Another Newbie Needs Help

[CPK1979]

****I've moved this from the newbie section into here as its plant based***


Hi, Ive been browsing your forums for a week or so now in preparation for my new aquarium. I’ve ordered a Jewel Rio 125 after owning a Bi Orb for a few months, which I love.

I’ve already read and decided upon the fishless cycle, I’ve just got a couple of questions I was hoping you could help with.

1: When I bought my Bi Orb I added ornamental stuff a few weeks after causing disturbance. I’m hoping for a fairly heavy-planted aquarium with a feature on one side. When is the best time to start to plant the plants? I understand they and fish both compliment each other in regards to C02 etc.

2: As I said I like the look of the plants. What’s the best plants to start with. I like the tall ones and the mossy types that cling to the bottom.

3: I’m planning to use sand, what sand is best. I’ve noticed a lot of pros and cons regarding using sand. I’m looking for a nice light colour.

4: A lot of people have mentioned bottom-feeding fish, which help clean the sand. What’s the best type for my size of tank?

5: Finally. It’s the usuall question! I’m looking to build a community tank so I’d like a idea of fish stocking and any suggestions of fish.

Thanks for looking…. I bet your sick of us newbies asking the same questions!

 

[emma12321]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

It is best to add plants as early on as possible as they will speed up the cycle. Good starter plants are java ferns, anubis and java moss, they should be attached to rocks or wood as they don't like to have their roots buried. Crypts, Sword plants and vallis also grow well in my tanks with standard lights and no added c02.

The cheapest sand to use is playsand (they type used in kids sandpits) or you could used pool filter sand. If you are in the UK Argos sells playsand for £2.49 for a big bag (enough for your tank).

Good bottom fish for your tank would be corydoras which should be kept in groups of 3+, khuli loaches or zebra loaches which should also be kept in groups of 3+, it depends what other fish you plan to keep really.

Good fish for algae eating are bristlenose plecs or a group of otocinclus. A nice selection would be the corys or loaches for the bottom, a group of marbled hatchet fish for the top and a group of harlequin rasboras or tetras for the middle my favourites are rummy nose tetras and cardinal tetras but there are loads to choose from (tetras and harlequins should be kept in groups of 6+). If you don't want tetras platies are nice but they have lots of babies so it is best to keep them in single sex groups.

Hope this helps

Emma

 

[AndyTaylor]

All good plant choices above... hygrophilia polysperma is fast growing and would suit..

If you use playsand you will need some kind of aquatic compost in your substrate. Play sand has 0 nutrients.
I use Tetraplant complete but there are loads to choose from, First Layer Laterite being another.
get the tank setup, and add plants immediately. Let the tank cycle with the plants in, it should speed up the cycling too.
Let the plants get a hold before you add fish....2-3 weeks at least.

any more questions just keep posting...

Andy

 

[CPK1979]

Thank you all foryour help....

I am picking the tank upon Friday with a look to starting setting up on Sat.

I'll pop to argos for the sandand try my LFS for thne compost.

I'lllet you know how i get on.... thanks again

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

I just used plain playsand and i poke fertiliser tabs under the roots and occasionally add liquid ferts. Most plants i have tried have done ok. Hygro grows like mad.

Emma

 

[CPK1979]

Thanks again for your help.

One more thing on my list is a rocks. I am hoping to build a cave type structure in the tank. Can I use any well washed rocks?

 

[zig]

Some rocks are suitable some are not.

Rocks for the aquarium

 

[littleimp]

Thank you all foryour help....

I am picking the tank upon Friday with a look to starting setting up on Sat.

I'll pop to argos for the sandand try my LFS for thne compost.

I'lllet you know how i get on.... thanks again

Argos don't have playsand this time of the year due it's unpopularity beeing frozen etc!! Only in the summer catalogue.

Try B&Q or homebase.

 

[CPK1979]

Thank you all foryour help....

I am picking the tank upon Friday with a look to starting setting up on Sat.

I'll pop to argos for the sandand try my LFS for thne compost.

I'lllet you know how i get on.... thanks again

Argos don't have playsand this time of the year due it's unpopularity beeing frozen etc!! Only in the summer catalogue.

Try B&Q or homebase.

I've found a Argos with it in stock..... Where can I get the compost from and what dept will I need it?

 

[Jen]

You can get stuff called Laterite which is an iron rich (and other nutrients as well) substrate that you mix with some sand to use as the very bottom layer. It works wonders.

If you are planning to go very planted (where more than 50% of the sand is covered in plants) you may need some other stuff for the tank. How much lighting will you have on the tank? That makes a huge difference as to whether you need CO2 and extra nutrients.

 

[CPK1979]

Quick update


The tank is setip with gravel and a substrate, i done this because all the sand was really poor in colour.

I've added some stinking ammonia and its looking quite good
Thanks for your help

 

[CPK1979]

Quick update and a couple more questions…

I’m on the 4th day of cycling and the ammonia level keeps going up. I know I’m waiting for a spike but should I keep putting this chemical in??

Secondly, I foolishly bought a nitrate test kit instead of a nitrite kit. I’ve opened and used this. Will I still need to purchase the other kit.?

Lastly, how many neon tetras could I home in 60l Bi Orb?

Sorry for the barrage of questions!

 

[penguinpimp1990]

yes youll still need the nitrite kit, as you need both testing kits

 

[CPK1979]

I checked again last night and the ammonia is throught the roof. Is it a good idea to stop putting it in untill it gets to zero again then start adding smaller amounts?