Stocking my 35 Gallon Tank, (low experience)

Byron

Agree. Also, you will want to remove the bubbler; airstones, bubble devices and too much filtration (water movement) all drive off CO2 before plants can use it.

Have a look through the plants in our profiles section to get some ideas. The main issue is the light.

The series "A Basic Approach to the Natural Planted Aquarium" should provide you with a good overview, these are stickied at the head of the Aquarium Plants section.

lamberb2

From what im reading, if i wait a couple weeks after I have started with my fish, i can add some Java Fern, Java Moss, and Anubias, as they are the hardiest aquatic plants, and require no special lighting.

lamberb2

Also, my final stocking list is as follows, please point out problems if you see them, i've taken everyones advice into consideration

2 Bolivian Rams-hopefully 1 male, 1 female
6 Marbled Hatchet fish
3 Ottos (Couldn't find any other bottom swimmers)
6-8 Cherry Barbs.
Java Fern
Java Moss
Anubias

lamberb2

Also you posted if my gravel has waste in it plants can be put in, but you never actually said if Live plants where necessary. I know the silver hatchet's need floating plants so the Java Moss would work because its basically a floating ball of moss. But do the other fish NEED live plants.

GwenInNM

No fish "needs" plants, but they do prefer them, and it's a personal choice. A planted tank visually looks nicer to many.

You stocking list looks okay, but I've been warned against keeping a male/female pair of Bolivian Rams, so I'll be curious how that works for you.

I'd wait on the Otos until your tank is more mature and you have algae, unless you'll supplement them with algae wafers (which my Bolivian Ram likes)

Gwen

lamberb2

Are there two fish I can keep together to be my "Centerpiece fish" ? Will the german blue rams fit in instead? or a pair of Pearl Gourami's? Maybe a pair of Smaller Cichlids?

GwenInNM

I've had no luck with keep a male/female Gourami - the male harrassed the female endlessly, and I moved the female to another tank. This is not uncommon. Finding a bonded pair may be difficult. The Dwarf Gourami's may be less aggressive. See if someone weighs in on that.

German Rams are considered more difficult fish to keep. Even though someone else said they will do fine putting them in water they were "raised in", you need to know what that was. I don't see GBR's spawning in anything but soft-acidic water with low PH, so I'm assuming a breeder would be raising them in that water. If you put them in hard-alkaline water, you probably won't have them live long, and they will likely not show their beautiful colors. Just my opinion.

Pearl Gourami's may be a possibility, but they get large. 35 gallon may not be big enough at some point. You could upgrade your tank at some point too.

Gwen

lamberb2

I was just reading on Convict Cichlids, and from what i've read i could put a couple of those guys in there.

GwenInNM

Yes you could, but not with other fish in there. See what others say. Good for you, that you're doing lots of research before throwing fish in the tank.

Gwen

lamberb2

Well, i have 2 weeks until my cycle is over and my tank is ready for stocking. I really want to have a "centerpeice" fish, or pair. and im just having trouble coming up with the right combination between finding Top Dwelling fish, middle dwelling fish, and bottom dwellers.