sounds good. I've always wanted a whole tank, heavily planted, with Cardinal tetras. THAT would be COOL!

Answer to second question: Huh??