Extra Large Community Tank- Advice Needed

[Spishkey]

is there anything i should watch out for? any pitfalls i may come across? we've had a 180L community and are in the process of changing it over to the 500L tank, going to heavily plant it and let nature run wild in there.

the first stocking will be the contents of the overstocked 180L tank,
inhabitants are roughly as follows
20+ platys
3 mollys
12 cardinal tetras
4 emperor tetras
2 plecs
1 bristlenose plec
1 banjo catfish
5 corys
4 unknown tetras
10 h+T light tetras
2 angels
2 zebras
1 kuhli loach
1 blue gourami
2 ghost shrimp
2 killifish

also going in will be around 20 guppys from another tank

should i be looking to up the numbers of some of these fish groups?
would it be wise to invest in a CO2 system?

its going to be a sand substrate, with special plant 'gravel' underneath at the back for fertilisation

what kind of water changes will i be looking at on a plant this big, and is there an easy way to sand vac a planted tank without causing too much destruction?

 

[shroob]

Add more khuli loaches as they like to be in groups.
Not sure what the '2 zebra's are, if they are zebra danio's also add more as they like to be in groups.

The amount of water changes will depend on filtration and feeding levels, hard to say really. I think the best way would be to monitor water stats to decide when you need a water change, then over time you will get to know when the tank should need one without having to check the nitrate levels.

 

[Keithoms]

For sand vaccing, if you get a decent shoal of cory's, you wont ever need to, the sand will just be kept fresh as they bury the crap as plant fertaliser.

 

[Truck]

if its a planted tank your going to need a fertilising substrate And a liquid fertilizer, if your in europe try tropica plant nutrition.

you will need CO2 depending on your lighting, please post your lighting specs

 

[Nick16]

well, it depends you could just go with a very low light tank, and then no co2. but just use some TPN+. you dont HAVE to go the whoe hog, and with most begginers to planted tank, this leads to massive problems of algae as they havent researched correct methods yet.

 

[simonas]

sounds like a great tank. I'd watch the Banjo cat cos don;t they have big gulping mouths that would love to eat tetras?

 

[Spishkey]

my banjo cat is of a small variety, and the zebras are danios.


tank is now all set up and fish were swapped over last night. looking good!

plan is over the next few months to up the numbers in the individual groups, i.e more zebras, kuhlis, emperors, corys etc.


im also wanting a new introduction, a nice centre piece fish, any suggestions?

could a pair of rams be introduced maybe?
just uploading some pics now

 

[Spishkey]

these were taken before the fish were introduced, please ignore the white foam sheet hanging down thats now been cut to size!

 

[shelaghfishface]

oooo thats beautiful spish,

happy new year hun xxxxxx

 

[Spishkey]

aw you too hunxx


still wondering would a pair of rams go ok in here with the other fish?

 

[MermaidMel]

For sand vaccing, if you get a decent shoal of cory's, you wont ever need to, the sand will just be kept fresh as they bury the crap as plant fertaliser.

Not always mine never have

 

[Truck]

hey does sponge bob live in your tank?

 

[Spishkey]

yes, yes he does, he's in there somewhere!

 

[Truck]

 

[malakye]

Lovely tank, wheres the pictures with the fish though lol.