Best Set Up

FISH ' N ' CHIPS · Jan 23, 2010

Hello Guys & Gals

I am wondering if any of you can help me with a setup for a new tank that I am looking at?

Tank Info: Height 46cm / Width 92cm / Depth 30cm (it’s a 3 foot tank and about 100L to 120L)

Ok so I have some really basic fish knowledge and thus why I am coming to the forums for advice.

At the moment I have a 24L tank and from the start I have had problems, I must confess I didn’t really cycle it to begin with only about 12 days so it’s my fault. But after a while things started to calm down even with white spot attack that killed everything in the tank even with treatment. Anyway after speaking to shops and people that have some of the most amazing setups I have seen with fish that I thought you could not keep together as they would kill each other they all seem to have the same opinion. "GET A BIGGER TANK" they all say that it’s a lot easier to keep fish in a bigger tank with a good setup. So this is where your knowledge will be handy. I am going to give a list of stuff for my new tank (Sand or Gravel) then you just say which one you think is best. As for electrical equipment please state the brand name and model.

Ok so here is the list please note that external pumps are a no-go as I have no place to store. And one more thing including the tank I am looking to spend about £500.

1) Internal Filter or Hang-on Filter
2) Gravel/Sand Filter or Not
3) Brand/model of a really good heater (Remember tank holds 100L to 120L)
4) Gravel or Sand
5) Live or Plastic Plants
6) Water tester kit or Not required

I think that’s it, I have seen on other forums that while my tank is in cycle still feed like there would be fish in it is this true and also if any of you have any tips or would like to add equipment to the list please feel free but make sure to name. Anyway folks thanks for reading my post and hope to hear from you all soon. All your help will be appreciated. Have a good day.

From FISH ' N ' CHIPS

Truck · Jan 23, 2010

1 I would get an external
2 Not needed
3 Rena 100 watt
4 Sand
5 Live
6 Yes, if you're in the UK get the salifert kits from charter house aquatics, if you're in the US then get the API master test kit.

New tropical gal · Jan 23, 2010

Hi there

I'm also new - my tank has been up and running for 4 weeks and has cycled. Having read a few reviews on here I see that my cycle time (by comparison) has been quite quick. I largely attribute this to the fact that I added live plants from the outset. Take now for instance, my tank has cycled and I don't foresee that I need to do a water change as often as the plants are rooted, thriving and actively consuming nitrate. The plants also oxygenate the water and my fish seem to really enjoy swimming through them.

Aesthetically, live plants beat plastic handsdown. You also don't need to clean live plants. Further, live plants keep the substrate clean resulting in less algae growth.

One last point!

I opted to lay gravel as underneath I have a layer of laterite (clay fertilizer for the plants). I thought gravel would be easier to clean than sand, however, I think sand looks much better than gravel... and more natural. I suppose it all depends on what 'look' you're going for.

drobbyb · Jan 23, 2010

FISH said:
I have seen on other forums that while my tank is in cycle still feed like there would be fish in it is this true

This depends on your method. If you are cycling with flakes, then yes you would add flakes just like you were feeding everyday. If you are going to use household ammonia, this is not needed because you want your ammonia to stay well below 8ppm (4ppm to 5ppm is ideal) and the added ammonia may put you over the mark encouraging the wrong kind of bacteria to grow.

Larkspur · Jan 23, 2010

Definitely go with live plants. I'll never use plastic ones again. Live plants are what gives a tank that "look". They're extremely natural...obviously, and if you research the different types you can easily stock with some hardy ones that grow fast.

aly_starh · Jan 23, 2010

FISH said:
1) Internal Filter or Hang-on Filter
2) Gravel/Sand Filter or Not
3) Brand/model of a really good heater (Remember tank holds 100L to 120L)
4) Gravel or Sand
5) Live or Plastic Plants
6) Water tester kit or Not required

1.) Either
2.) Not neede
3.) Fluval 150W (anything from 100W-150W is ideal for your tank)
4.) Sand
5.) Live plants
6.) API MASTER Freshwater Test-Kit

New tropical gal said:
Hi there

I'm also new - my tank has been up and running for 4 weeks and has cycled. Having read a few reviews on here I see that my cycle time (by comparison) has been quite quick. I largely attribute this to the fact that I added live plants from the outset. Take now for instance, my tank has cycled and I don't foresee that I need to do a water change as often as the plants are rooted, thriving and actively consuming nitrate. The plants also oxygenate the water and my fish seem to really enjoy swimming through them.

Aesthetically, live plants beat plastic handsdown. You also don't need to clean live plants. Further, live plants keep the substrate clean resulting in less algae growth.

One last point!

I opted to lay gravel as underneath I have a layer of laterite (clay fertilizer for the plants). I thought gravel would be easier to clean than sand, however, I think sand looks much better than gravel... and more natural. I suppose it all depends on what 'look' you're going for.