Brand New Large Tank

[Jephex]

We are moving into a new house, and with that I am upgrading to a 45 gallon tank...it has the base perimeter/dimensions of a 30 gallon tank, it's just taller. I need you guys to help me design it. What type of substrate, plants, and good well sized fish.

If you have any good suggestions just post it up!

-Jeff

 

[caino]

We are moving into a new house, and with that I am upgrading to a 45 gallon tank...it has the base perimeter/dimensions of a 30 gallon tank, it's just taller. I need you guys to help me design it. What type of substrate, plants, and good well sized fish.

If you have any good suggestions just post it up!

-Jeff

I really like the look of sand! Im not a great fan of gravel, but as long as it looks natrual its good , non of the pink and bright blue gravel, well thats my preferance

 

[Neal]

If you are a begginer, don't flood your tank with plants and fish just yet. Get a few hardy plants and do lots of research on plants, and i'd go with communtiy fish to start off with. Just to ensure you don't have any problems. I'm assuming you know about cycling.

Neal

 

[Marcos]

Yes, don't rush your cycling. I use sand as a substrate, I wouldn't go back to gravel as sand looks so natural.

 

[smb7676]

I use sand as a substrate, I wouldn't go back to gravel as sand looks so natural.

I like sand but every now and again I get an algea green tint to my gravel. What do you do with the sand to clean it ? I just turn over the gravel, does that work for sand? It always seemed that it would stay greeny.

 

[Marcos]

I've never seen algae build up on my sand but I do have quite a few plants and a couple of bristlenose plecs that seem to keep the algae under control quite well. To clean it I just waft a net just above the sand and all the rubbish lifts and catches in the net. I still use a gravel vac to change water but I don't put it right on top of the sand, about half inch above it and the rubbish is sucked up.
I changed to sand on a bit of a whim (my gravel substrate was a horrible colour, I wanted a change and thought I'd try it) and I know it's own opinion but it looks so much better than gravel. A lot of people on here use play sand from Argos which is around £3 for a sack!

 

[cane76]

i think black sand looks nice.i might get it for my red belly tank

 

[caino]

i think black sand looks nice.i might get it for my red belly tank

ooooo black sand, whats that stuff called?

 

[plecoguy]

if possible go with a darker colored sand. i have a pretty light color, and it looks nice, but it shows when its dirty alot more.

 

[cane76]

caino i think its called tahitan moon sand its not cheap like play sand coz its from the moon

 

[chishnfips]

sand is easy to clean. its different from gravel beacause all the dirt sits on the top. If you invest in a fine tea strainer you can sift through and seive out the sand and leave the dirt in the strainer. works a treat, and get a gravle vac and lightly skimn the surface of the substrate. hey presto.

get a nice mix of bog wood, mopani wood and rocks in there aswell, makesd it look bonza.