My First Tank With Pics

[arabballin]

this is my very first tank and with all the pictures ive seen on this site i was able to get ideas for what to do with the aquascaping. However, i want my tank to be the best it can be and i want all your opnions on anything including; the set up of the decor and if i should rearrange it in any way. Please all input is welcome.

soon to come:
of course fish( almost done cycling)
a Java Fern

 

[unspoken930]

I cant see a pic...

 

[arabballin]

yea sorry i messed up when uploading the picture but its up there now

 

[unspoken930]

Looks good! are those real or fake plants? If theyre not real, maybe add a few more java ferns than just one, and some other low maintenance plants. Also, im not a fan of bubbles however many people like them, but they wont help live plants very much. This is just my view on it though, however I do think the tank is very attractive!

 

[arabballin]

the amazon sword and the corkscrew are real in the corners, just that one plant behind the african root is fake and its being replaced by a java fern,

Yea i like the bubbles, it adds to the tank, but i also want to make sure my plants live so i dont know

 

[Majjie]

I think it looks great. I like the arrangement of the wood and rocks. Not enough plants for my taste - but very natural looking.

 

[EDEN AQUARIUM]

Nice tank what kind of fish are you planning to house?

 

[Shaun]

Nice looking tank

 

[stang1]

Your tanks looking good!

 

[arabballin]

as of now i know im putting in:
6 tiger barbs
3 gourami(not sure what my lfs has)
pleco( bristlenose or something else that stays small)
i really a red tail black shark but ive heard some say it will work and some say it wont.

anything else i put it in will be just be up to what i like at my lfs

 

[Gnatfish]

the amazon sword and the corkscrew are real in the corners, just that one plant behind the african root is fake and its being replaced by a java fern,

Yea i like the bubbles, it adds to the tank, but i also want to make sure my plants live so i dont know

Just to clarify. (You might no this already) The bubbles create surface agitation, which drives of the CO2, which the plants need.

What lighting do you have?

 

[arabballin]

i only have a 20 watt bulb with reflectors because the hood came with the tank. Yea i did know that because i know the bubbles allow more oxygenization to occur so i figured that means less CO2. But i heard from someone this would still be ok if i got the plants root tabs.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

You should add some more plants, and put some java moss on the wood.

 

[Gnatfish]

Extra fertilisation doesn't make up for lacking CO2, in fact it makes it worse.

To create and algae free tank, you need a balance of lighting, CO2 and fertiliser. How big is the tank, becasue 20 watts doesn't sound like much light compared to how big it looks. Is there any room to add another tube in the hood, to increase the lighting?

 

[arabballin]

the tank is 30 gallons and there is no room for more light. I was told i didnt need anymore, but i guess with the bubbles i will. I would much rather get rid of the bubbles than having to go buy a new hood and more lighting, im only 16 money is not easy to come by.