Hello From Bath, Uk With My Juwel Rio 180

[bigrdw]

Hi All,
 
Quick introduction of myself and my aquarium.
 
I am new to fish keeping, I have to say it is very addictive. I have had my Juwel Rio 180 for around 3 months now so hopefully it is well established, I didn't loose any fish and I kept testing the levels thoughout my cycle.
 
Here is my tank -
 

 
My current setup & stock -
 
Juwel Rio 180 White
Tetratec EX1200 External Filter
Tetratec APS 300 (prob don't need it with the EX1200 but it looks pretty)
The Juwel heater that came with the tank
12 x Cardinal Tetras
3 x Red Eyed Tetras (I think, I got given these fish and they were my first fish)
3 x Indonesia Corydoras
3 x Yoyo Pakistani Loaches
2 x Mollies
2 x Pattys
1 x Red Tailed rainbow shark
 
I have tried to go for a natural look in my tank, I have to say the EX1200 is doing a fantastic job and the water is really clear, very pleased with that purchase. I have been doing weekly 15/20% water changes since the tank was new, I might change that to every 2 weeks from now on.
 
I followed allot of people's advice when I set the tank up and I removed the internal filter and setup the external canister filter. It's a shame that it doesnt fit in the cabinet but thats my own fault for not doing my research. I went for the 1200 rather than the 700 because I might change my tank to Marine in a few years.
 
Anyway, hello everyone and I hope to reply to threads when I can give advice from what I have learnt and also ask questions to keep my fish healthy and happy,

 

[Indra]

Welcome to the forums

 

[techen]

Well if it was a fish in cycle and it's been 3 months you should be cycled now.

Anyway welcome to the forum! First thing I'll say is id be relooking at what you have stocked in the tank. Don't really agree with the rainbow shark in there and would be looking at rehoming that. I would increase the number of corys by 3. The more of them the better they feel. I don't deal with mollies or plattys so I wouldn't know. Would also increase tetras size to 6.

Apart from that you don't want to use a filter for marine. You want a sump system instead.

 

[bigrdw]

Thanks for the advice techen, why don't you agree on the shark? I was told he would be fine on his own with my fish. I just discovered that he is a red tailed black shark, I don't know if that makes a difference or if they are the same fish. I will take your advice and add more corys. I might give away the red eye'd Tetras so that will solve that problem. Thanks

 

[techen]

I think sharks are the ify type. They sit at the bottom and get quite large so they like as much room as possible to be happy. So sharing it with the corys etc might lead to issues later on. You can try though

 

[bigrdw]

Ok sure, thanks again. So far he seems happy swimming around the tank going in and out of the plants, he is a nice jet black now (turned a little white when I brought him home) with a white tip so he looks nice and healthy. He doesn't seem to bother any of the other fish and they dont bother him. I will keep an eye on him though. I am a long way off Marine, going to enjoy my tropical setup for a good few years first esp as I am new to fish keeping.

 

[DrRob]

Welcome to the forum. Nice to have some locals.
 
Nice tank you have there. I like the rio 180, and it does indeed look a lot neater with the filter taken out.
 
Techen is, in part, right about the shark. They can be fine, but have a tendency to get fairly territorial once they come of age. You'll see them in a shop with a whole pile of them in a tank together. The warning to buy just one is valid as the first thing they'll do when they get older is whittle the shoal down to one. They then get territorial about a cave or similar hole. Some of them will be fine, some of them will become very aggressive, but overall, yes, they can be kept as a community fish, but most don't go there.


On a secondary note, you have a non-aquatic plant in there. There's a dracanea in the middle of your clump of vallis.

 

[bigrdw]

Hi DrRob, I will keep an eye on the shark and think of an action if he starts getting aggressive with age. Thanks for advice on the plant, this is why forums are good because I would have never known that, I will remove it this evening, that will teach me for buying a bunch of aquatic plants off eBay!! I have noticed that my pondweed appears to have what I can only describe as roots shooting down from most of the way up the plant down into the sand, any idea what that might be? You can just about see them in this zoomed in picture
 

 

[DrRob]

Most stem plants do that. Take them off if you find them unsightly.
 
Dracaena make a nice house plant, so don't throw it away.

 

[bigrdw]

Ok will do, thanks

 

[TallTree01]

Hi!
Welcome to the forum!
I just had to say this:
Bath. Greatest town ever! ' I live in a bath ' .

 

[bigrdw]

Haha, it is definitely one of the best cities in the UK. Hi back at you.

 

[mike455555]

welcome to the forums =] 
 
it is a addictive hobbie, i have a feeling your going to go into a heavily planted tank in the future  =D 

 

[bigrdw]

Hi Mike455555, yes I think you are right! I want to try and keep the plants under control, I presume it is ok to prune them every now and then esp the pondweed cos that thing is crazy!! I am thinking of trying to grow some moss on the bogwood but I cant decide! Any suggestions on fertiliser or anything to help keep the plants nice and healthy? Apart from 8 or 9 hours light a day.

 

[mike455555]

keeping plants under control is fairly easy, with trimming and good planning to start 
 
as for moss on bog wood, i love the stuff. theres so many times out there my fav, although i find it hard to grow is Fissidens fontanus  
 
how powerfull is your light?  and i use EI dosing, its mixing my own from dry salts, but its way cheaper than buying bottled fertlizer, depending on your lights you may want to look into CO2 as well.


have a read of this http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/298133-back-to-basics/