Your current Fish tank Setups!

[Delvis]

Currently trying to setup a small tank for a Betta, doing a fishless cycle. Anyone give any advice on keeping things sound? Its a 12 litre tank.

There is no fish in there currently, ammonia seems pretty high and its been going over a week now.

 

[arc@css]

Currently trying to setup a small tank for a Betta, doing a fishless cycle. Anyone give any advice on keeping things sound? Its a 12 litre tank.

There is no fish in there currently, ammonia seems pretty high and its been going over a week now.

Are you adding fish food or ammonia to get the cycle going?

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/fwestcycling.htm


Personally, although we're talking about a betta here, I would say that 12 litres is still too small an environment. Around 20 or more would be better.

 

[Delvis]

Miles better than the jam jars you see them in and can buy in shops.

Using food to get it going

 

[arc@css]

Miles better than the jam jars you see them in and can buy in shops.

Using food to get it going

True, though I think it's far from ideal for him. For that size of aquarium, sorry I mean 'bucket', I would only keep shrimps - since they have such a low bio load. The information I go by is from the guys on the link I added (to say they're highly knowledgeable is an understatement). Ultimately though, it's up to you. Good luck.

 

[Delvis]

Thanks for the info bud

 

[arc@css]

 

[King4aDay]

I still have ultra-heavy tannins and no lights on my new setup so can barely see anything, but here's a compilation of a few low-light fish shots -

Dicrossus filamentosus:

Farlowella sp.:

Chilodus gracilis:

A tiny Nannostomus eques fry that I just spotted (yay!):

And the emergent plants going mental:

 

[arc@css]

I'm currently using a fluval 4 plus. Can someone recommend me a good filter upgrade for a 210 litre tank?

I should add that I would like it to be an internal one.

 

[dsb]

I have Juwel Rio 125 got it from ebay at a bargain of £65, came with all sorts including some fish.

I gave it a good scrub changed to sand substrate and planted it, put the fish i got with it and amazingly they survived.

5 weeks on and the water is spot on and have upgraded from a fluval u3 to a fluval 306. Have both running at the moment whilst the 306 gets settled with the new media which i have used biohome max, supposed to be the best.

Also stocked it with fish:

1 x Plec
3 x Cory
3 x Cardinals (Came with tank)
2 x Tiger Barbs (Came with tank)
1 x Gourami (Came with tank)
9 x Mollies

What do you think.

 

[robfosters]

I'm currently using a fluval 4 plus. Can someone recommend me a good filter upgrade for a 210 litre tank?

I should add that I would like it to be an internal one.

Eheim Biopower 240.

I still have ultra-heavy tannins and no lights on my new setup so can barely see anything, but here's a compilation of a few low-light fish shots -

Some Seacham purigen would do a good job of removing the tannins.

 

[arc@css]

Thanks, Rob. Will check it out. Looks good at first glance.

 

[King4aDay]

Once you get to 200l I'd seriously consider getting an external filter.

I've got Purigen in there but it became exhausted almost immediately Seriously outrageous tannins even with 10% daily water changes. I'm going to ignore it for a month or two then do some massive water changes once the rain water butts have refilled and recharge the purigen.

 

[King4aDay]

What do you think.

Nice job on the plants. Consider rehoming the barbs, they're little buggers for fin nipping.

 

[avrc]

Looking through this thread is making me hanker after another aquarium. My last one was a marine nano but the one I prefer is the previous one which was just under 450L and I had a tiger oscar and various polypterus species. Really regret selling that. I've been concentrating on my fish pond the past year or so.

 

[robfosters]

Apologies for the dodgy photo, but a little bit further.

The bogwood did not seem to be colouring the water any more, so I gave it one final soak in boiling water and a good scrub and put it in. It may tan some more, but if so, I think some Purigen should sort it out.

The tank is nearly cycled and nitrates are off the scale which is why the water has taken on a light green tint, but my LFS has advised me to wait until the cycle is complete, and then do an 80% water change and it should be fine then with plants and weekly partial water changes. The PH is also high as well, but this is apparently common during a cycle. The final water change will give me a good chance to Hoover the sand as well. Small bits of the wood are coming off atm. This will stop quickly.

You can see where the bits have come off here and are lying on the sand bed.

 

[Spook187]

Why did you use sand as a bed, and not a proper substrate, you will get lots of scratches when you come to clean the glass and it holds no nutrients.

 

[arc@css]

I recommend Colombo Florabase. A bit pricey, but excellent stuff.

 

[robfosters]

Why did you use sand as a bed, and not a proper substrate, you will get lots of scratches when you come to clean the glass and it holds no nutrients.

It's very fine Unipac sand and there is 3-4cm of Tropica plant substrate underneath it.

I prefer sand and I am going to keep Corydoras, and they have to have sand for their barbels.

Also sand is as much a substrate as gravel is, so I don't know why you say "use a proper substrate".

 

[Spook187]

Also sand is as much a substrate as gravel is, so I don't know why you say "use a proper substrate".

I was meaning using Aqua Soil.

 

[famas]

using sand in a planted aquarium isn't a problem as long as you dose the water column with nutrients, plants will adapt and intake more nutrients from their leaves than their roots.

I've had healthy planted aquariums with sand only substrates. The saying you need a nutrient rich substrate for healthy plants is a myth, it can make life easier for you but its not essential.

Correctly balancing lighting, photo period, nutrients and carbon are key to a healthy planted aquarium.