Starting Off

First post here so be gentle.

I’ve just bought a Fluval Roma 90 aquarium. It comes with filter, heater, water treatment food etc.

I’ve done some research on this so I know that I need to set up the tank before I put fish into the thank. The plan is to have the tank set up in and around Christmas and getting fish after the big day.

The plan is to set up and fill the tank a week before Christmas and get the 2 stage cycle started.
Before this happens I’m gona be looking into what kind of think I want to get setup. I’m going to go for a community tank setup. I’d also like to get some real plants setup as well.
So far fish wise I think I’ll be going for something like this:

2 angel fish (Eventually)
1 bala shark (Eventually)
2 kribensis
5 neons
4 zebra danios
4 emperor tetra
1 leopard ctenopoma
2 german blue rams
2 clown loach
1 gold nuget pleco
2 otocinclus

This is based on what I’ve seen in the bet shop. Is this a decent setup to start off with? I’m looking to go with some hardy fish at the start to make sure I don’t kill anything due to me making a mess of it. Tetras I heard are good for this? I’d also like a fish that would be good for algae prevention.

I want to grow natural plants. I’ve a bag of pea gravel for the base. What else is required for this?

I have to get myself a water tester. Probably a API Master test kit. How long do these things last?

What other things should I be getting at this stage? I want it all got before I start setting this up so I can cover all eventualities before I start off.

All advice greatly appreciated.

Hi,welcome,and congrats on the new tank.
Nice to see a newbie doing their research.
If it were me,I would leave out the angels,bala shark and the clown loaches(tank too small,and loach need to be in big groups to be happy).I would at least double the number of tetras(also like to be in decent sized shoals),leave out the danios,add another 5 or 6 otocinclus,and swap the neons for cardinals(nicer,hardier).You may well run into disaster trying to keep the rams and kribs together in a tank that size.Depending on what stocking level this comes to,you could put in na couple pearl gouramies as an alternative to the angels.Corydoras would be a nice addition to the bottom of the tank,but again a min of 5 of 1 species.Sorry to mess it all up here,but I think the tank is too small for your choices.
Not experienced in plants,only have java moss,and then anubias and java fern attached to bogwood.

the list is some thing I saw on here and liked the look of it. It was for a bigger tank so I just reduced the numbers. Variety is mainly what I am looking for so I'd be happy enough changing what does in.

How are you getting on with your moss and fern? Hard to look after? I'm just looking for something natural.

Sorry about the messy way I did that,it just got typed as it came to mind.
The moss and fern are real easy plants,requiring no special light or care.I do find,however,that the moss does a hell of a lot better in cold water.

What kind of substrate do you need for it?

No substrate required for the 3 plants I mentioned.They are tied onto bogwood in my case,but can be tied onto rocks,etc. I just let the moss grow in large clumps in the tanks,great for fish fry and shrimps love it.

Good stuff. Sounds like what I am looking for.

I've seen a few photos online. Seems it can get out of control. I assume it just needs to be pruned and/or the fish eat it

Its no bother,in some tanks its going mad,in others,very slow.
Handy thing about these plants,is you can just pick em up and move them around,clean under them,etc.

They sound ideal for a beginner

Hi there,

Just a very short note, use some clear fishing line to attach the plants to the bog wood or rock and don't tie it too tight to prevent cutting into the stems of Anubias or Java fern etc, it doesn't matter with Moss. The Fishing line disappears under water.

Kev.

thanks for the tip

All great advise there, also check out perhaps some Kulhi loaches for the bottom, get at least 6 of them.Best of luck with it.
Gavin

Hi,
your plan seems quite good and so are all the advice everyone is giving you.
Just one thing,you could have those pearl gouramies instead of the Ctenopoma.
I wouldn't consider Ctenopoma as your average community fish,they can be pretty aggressive towards
fish in general and eat the small ones...
Best of luck and have fun
Dimitri

Thanks for the update lads

Must have a look at the fish suggestions and put a full one together