Small plants for a nano tank.

[Defblade]

Hi,

I've just torn down my 15 year old 155 litre tank which had just 6 small fish left (currently in temporary accommodation in a tank in the garage), and decided to set up a nano tank to house them instead.

I've bought a Fluval Spec 19 and a couple of bits of hardscape as per the pics attached; they've been selected to give a bit of vertical separation/interest while leaving the length of the tank free. The curve in the wood gives me a slightly broader section each side to play with.

I'm looking for advice on small, easy plants that will be happy with the standard lighting (low to medium, apparently), fine gravel substrate and either no CO2 or liquid dosing. (My last tank was 60cm tall, so size didn't matter!).
There's not a huge volume here, and the tank will be viewed from both sides, so I'm after things that won't be too broad or become too dominant and can be used along the midline. There's not really room for the classic fore/mid/back division, but I think I can get away with something a little larger/taller in the each broader sections left by the wood. The rock has a couple of cracks/pockets that I think would suit something growing out of them. And I could get away with one or two bigger/stem-ier plants behind the rock - but I do want the fish to be able to get around that corner if they want to.

All suggestions greatly received 🙂

 

[Little]

Anubias. Get a mix of the really big ones and really tiny ones. Coffeefolia, nana bonsai and some pinto for some colour variation.
They are tough as old boots.
Love low light.
Don’t need co2.
Almost no trimming required.
They do need liquid ferts but not much as are slow growing.
Then throw in a mix of different floating plants to handle the water quality. Frogbit, water lettuce, water spangles, red root floaters.

 

[hypnogogia]

That’s a very small tank. What fish will you be having in it?

 

[Defblade]

That’s a very small tank. What fish will you be having in it?

2 pencil fish (who are likely on their way out, the last of 10 or 12); 2 cardinal tetras (also very old but still seem fine) and 2 corys which are the last of my daughter's fish - if it wasn't for these 2, I might not have bothered at all.

If/when some/all of those go, I might add a few harlequin rasbora, or a gang of chilis if I can find any. I might have some shrimp, too, but not set on those.

 

[Defblade]

Anubias. Get a mix of the really big ones and really tiny ones. Coffeefolia, nana bonsai and some pinto for some colour variation.
They are tough as old boots.
Love low light.
Don’t need co2.
Almost no trimming required.
They do need liquid ferts but not much as are slow growing.
Then throw in a mix of different floating plants to handle the water quality. Frogbit, water lettuce, water spangles, red root floaters.

Anubis looks like a good shout.

Not sure about a big mix of floaters... there's not a whole lot of room at the top, either!

 

[Cornelius]

Her you go. I've made an overview. List is not complete but give you a good starting point

 

[Defblade]

Blimey! Thank you, that's really fantastic 😀👍👍👍

 

[The Miniaturist]

A couple more which aren't on @Cornelius' comprehensive list are :-
Schismatoglotis prietoi, can be grown as an epiphyte or in the substrate. It stays quite compact even under low light.
Lysimachia nummularia if you want a bright pop of yellow/green. The bottom part of the stems tend to lose their leaves but it's easy enough to nip the tops off & replant. Another slow grower which you may even have in the garden!

 

[Defblade]

Ok, I've ordered some plants... I will post up when they arrive and I've put them in 🙂

 

[megwattscreative]

Exciting to see @Defblade! I'm definitely a fan of epiphytes - anubias, microsorum etc. I would recommend starting a journal so we can follow along with all the info in one place. That could be a grand chilli tank 🙂