Fluval Edge 23L Stocking

[TekFish]

I've been offered a discount on a red Maidenhead Aquatics Fluval Edge 23L aquarium, and I thought it would be the perfect tank to do an Iwagumi set up. I was think of what fish to put in, and I thought, 3 Sparkling Gouramis, one male, two female, but would it work with Honeys? I just like their coloration that much more. If not, any ideas? Thanks guys.
 
Tek oot.

 

[sadguppy]

I don't see why not. I know people get twitchy about edges but they are longer than tall and honeys are very small fish... I would, myself. In fact I have an edge in the garage, you're giving me ideas...

 

[MBOU]

Personally I would avoid honeys, have some nice adults that are pushing the 5-6cm mark... thats pretty heft in so small a tank.
 
I had an edge for a few years (moving 3 times in one year meant i gave it up 4th time round!) and heres afew notes i made:
 
- Avoid anabantoids as there is very little surface area and the little that there is has the HOB filter chucking water down at force... (sparklings appear to be the exception but their behaviour is different to 'normal' gouramis)
 
- Avoid sand unless you have ornament/wood/rocks in the middle as filter blasts sand out the way lol.
 
-Ignore all instructions on changing filters, dont ever replace the biomedia or sponge unless its an emergency (even then, only sponge) and keep filter on full speed, slowing it down lowers life expectancy of pump andlower turnover of filter meant tank was never that clean...
 
- Clean pump/impeller at least once a month! Tiny pump = more frequent cleaning.... if it goes.. can be a nightmare to replace if you have to wait a few days..
 
- 3 products that works great in the HOB filter... Evolution Aqua Pure balls (fit in by the flow adjuster), Polyfilter (not cheap and aimed at marine but if you cut tiny cube and put it in by flow adjuster... it strips out EVERYTHING bad) and last but not least... the Greenex 'teabag'... really does help with algae (though Polyfilter does this too...).
 
-Dont bother trying to grow plants... the LEDs as standard are barely up to scratch and the shape doesnt help... that said, cryptocorynes seem to do well and you get such a huge range of them and colours that they do the job... C. nevelli or C. amicorum are tiny and dark green, C. wenditii 'brown' is a lovely purple colour and so on.. you can mix in anubias var nana as well.. Dont bother with anything that grows tall as with 20cm max in that tank if that, you're just giving yourself hard work...
 
- Keep stocking very basic
 
- I found 4 male cherry barbs, 2-4 sparkling gouramis, 3 male endlers and small shrimps all looked great in the tank

 

[TekFish]

Ok thanks I think I'll be going with sparklers then.
Thanks again guys!

Tek oot.

 

[TekFish]

Just set up my new Fluval Edge

 
Looks ok, only thing is there are bubbles EVERYWHERE, on the sides, on the top absolutely everywhere, is this a thing with small tanks, replies appreciated thanks.
 
EDIT:
Oh and MBOU, about saying no plants, is that even with the LED's? Because they look even brighter than my 200L tank, and I grow all sorts in that.
 
Tek oot.

 

[techen]

Leds have a lower watt output than normal lights. Although they may appear brighter it's the watts that makes plants grow. So as Mbou said, No plants will grow under those LEDs.

 

[TekFish]

Well how would I get the right lights to grow plants?
 
Tek oot.

 

[techen]

Am not sure, you'd have to get some kind of clip on lights if there's any room for it.

 

[TekFish]

Are you sure they aren't bright enough? It is the LED strip not the round bulbs if that helps.
 
EDIT:
Just had a look, I think the LED strip is 9W, so isn't that fine?
 
 
2nd EDIT:
Actually it says 3W on the strip, but is that 3W for the ENTIRE thing, or each bulb?
 
Tek  oot.

 

[Shelster]

If someone can help on the sparkler sexing too, as I was told it is very hard to differentiate the sex of them when I asked on here, and to get 5+ so I bought 5 but only have three left would be interested to know what sexes I have left are, as they do still squabble.

Cheers - sorry to hijack thread tekfish but could be useful to you too

 

[TekFish]

Nah it's fine, no worries, I'd be interested to know the answer too.
 
Tek oot.


I just found this website while looking around.
 
http/www.aquatic-eden.com/2009/09/led-planted-aquarium-lighting-part-1.html
 
It's saying that LED's are different to normal bulbs, so the Wpg rule can't really be applied to them. Any comments?
 
Tek oot.

 

[RCA]

Just set up my new Fluval Edge

 
Looks ok, only thing is there are bubbles EVERYWHERE, on the sides, on the top absolutely everywhere, is this a thing with small tanks, replies appreciated thanks.
 
EDIT:
Oh and MBOU, about saying no plants, is that even with the LED's? Because they look even brighter than my 200L tank, and I grow all sorts in that.
 
Tek oot.

 
What temperature was the water you filled the Edge with as this could have a bearing on the number of bubbles?  In respect to removing them, the tip is to fill the last section of the Edge fairly quickly as this generally dissipates the bubbles.  Then the final few at the top you can remove with an algae magnetic.  TIP: You have to keep it topped up, otherwise the filter splashes on the metal part of the lid and it can go rusty.
 
I can grow Java Fern and I think it is possibly cryptocorynes successfully in the Edge with LED's.  Also, what about looking into some Moss Balls, they look great in my large aquarium, yet to add any to the Edge.
 
Post a pic., when you can

 

[techen]

3 watt LEDs are not cheap to buy and need special drivers to run. So no, It will be 3 watt for the entire thing. Pretty much nothing, The wattage does apply to LEDs, I have LEDs for my 200L but they produce 80watts and cost me over 200 quid alone to buy. So that will give you a rough idea.

 

[TekFish]

Hmmm, I just watched the aquascape tutorial on the Fluval Website, and the guy uses Cyperus Helferi, how could he use this if it requires a lot of light?
 
And what can I do to get more light?
 
Tek oot.

 

[MBOU]

Depends how long you want the plant to live for
 
I found that it wasnt just the lighting that was bad for plants, it was the tank layout! The only area of the tank that is actually under the light is also directly under the filter so has a lot of flow pressing downwards on the plants which will upset them.
 
Like i said though, anubias will grow as will crypts and there is a lot of species between them...
 
 
The problem with the design of the edge means that if you have lots of plants/decor on the bottom, it collects the dirt and stops the filter taking up the dirt. I found that creating archways out of bogwood with little pretty anubiaxvar nana and crypto amicorum/nevelli under the lighting as its small and sturdy enough to cope with the downwards flow.