Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm still pretty new to this whole aquarium thing, and I've got my first two tanks set up - a 20 gallon long and a 3 gallon cube. They're both still in the early stages, but I'm excited to see how they develop. The 20 gallon is home to 12 Harlequin Rasboras and 4 otoclinus, while the 3 gallon cube has a single male betta.

My main concern right now is how much floor space I should dedicate to plants. I know they're essential for water quality and the happiness of my fish, but I also don't want to overcrowd the tanks. Is there a general rule of thumb for how much of the tank can be planted without compromising the swimming space? I've probably ordered too many plants, to be honest.

In my 20 gallon, I've got tall plants like Moneywort, Jungle Val, and Cabomba along the back wall, with some rock structures and javafern for hiding places. I've also got some Hornwort on the way, which I'll be floating, and some Ludwigia Repens that I'd like to add to the corners and midground. I'm trying to keep the center of the tank as open as possible for my fish to swim around. The left corner is the most heavily planted area, but I think it's working okay so far.

My 3 gallon tank has a scuba helmet decoration that's about 3x3 inches - it was a must-have for my partner, and it does take up some space, but the betta does use it. I've got an Anubias Lynxa, a Java Fern, and some Moneywort stems in this tank, and I'm planning to add some of the Hornwort and maybe some Ludwigia Repens if there's room. The back wall is taken up by the Anubias and Javafern, with the Moneywort in the front left corner. The ornament is on the left wall, so the middle of the tank and the right front corner are still open.

It would be super helpful if you could post some pics of your tanks, it'd give us a much better idea of the layout and plant placement. A visual really does make a big difference in understanding the space.

Here are the pics as requested - all the plants except Java Ferns and Anubias are new additions today, so things look a bit sparse still, but they'll grow and fill out, and I've got more on the way.

oldraider wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2024 2:13 am It would be super helpful if you could post some pics of your tanks, it'd give us a much better idea of the layout and plant placement. A visual really does make a big difference in understanding the space.

Thanks for asking, just posted them above.

Honestly, I think you could fit in a bit more, if you're careful about it.

I wouldn't add more plants to the betta's tank, he needs space to swim around. If you want to add something, a moss ball would be a nice touch. The 20 gallon is looking good, but you could add a bit more to the sides and rear, maybe some Java Ferns on the rocks to the right side.

I've got a 55 gallon tank for my tetras, and I make sure to keep the front area pretty open so they've got room to swim around, but I've also set up some hiding spots towards the back for them to duck into. The top is clear too, giving them plenty of space to move up and down. I just revamped the tank, so I'm planning to add more plants to the background soon - the floating plants are salvinia.

oldraider wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2024 2:13 am It would be super helpful if you could post some pics of your tanks, it'd give us a much better idea of the layout and plant placement. A visual really does make a big difference in understanding the space.

Your 55 gallon tetra tank is really well set up, I love the open space in the front for the fish to swim around. That's kinda what I'm going for in my tanks, especially the 20 gallon - keeping the center open, and then planting the other areas more heavily.

Sounds like I'm on the right track then, appreciate the confirmation

Check out Dutch aquascapes, they're a great example of what you're trying to achieve. The plants are all concentrated at the back of the tank, leaving the front completely open for the fish to swim. The result is a stunning wall of colour and texture that adds depth and visual interest to the tank.