Your current Fish tank Setups!
- Thread starter Malt_Vinegar
- Start date
If you can, get shot of the sand, it holds very little nutrients.
You want something like this.
http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/col...5.html?zenid=9fa0179d8d81b0c754c92418135275b7
I use ADA Aqua Soil but the one in the link is a very good second, the ADA soil does give off a bit ammonia at first due the high organic nutrients, plenty of water changed brought that under control.
Hello mate! Getting rid of the sand at the minute isn't possible! We don't have enough of a holding tank to remove them all. The plants grew better in the stones before (old tank) so I guessed the sand was nowhere near as good
Problem is that stuff says it drops the PH to 6.5 or so which I'm not sure the fish would like too much?
Nothing wrong with sand in a planted tank (I use it in mine) but like spook says sand is inert, It will hold no nutritional value for the roots of your plants to use.
Luckily for plants they will adapt to take all the nutrients they need from the water column.
Having a substrate that can hold nutrients will help plant growth but its not the be all and end all that people make out.
If you stick with the sand you can use "root tabs" to add nutrients to the substrate if you wish.
Or for the cheapest option possible you can use certain cat litters. (but the right one must be used as there not all the same)
This is a well known one that works very well, you just have to make sure you wash it extreamely well before putting it in your tank.
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=265235247
As for liquid carbon, you have to be a bit care full with it.
Some plants and fish will not tolerate it and if constantly used will kill them. (it is poisonous to aquatic life)
Signs in plants are easy to see as they will start to melt. (go brown and mushy)
signs in fish can be different depending on species but normally erratic swimming, gasping, redness to the gills, are signs they maybe having trouble with it.
Most fish will tolerate it in small doses though but a massive overdose could wipe out your entire tank.
Cost for you will be high though, from the link £7.99 for 500ml.
5ml a day is a bit optimistic though if you only have a few plants maybe ok.
For comparison I have a 200l moderately planted tank and dose 25ml of glute a day, thats the absolute maximum I can dose before signs of fish stress.
As for ferts you would be much better off EI dosing, not only for efficiency but also cost.
This is a very good starter kit with a video on how to use it.
http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/fertilisers/dry-chemicals/starter-kits/ei-starter-kit.html
For flow normally a spray bar the entire length of the tank at the surface facing the front panel is the best orientation for good flow. (straight tanks, curved tanks can be a nightmare)
If your getting a build up thats a sure sign you have a dead spot in the tank.
A single power head in the middle of the tank near the top pointing directly at the front will provide pretty good flow.
Make sure you get a power head suitable for the size of your tank.
A good thing for lighting is to use plug socket timers, make life easier for you.
And as spook says if you go for injecting co2 put the solenoid on a timer. Plants dont photosynthesize when there is no light so no point wasting gas when the lights are off.
Luckily for plants they will adapt to take all the nutrients they need from the water column.
Having a substrate that can hold nutrients will help plant growth but its not the be all and end all that people make out.
If you stick with the sand you can use "root tabs" to add nutrients to the substrate if you wish.
Or for the cheapest option possible you can use certain cat litters. (but the right one must be used as there not all the same)
This is a well known one that works very well, you just have to make sure you wash it extreamely well before putting it in your tank.
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=265235247
As for liquid carbon, you have to be a bit care full with it.
Some plants and fish will not tolerate it and if constantly used will kill them. (it is poisonous to aquatic life)
Signs in plants are easy to see as they will start to melt. (go brown and mushy)
signs in fish can be different depending on species but normally erratic swimming, gasping, redness to the gills, are signs they maybe having trouble with it.
Most fish will tolerate it in small doses though but a massive overdose could wipe out your entire tank.
Cost for you will be high though, from the link £7.99 for 500ml.
5ml a day is a bit optimistic though if you only have a few plants maybe ok.
For comparison I have a 200l moderately planted tank and dose 25ml of glute a day, thats the absolute maximum I can dose before signs of fish stress.
