[Clean up crew advice (what do you use)?]

For the Nerites and Malaysian Trumpets, what numbers are good to start with in a 75? Thank you. 

[Clean up crew advice (what do you use)?]

Clean up some of the waste on the sand, and algae off the glass 

[Clean up crew advice (what do you use)?]

Thank you!

[Clean up crew advice (what do you use)?]

Starting a 75g. African Cichlid aquarium.  What does everyone use for a substrate clean up crew? I already know I'm getting a Bristlenose pleco for the glass but I'm unsure what to get( and how many) for the sand. Thanks!

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Would Easy Green work too? Or just root tabs because of runners under the substrate?

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Thank you so much for all the advice!!

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On 1/22/2023 at 3:24 AM, CJs Aquatics said:

I can confirm personally my Val grows well in sand. Best plants I personally own that grow well in sand are my lily, Amazon swords of all types, and my crypts however the Val does well in sand. I will note that it appears that if the cap is deep it struggles a bit more then when it is shallow capped, probably due to being able to reach the nutrients easier but this is speculation. Doesn’t get easier then purchasing your favorite Val, and literally burying the whole pot it comes in in the substrate perhaps with a starter root tab then watching it spread like wildfire after perhaps an initial melt. Also growing octopus plant like crazy in sand so you have quite a few options I just listed briefly some of the ones I’ve had success with.

So,  it will still grow/spread if buried in the pot it came in? I figured that would severely limit its growth. 

I was thinking of strictly using sand,  but, if I did just use it as a cap,  what would you suggest for substrate underneath it for better plant growth? And,  how deep of a sand cap would you suggest?  I was only thinking of having a total of a couple inches of sand before. 

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Thanks all for your advice!

Another question; how will Val do in a  sand substrate? Alternatives to plant in sand that may do better?

Easiest way to plant it in sand? 

Thanks again!

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Hello everyone! I'm getting back into fishkeeping after many years of being out of it. I'm SLOWLY setting up a 75g Peacock tank. In the past I've never had live plants, but now I wanna try. Was thinking of Anubias Barteri and Coffeefolia in the foreground,  But, what I'm really looking for is a tall plant that will spread and make a "wall" covering the back of the tank. That will do well with low/med light and African Cichlids. Any advice is much appreciated! Thank you!