2.5 Setup Diary - Comments, Critiques?

Hello all, I recently decided to set up and old 2.5 I had sitting around. Here goes :icon_smil

The substrate:

The filter:

The light (18w, full spectrum):

The hardscape:

Planted:

Shrimp :icon_smil


I got a great deal on the Amanos (5/$1.50 at Petsmart) and the sand (10 lbs/$7). The plants are Moneywort and some kind of Rotala. In the next couple of days, I'm moving the moneywort over to my 5 gal, but I think I'm going to keep the rotala in this tank. I think I'm pretty content with the hardscape, but you never know. I have Seachem's Flourish, Iron, and Excel that I plan on dosing (I'm starting the Excel tomorrow, and the rest in the next 3 weeks?). I don't want to get into CO2 (thus the excel). I think I'm also going to move the Amanos into my 5 gal around September because I want to get about 8 cherries for this tank. I am also going to be adding a basic black background soon and adjusting the light so that it's about 1.5-2" above the water.

What do you all recommend that I get for plants? Any critiques, comments, advice on anything?

Thanks for looking!
Rachel