Launch And Forget (well, Not Really)

[halupo]

i want to set up an aquarium in my parents house, and i just got the 70L tank for the job.
actually, its mostly for their grandchildren that are there alot (each time they are at my place and see my tank they get mesmerized by it for hours )

i dont believe they'll do water changes more than once 1.5, 2 months or so.

i thought about having something like 25, 30 guppies and aquascape it with rocks\driftwood and even plants such as anubias.

any better suggestion for hardy fish (guppies alone would be a bit dull, dont you think?), and hardy plants that dont require pruning too often or CO2 additions?

 

[Pleccy]

Hi,

Guppies breed like mad and make sure you get good quality fish, as a lot of guppies in the shops these days aren't as hardy as they used to be. A hardier and more colourful alternative would be platies.

Easy to grow plants include Hygrophila, Vallisneria, Amazon swords, Crpytocorynes and Cabomba.

 

[shelaghfishface]

make sure you get excellent quality guppies or theres no way they will last between the water changes,why cant you go and do the wc more often that that by the way? surley being a member on here you would realise that very few people/if any will condone this ?
what filtration are you planning on?

there is a type of set up that is more or less maintenece free, i was reading about it the other day, maybe someone would give you the name cos for the life of me i cant rem it

 

[Corleone]

Stock lighter than normal - something like 1" per 2 gallons at most. It'll reduce the hit to water quality between water changes, but make sure to stress that the tank shouldn't become a dumping ground for the grandchildren's random goldfish bowls, or the tank won't last long at all.

there is a type of set up that is more or less maintenece free, i was reading about it the other day, maybe someone would give you the name cos for the life of me i cant rem it

Self sustaining planted tanks aren't really low maintenance, just low water changes. They aren't easy to set up, I wouldn't trust one in my own hands, let alone somebody who can't be expected to do weekly care on a simple guppy tank.

 

[Davo86]

I'd just go with 10 Male guppys and something like a few shrimp or african dwarf frogs

 

[tenohfive]

30 guppies sounds at least 3 times more than I'd be happy putting in there.

And if water changes are going to be every month or more it'll want to be overfiltered. Personally I think it'll lead to a high mortality rate.

 

[tenohfive]

The exception to the above is the Walstead method which seems to be growing in support. If you can get a naturally balanced aquarium then it may work, there'll be more work in sorting it though.

And as for fish choice - as stated, very good quality guppies. The fancy pretty ones aren't likely to fit in that category.
Alternatively something hardy like white cloud mountain minnows.

 

[shelaghfishface]

Walstead method

thats the one!!
ah right, its more work,?? oh well.. look who wasnt paying attention then

 

[halupo]

i guess i can do water changes more often, maybe once every second week...
and guppies, as i understand it from you, are not as hardy as one may think!

 

[Corleone]

It's a matter of breeding. You could get wild type guppies (usually sold as feeders) and if they're healthy, they're tough as nails. The fancier varieties are often heavily inbred, and have accumulated a larger than normal collection of genetic weaknesses. Endlers, which haven't been bred into the many forms guppies have, are also generally hardier, though I don't know how they compare to wild guppies, they are prettier.

The effect works a lot like dogs. Purebreds are almost all at risk of some disorder inherent to their breed - hip displaysia, optic nerve problems, breathing disorders or infections in skin folds, but your common ugly mutt's often fit as a fiddle.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

i dont think u shud set up a tank at all!

if it cant be maintained properly and looked after then u shouldnt have it set up.

as its not really fair, i mean it is a living creature after all, and if you cnat provide the care required then dont get it!

 

[halupo]

i dont think u shud set up a tank at all!

if it cant be maintained properly and looked after then u shouldnt have it set up.

as its not really fair, i mean it is a living creature after all, and if you cnat provide the care required then dont get it!

Theyre both young (early 60's) and healthy and can take care of the fish...
and besides, im at my parents house once a week or two.

 

[Spishkey]

i dont think u shud set up a tank at all!

if it cant be maintained properly and looked after then u shouldnt have it set up.

as its not really fair, i mean it is a living creature after all, and if you cnat provide the care required then dont get it!

Theyre both young (early 60's) and healthy and can take care of the fish...
and besides, im at my parents house once a week or two.

if your at your parents house once or twice a week, cant you do the required weekly water change then?

 

[halupo]

if your at your parents house once or twice a week, cant you do the required weekly water change then?

i guess i can do water changes more often, maybe once every second week...

i have my own planted aquarium, and i do a 30L wc once a week.
i thought maybe there are hardy fish that can live well with water changes once a month or two because im not sure that when i go and visit my parents for the weekend i would like the idea of doing a wc...
but if no fish is that hardy i can do the wcs more often

 

[Spishkey]

think about it this way, would you like to be swimming round in your own cr*p for a month, letting the ammonia burn your skin? i think not, think of the poor fishes!