Amazon Plants & Rocks

I'm very new to this hobby - so wondering what sort of plants and rocks I can put it my new (pending arrival) tank ? I'm not looking to create a new fancy, South American bioptope yet - but I just want to add rocks and plants from the area.

Aside from Frogbit and Amazon Sword - any one know what else I can plants ?
And more importantly , what rocks ?

Seems that most the rocks are from Asia

 

There are smarter folks on here that will comment but for me I try to have 3 kinds of plants.
Root feeders (you mentioned swords, some anubias)
Water column feeders (Java fern, some anubias)
Lastly something that's fast growing to absorb ammonia spikes(you mentioned frogbit, most stem plants, hornwort, Vallisneria)

If you are looking for plants that grow on hardscape (rock, driftwood) then Java fern and specific anubias are quite common.

But give a bit more details on the substrate light, fertiliser and water pH etc so people have a better idea of what to recommend.

 

South American biotope isn't so much a thing I'm afraid - you'll need to be a little more specific, pick a river, pick a part of a river.

I know you're interested in keeping your guppies well, if you're keen on biotope, these three environments are suitable:
Biotope Aquariums (mongabay.com)
Amazon stream biotope aquarium, a freshwater habitat in Peru (mongabay.com)
Amazon oxbow lake biotope aquarium, a freshwater habitat in Peru (mongabay.com)

That site is focussed on cichlids as the feature, ignore that, look at their setup recommendations in terms of plants and such.

But guppies are found all over the world (introduced by people for various reasons), and are very, very line bred - in other words, chances are very good that the guppies you have are as wild as my pet pug - and that their natural habitat is the aquarium.

So maybe it would serve you well to look at 'scapes, made in the size aquarium you're getting, that make you happy - and we can help you get there also

 

https://www.reef2rainforest.com/201...-blackwater-shallows-in-the-middle-rio-negro/

Have a look at this article and the video to give you an idea of the typical Amazon river biotope. You'll notice there's lots of sticks, wood and leaves from the trees on the river bottom.

I'd suggest smooth flattish boulders for rocks that you find at most garden centers.

Have a look here for plants from the Amazon.
https://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/

 

Thanks guys - will read up a little more.

Don't judge - I literally didn't know what a guppy was 2 months ago

So tank was pretty much made in an hour with no thought.

Though, as I mentioned, I'm getting another tank and have a blank canvas and time (kinda - I had twins less than a weeks ago, but they're still in hospital.)

In this tank is :

Frogbit (Amazon?)
Montecarlo (Argentina?)
Hygrophila Lancea (Brazil or Asia?)
Ludwigia Rubin (North America?)
Manten stone (Asia?)

 

That's a very cool link !

 

If you want so nice easy plants that will spread and look good try any of the crypt species. They are hardy, grow well and look good. They arent South American but the fish dont know that. Have a look online for aquarium plants - there are many, many suppliers that ship country wide. I am sure that the the forum sponsors will be able to assist you.

 

Tank looks great @Dolby!!

Well done

 

Hi @Dolby

Tank looks great! loving the scape. I have a Spec 5 as well.

Congratulations on the twin babies.

Don't get too many tanks now, cos the kids going to keep you very very busy for a while - speaking form experience as a dad of twins

 

Thanks guys !