I need advice from all the sifu out there on how to combine small fishes with aquatic plants.

what do u mean by combine? it is depends on how big is your aquarium, what type of aqua plants you wanna keep and what kind of small fish u like. And the most important is how much is yr budget.

Okay. First, identify what fish you want to keep, just to make sure they don't eat plants. For me, that means reading up on each species from the internet.
Generally, lifebearers and tetras (with the exception of Buenos Aires tetra) don't eat most plants.

Start small. You don't need a big tank to get a beautiful planted one. That way, you can afford to make mistakes. When you're experienced, you can join the big boys later...
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Einz is no sifu...

honestly, i have very little basic knowledge about plants. I am thiking of the more hardy plants, and small fishes like guppies. any idea where i can find a LFS in klang valley that have a good stock of these? for starters, i am thinking about a 3ft to 4ft aquarium. only for the plants and fishes, what kind of budget aer we talkign about?? RM500?

they are normaly guppy which cost you RM0.5 to RM3. Unless you wanna get the platinum albino guppy which cost you RM300 each.

Normally, most of the lfs selling guppy. I got my blue n yellow guppies from 88 Marine in Cheras. cost me RM0.8 to rm1.50 each. Very healthy. But remember, they life span is around 6 months only.

Hardy plants like Anubias Nana, Jave Fern and Ferliza..which is suitable for yr requirement. They need min. CO2 which can get from water n fishes. Min. lights...you can just on the lift when u want to watch the fish. Or at nite for few hours only. So that, you dont need to get CO2 set to run on yr tank. RM500 shd be more than enough.

Those plants can get from AI in Subang old air port there...

my plan is to get some combination of fishes as well......
what other type of fish that goes well with guppies??
roughly, how much would the plants cost?
how bout the soil for the plants? what type is good?
where exactly is AI?

AI located after the old subang air port. Kampung Melayu there...

Anubias Nana is around RM5-8 selling in AI. Freliza is around RM8-10...depends on the size. RM6.5 selling in jln pasar which tight on a piece of wood. Java Fern is around that price too.

you can browse http://www.petfrd.com/forum/showthre...;threadid=6795

I think this is a very nice setup...But the owner mixed with Red Tiger Lotus, Java Moss and Glossotigma. You can mixed Anubias nana, Jave Fern, Freliza and Java moss...which they required minimun CO2 n lights. So that, you dont need to get any CO2 system implement.

Don't get Red Tiger Lotus and Glossotigma in your tank. Unless, you hv CO2 system and strong lighting set. Red Tiger Lotus need medium CO2 and Medium lights. Glossotigma need higher CO2 and strong lights to grow n survive.

guppy will swim near to the surface of water. you can mix with the bottom swimmer like Corydoras. And middle level swimming like Neon Tetra or other kind of tetra. Congo and Rainbow fish can be mixed with tetra n guppies. But pls dont mix with any barbs..like tiger or green barbs. They are aggressive towards other fish. And not angel as well.

About the gravel, you can goto Irene Aquarium in Paramount. Saw they selling 8KG JBL soil for RM35+. You need to get 2 packs for yr 3ft tank. If other brand, cost price will be above RM100 per 8KG. like ADA soil... 88 marine selling 5KG soil in yellow pail for RM40+. If economic type, you can get the mixed brown, white, black...gravel which is in 25KG one pack. cost about RM25-30....

dom,

What is Freliza Does it have another name?
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Einz

ops...i spell the wrong name. sorry...

it is Frazeri...Anubias Frazeri.

would really appreciate it if you could insert pics as well....
my knowledge about plants is basically zero....
are the ppl in AI helpful and honest??
i dont want to go there sounding like a fool and getting conned