So I've had this tank, my first tank ever, around 8 months. At first I did everything wrong. I added a bunch of fish at once, i didnt cycle, I didnt check water stats, I didnt know some fish were incompatible, etc...

But 8 months and unfortunately too many restarts, diseases, algae I couldn't get rid of, and dead fish I think I have a pretty good tank (thanks to finding this wonderful forum and all the advice from you all). I've learned so much from all of you and am really grateful. I would have given up for sure (especially when the floating algae hit and I couldn't get it to go away for anything) if it wasn't for the great advice I got here.

So here I am, 8 months later with what I think is a full tank. I put in fish slowly and they appear happy and my tank is crystal clear.

I just wanted some last bits of advice on my setup and to see if anything needs to be/should be changed. Anything you would add or take out?

Here's my tank:
https://picasaweb.google.com/BMoore0...71523141035090

And here's whats in it:

4 Cardinal Tetras
5 Rasboras
3 Panda Cory
3 Rummynose Tetras
2 Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami
1 oto
1 Rubberlip Pleco

And some plants I can't indentify any longer :-)

Thanks for the old and any new advice! And any advice on my next tank project? I was thinking about something totally different..like maybe a Cichlid tank, or even a Turtle tank..

Looks good, the only thing I would change is to add more live plants and get rid of the plastic one.

As for the second tank, I would say which ever interests you more, whether it be cichlids or a turtle.

__________________
SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

Thanks, and thanks for the advice. Any advice on how many new plants? I'm not sure how much is too much.

To tell you the truth, the only time its too many plants is when the fish don't have room to swim. You just want the tank to look full and the more plants the healthier the tank will be.

__________________
SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

I'd agree with more plants. You could completely line the back with the plant you already have. That looks like giant saggitaria, or some type of val.

How can I go about completely lining the back with the one I already have?

Just get about 10 more of the type you already have and plant them along the back.

Oh ok... I thought you meant to cut my current plant up and spread it out.

The only problem is...even where the big plant is in the back...the leaves get wrapped up around the intake of the filter. And it's not even that close to it now. I have to snip the leaves all the time. I dont think I can go any closer to the filter...maybe to the right of the plant though.