Community Tank Help

[IndigoFire]

Hi,

Im new to the forums and I can see many helpful people here so I thought i'd ask the wise ones for a bit of guidence with my new community tank project.

The tank is 4ft(l) x 1ft (w) x 1.5ft (h) which I make out to be roughly 36Gallons or 165L? It has an internal filter and will eventually have an under gravel filter too.

I'd like to have

4 x Nanus Cory
4 x Veiled Angels
6 x Penguin Tetras
4 x Zebra Loaches
2 x Dwarf Fire Gourami (Im aware of there weakness)



Id also like A BGK, but im not sure if my tank will be big enough. I also fancy some snails, but Im unsure with the mix?

Also any advice on plants would be great. =]

Thanks in advance

 

[waterdrop]

Hi IndigoFire and welcome to TFF!

Sounds like a really nice tank! If you are interested in live plants and for other reasons too I would recommend not going with an undergravel filter. Although experts who know what they're doing and who are not using plants can make these "old technology" filters work, in my opinion they are not the type that you should choose as a beginner who wants to add plants.

Over time, the large amount of substrate gravel involved in an undergravel system can form a good biofilter but the problem comes in the maintenance. The under-plate area must be kept free and clear of mulm and debris and this can be quite hard to do as it requires a lot of suction force to pull it back through the plate slots or requires that the whole aquarium be torn down for plate removal. Other types of filters are just so much easier to maintain.

Prior to choosing your tank "cycling" method (fishless or fish-in) you should examine your filter media plan and you should read about the nitrogen cycle and understand it. In your case you should also choose what "approach" you wish to persue long term. Our beginners section here is mostly oriented to "beginner community" tanks, a bit more focus on fish and a little less on plants, whereas there are hobbyists who want to focus on serious "planted tanks" which reverse the amount of emphasis on plants vs. fish. There are successes to be had in either approach but it helps to go in with your eyes open.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[IndigoFire]

Thanks Waterdrop.

Any ideas about the BGK? I'll stay away from the undergravel one then, thanks for the adivce about that. I am planning on doing a fishless cycle after I come back from holiday, well i might start it before I go, then when i come back carry on with it.

I don't want a hugely planted tank, but a nice selection of plants rocks, wood etc.
Im really looking foward to getting my tank now, should be getting it in a week, its a donation from a friend who has two the 4ft and the 2ft and he doesnt want it anymore and said it'll only go to a Car boot sale, and he'd rather give it to me and be able to see it used.

 

[loachman]

BGK grow to be way too big for a 36 gal tank. They can get to be a foot long+, and are predatory.

 

[IndigoFire]

Okay, but ive seen a fair few tanks that have BGKS in communities.

Thanks for the advice anyway. =]

 

[IndigoFire]

Would apple snails and cherry shrimp go okay in there?

TIA