RubyJewell
New Member
When Santa popped a 225 litre tropical tank in my stocking, I wanted to set it up right. Despite many attempts, I have never been able to grow plants in my first - 40 litre - tank, and this time I am determined to have lush greenery (NOT plastic!) with shoals of fish flitting hither and thither. I REALLY fancy one of those iridescent blue Siamese fighting fish with the long trailing fins (minimum 50 litres).
Anyway, I searched through the Plant Forum, and armed with A List headed down to the local Pet shop (in GodZone we do not have dedicated Fish Suppliers) for laterite. Boy it's expensive stuff! But I figure if those plants grow, I'll save $$$ in the long term. Oh, and 1 or 2 or a dozen plants somehow slipped into the shopping basket.
Then back home, the gravel and laterite is washed, spread on the bottom of the tank, the plants wedged into the substrate, and the hose turned on. And everything looks fantastic (once the plants were repositioned after they all floated to the top). For now. As I always say, the definition of an optimist must be a gardener without so much as a green thumbnail! That's me: my mother's gift with plants has definitely missed this generation.
So A BIG thanks for your help: if / when I still have trouble with my plants, I know where I'll find the answers. I can't wait until I can start moving in the fish, of course after I've checked the appropriate forum to ensure all are compatible. I wonder if guppies will go with my siamese? As for my old tank, there were some rather handsome tadpoles at the pet shop.....
Anyway, I searched through the Plant Forum, and armed with A List headed down to the local Pet shop (in GodZone we do not have dedicated Fish Suppliers) for laterite. Boy it's expensive stuff! But I figure if those plants grow, I'll save $$$ in the long term. Oh, and 1 or 2 or a dozen plants somehow slipped into the shopping basket.
Then back home, the gravel and laterite is washed, spread on the bottom of the tank, the plants wedged into the substrate, and the hose turned on. And everything looks fantastic (once the plants were repositioned after they all floated to the top). For now. As I always say, the definition of an optimist must be a gardener without so much as a green thumbnail! That's me: my mother's gift with plants has definitely missed this generation.
So A BIG thanks for your help: if / when I still have trouble with my plants, I know where I'll find the answers. I can't wait until I can start moving in the fish, of course after I've checked the appropriate forum to ensure all are compatible. I wonder if guppies will go with my siamese? As for my old tank, there were some rather handsome tadpoles at the pet shop.....
As lisie mentioned, the guppies and betta probably aren't a good idea. Most likely the betta will attack them thinking they are other bettas. As a generaly rule, bettas do better in tanks by themselves with a reduced water flow. For a 225, you will need pretty good filtration and the flow may be too strong for your bettas liking.
