Hello New Here

[mhawk]

I'm a previous freshwater fish keeper but have been out of the hobby fro decades.

i have had other tanks in the time invert and marine fishes.

i have always wanted a huge school of neon tetras and considering setting up my 100 gallon cube for this.

i am also considering using my sump/filter system for the particulate and chemical filtration........any suggestions

i currently have a koi pond with ribbon filter media,will placing some of the media in the sump be sufficient to jump start my bio balls and sponges? thanks

 

[rabbut]

We wouldn't usualy run chemical filteration, mainly because it is not cost effective, but also because some chemical medias caurse more problems than they solve. What chemical medias are you planning on using, as you have not listed any in the planned media list? If you list them, we can advise on what is and isn't good media to use, and possibly save you some ££ by surgesting better alternatives that don't need regular replacement like any chemical media

Does the ribbon filter have other names? I have not come across that before in my time keeping ponds... Usualy, any biological fitration can be used from a pond to kick-start a cycle in a fish tank Never take more than a third of the media from the mature filter, and it is advisable to follow the usual add and wait ammonia daily fishless cycle for a while untill the ammonia and nitrite drop to zero 12 hours after adding the ammonia, for a week after the fist time that happens

That sounds like a good tank. Were you planning any other fish, or just a large shoal of like 100-150 neons? decor? May need some photos once it's running

All the best
Rabbut

 

[mhawk]

yes deco for sure,driftwood and plants,and a shallow bed of natural river rock
as far as chemical media i should have said chemical absorbtion media.........carbon.......after my filter cycle.
i am also thinking of using my protein skimmer from my reef tank just more airation.

 

[rabbut]

The carbon doesn't usualy need to be used. It does have it's uses, but tends to be expended after around the 3 day mark and ready for slinging. For removing meds and tanins it is a very useful, one-off fix in low maintanance tanks, but the rest of the time it is taking up space that could be better used in the filter (not that space is likely to be an issue in a sump).

Skimmers may oxygenate the water, but thats an unusual reason to splash out on one.... Why not get one of your powerheads pointing such that it ripples the surface more. It would be a more cost effective way of upping oxygen levels

 

[mhawk]

The carbon doesn't usualy need to be used. It does have it's uses, but tends to be expended after around the 3 day mark and ready for slinging. For removing meds and tanins it is a very useful, one-off fix in low maintanance tanks, but the rest of the time it is taking up space that could be better used in the filter (not that space is likely to be an issue in a sump).

Skimmers may oxygenate the water, but thats an unusual reason to splash out on one.... Why not get one of your powerheads pointing such that it ripples the surface more. It would be a more cost effective way of upping oxygen levels

power heads in the tank are a no no for me,the cube is drilled for a loop system,and drilled with an internal overflow box.
skimmer is sitting there in the shed but if its not needed than so be it.

i like tanks as natural as possible,would you happen to have any suggestions on plants.....both low and tall growing.

i haven't searched the site much yet so i'll do that before asking to many more questions!


thanks and have a great evening

 

[rabbut]

Would be best asking in the planted tank sub-forum as it isn't realy my area.... I can grow Giant Vallis and Amazon Sward well, but otherwise....