Hi There!

[charliesmith]

i just joined up today and thought it best to describe the "setting up" of my new tank and to see if im going wrong anywhere!

About 2 weeks ago i bought my new 30" tank/23 uk gallon (dimensions L = 30" H = 18" D = 12"). Ive set up using the following equipment:

TetraTec EX700 external filter using a carbon filter medium
Undergravel filter run using 2 uplift tubes powered by a TetraTec Whisper APS 300 airpump (with medium natural gravel 3mm - 5mm)
23" air wall tube run from a TetraTec Whisper 100 airpump
Two 30" light bulbs (one tropical light - one blue moon)

to decorate i have added 2 ornaments (old hut and a log bridge), a small cave and two "trees" to hide the undergravel filter uplift tubes.

Having previously found live plants a pain i decided to plant the tank entirely using silk plants which if i may say so myself, look fairly impressive and lifelike!

which brings me to my first question. is it ok to plant an aquarium entirely of silk plants? and is there a danger of over planting when using fake plants?? also, i was intrigued if introducing some driftwood would be necessary/beneficial to the tank?

i have also cheated in the evenings by periodically turning the undergravel filter off due to excessive noise of the bubbles! (how pathetic did that sound!?) would this have a lasting effect as i still leave the 23" air tube running constantly!?

i have now been adding bactozyme to the tank for two weeks and nitrite levels have spiked so should drop soon ready for my new fish! i would also like to know what fish would be compatible and if i would be overstocked with:

2 clown loaches
6 neon tetra
4 guppys
3 platys
2 dwarf gouramis

would i need some form of plec/catfish or would the loaches be sufficient as bottom dwellers as the algae growth in my tank should/would be minimal?? i would love to of included tiger barbs but they really seem to aggravate all the best looking fish around!

as im fairly new to keeping tropical fish (one previous tank at 10 gallons - failed miserably - long story lol) any feed back about the tank would be extremely helpful and much appreciated!!

many thanks

charlie

 

[donna123]

hi,
to tff, its fine to decorate with whatever takes your fancy, i have both silk and real, as long as there is plenty of swimming room left, fish love to hide in plants real or silk,imo silk is way better than plastic, bogwood or driftwood make for a natural look and some plecos eat it,clown loach wont be usefull as algae eaters, you could get ottos or a small pleco, do some reserch on these some get over 12 inch, as for some bottom fish how about corys, a group of these would be better than the clowns as these do reach over 6 inch, my book says up to 12 inch ,although they are slow to get to aduldhood they like to be in groups of 3 or more. hth good luck with the cycle, do post a pic when your done,all the best donna