Brand-Spanking Newbie Here!

[asheyna]

It only takes like 2 hours in total it's really easy. But you can't have any bottom dwellers with that gravel. (such as cories or loaches)

That's actually not too bad. I looked around a little today and saw there are a few different kinds of sand. It looks like my best options would be silica sand or play sand, although some places mentioned that they're the same thing? Which would you suggest? For my filter I run a Penguin 350, is that going to be an issue with the sand?

Sorry to be so annoying with so many questions!

 

[Man of fish]

I've also got a 350. As long as the extension tube is off like mine is it'll be fine. It needs to be at least I think 4 inches from the sand. Play sand will be your cheapest option.

 

[asheyna]

I've also got a 350. As long as the extension tube is off like mine is it'll be fine. It needs to be at least I think 4 inches from the sand. Play sand will be your cheapest option.

Someone on another forum mentioned an issue with play sand and diatoms?

 

[Man of fish]

That must have been a lighting and excess nutrients problem. They won't happen unless there's a problem.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Again, the angels get 8-10 inches tall, so that dosent leave them too muchswimming space.

 

[asheyna]

Again, the angels get 8-10 inches tall, so that dosent leave them too muchswimming space.

Yeah, I think I'll be avoiding the angels for now. Maybe in the future I'll buy a tank specifically for them. Right now I'm thinking about rams (bolivian or blue) and apistos. I like the look of both of those types fish.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

If you get cockatoo apistos, they are xpensive. 60 bucks for a male. German blue rams are very cool but they like their ater at 82 F or they wont color up well.

 

[asheyna]

If you get cockatoo apistos, they are xpensive. 60 bucks for a male.

That's what birthdays and Christmas is for lol

German blue rams are very cool but they like their ater at 82 F or they wont color up well.

My tank seems to be steady at about 78-79F, perhaps I could bump it up a degree or two.

 

[Man of fish]

Bolivians are a MUCH better idea though because the other fish won't be happy long term at that, but the bolivians will be happy at that.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

I agree with Man Of Fish. Bolivians will be better with other fish.

 

[asheyna]

Good to know! Course all this planning is well and good, finding a place that stocks the fish I want might be a challenge.

One last question about switching to sand from the gravel. First off, I've decided to go with play sand and I'll just clean the heck outta it. And the question is, when I drain the water from my tank can I drain it into buckets and then re-add the same water back? I'm worried about the chemical levels given the newness of the tank and I don't wanna kill my poor barbs just as they're settling in.

 

[Man of fish]

Yes you can.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

As long as you've dechlorinated the water youre adding back in and got the temperature as close as possible you wont have a problem. What i did was refill the tank and then over maybe half an hour add some new tank water to the bucket i was keeping my fish in. Then i netted the fish back into the tank and got rid of the old tank water as it was only going to have bad stuff in it after they had been in there for a while. that might have been overkill but it set my mind at rest and i didnt have any problems.