As for ferts you would be much better off EI dosing, not only for efficiency but also cost.
This is a very good starter kit with a video on how to use it.
http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/fertilisers/dry-chemicals/starter-kits/ei-starter-kit.html
For flow normally a spray bar the entire length of the tank at the surface facing the front panel is the best orientation for good flow. (straight tanks, curved tanks can be a nightmare)
If your getting a build up thats a sure sign you have a dead spot in the tank.
A single power head in the middle of the tank near the top pointing directly at the front will provide pretty good flow.
Make sure you get a power head suitable for the size of your tank.
A good thing for lighting is to use plug socket timers, make life easier for you.
And as spook says if you go for injecting co2 put the solenoid on a timer. Plants dont photosynthesize when there is no light so no point wasting gas when the lights are off.
That was one of the reasons i bought a new tank, magnets and sand don't mix.
I use these now and they are bloody fantastic.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tetratec-Easy-Wipes-Pack-10/dp/B000XA8RJI
Well i bought one of those starter tanks along with all the right kit for keeping tropical fish (heater, bacteria stuff,Chlorine stuff etc)
Today i grabbed 3 live plants, 8 TetraNeons and 2 Guppys,1 is black and silver and the other is orange with multiple colours in his tail (stunning).
Already looking at a proper corner setup, £350-500 is a bit harsh though for the setup. Would love a Finding Nemo Marine kind of setup but i was told these involve a lot of attention, more of a hobby kind of setup as PetsAtHome put it.
Today i grabbed 3 live plants, 8 TetraNeons and 2 Guppys,1 is black and silver and the other is orange with multiple colours in his tail (stunning).
Already looking at a proper corner setup, £350-500 is a bit harsh though for the setup. Would love a Finding Nemo Marine kind of setup but i was told these involve a lot of attention, more of a hobby kind of setup as PetsAtHome put it.
cool never seen them before
We just bought a Fluval 125 setup yesterday which is now running. I decided three years without a tank was far too long. We will be keeping tropicals, I've had marines before but trops are less demanding and I don't have the time to devote to marines. Tank, stand, filter, heater and thermometer was £208 all in which I thought was pretty reasonable.
Guessing your the one to come to if I need advice.
First question, I have the tank heater set at 23. Do you think this is a ok temp? I have read that the tetras like between 21-27 and the guppys are between 21-25.
What food would you recommend? I only have a tub of tropical complete food. They seem to like it.
(24-27°C) is fine for the majority of fish we have, i have mine on 27.1 with no probs, some plants like it slightly less.
Food i like to mix it up a bit from the list below, frozen food is good with the likes of Daphnia. Bloodworm etc, can be picked up in pet stores, garden centres, fresh cucumber, lettuce.
http://www.arkpetsonline.co.uk/aquarium-fish-food-tropical-fish-food-c-2_83_261.html
Food i like to mix it up a bit from the list below, frozen food is good with the likes of Daphnia. Bloodworm etc, can be picked up in pet stores, garden centres, fresh cucumber, lettuce.
http://www.arkpetsonline.co.uk/aquarium-fish-food-tropical-fish-food-c-2_83_261.html
Last edited:
Bought five Otocinclus, lovely little creatures they are
very good recommendation.Tank is more or less at capacity now, and i have the urge to get another
maybe try one the Fluval Fresh Aquariums. 
How do you take pics of fish without the blur on a phone
just because your heater is set to a specific temperature you should still get a thermometer in the tank to make sure.
Noticed 1 of the Tetra's is a Glow rather than a Neon. (PetsAtHome fault, should be all Neons)
He's a right nasty little bugger. Guessing this is because he is on his own. Would PetsAtHome take him back? Not bothered about money back, just don't want it in my tank as i have no room to add him any mates.
Edit:
There is.
He's a right nasty little bugger. Guessing this is because he is on his own. Would PetsAtHome take him back? Not bothered about money back, just don't want it in my tank as i have no room to add him any mates.
Edit:
There is.