A Few Questions From A Newbie

[jenz]

Hoping someone can help me with these queries -

For an 80 litre tank -

what should the ideal water temp be?

Currently using bio filter pump with sprinkler bar but it has become very noisy - anyone recommend a silent running one that I won't need to spend an absolute fortune on

What size air brick for this size of tank?

How much cucumber per day should I be putting in tank to feed 2 x 4" Plecs

 

[Truck]

24-26 degrees, but depending on which species of plec you have maybe cooler

 

[Tolak]

If possible submerge the spray bar, makes for a nearly silent tank. The food amount depends on the species, same as temperature.

As long as you have some surface motion you shouldn't have to run air, aiming the submerged bar towards the surface should give you enough surface motion.

 

[jenz]

Thanks for tips, Tolak - with the tank I have the pump which sits in one corner, and arm goes up from pump and across several small compartments in top of tank which I was told to put wool or bio balls in the compartments to filter water - I presumed this bar was called a 'spray bar' but from your answer guess it isn't.

The pump has become very noisy the last few weeks with a horrible droning noise so think it may be on the way out.

 

[Jazzzz]

what are the tank dimensions and what fish do you have in it kind of key too suggesting the right temperature

 

[jenz]

The fish were given to me and I think I have a couple of Clownfish, a discus, shark, angel, couple of catfish and a few smaller fish - not sure if I have identified them correctly ..... oh and Trevor the shrimp is lurking somewhere in there as well. took these pics so may be wrong with names

Tank is 24" x 15" x 15" ( 80 litre )

 

[badenmate]

from what you have posted them seem to be clown loachs penguin tera and an nice looking angels fish nice one on getting those fish
the clown loach will grow too big for the tank but that might be a number of years

 

[MermaidMel]

Sadly most of your fish are going to outgrow your tank in time.
Your gourami will be fine but your clown loach, bala shark, discus, angelfish and pleco are really not suited to a small aquarium such as 80 litres. It's a real pity your LFS didn't tell you this - perhaps you could speak to them about exchanging the fish for smaller species?

 

[kribensis12]

Your tank is over stocked. I woudl leave the angel, and what ever tetra's you have, and the gourami, but get rid of the loaches and bala shark. THey will out grow your tank in no time! I would put the temp at 28 C .

 

[jenz]

Many thanks for advice, where I live there isn't an aquatic shop anywhere in the area to give advice, so am stumbling around in the dark a bit as the set up was given to me. Will definitely try to sort fish out over the next few weeks though somehow.

What size air stone for this size of tank?

How much cucumber per day should I be putting in tank to feed the Plecs.

 

[Bigbadbaz]

Put a piece of cucumber in maybe once or twice a week for no more than 12 hours or it will make your water go yukky, supplement the plecs diet with some algae wafers. Your airstone is dependant on the size of your airpump, If you have a powerful airpump and a small stone you will end up with lots of splashes from the water onto your hood which will mean mould will grow. Does your pump have an output written on it?