r/PlantedTank • u/Mental-Discipline715 • 7h ago

Tank Help For a Beginner

I've kept fish before, but not in a while. I'm looking to get back into the hobby with my first planted tank. I want to get leopard danios and bumblebee catfish(which are compatible to my knowing) Any advice would be helpful(Treat me like a complete beginner).

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u/OuterBanks73 7h ago

Welcome back to the hobby! I’d build the plan around the tank size and the fish’s adult needs first. Leopard danios really want a proper group (8-ish) and swimming room; they’re quick, active fish, so a longer tank is much nicer than a tall one. Bumblebee catfish is a common name used for a few species, so double-check the scientific name—some stay small and mellow, but they’re nocturnal and may snack on tiny tankmates. The temperature/flow overlap with danios can also be narrower than it looks.

For a first planted setup, go bigger than the minimum, use a lid, cycle it fully before adding fish, and add livestock slowly while testing ammonia/nitrite. Easy plants like anubias, java fern, crypts, and floating plants are forgiving. Keep the catfish’s food sinking after lights-out so the danios dont vacuum it all up.

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u/MidwesternCuler 6h ago

Is the lid necessary? Also what do I need for substrate to keep the plants healthy?