My First Tank

[richiej1979]

Hi there,

Ok I am setting this up as a diary of my tank. I got a Elite 35 tank with an Arcadia freshwater tube going in. (1.5w per gallon) Its got the Pets at home fine black gravel and I am adding Co2. I am using a stingray filter.

This tank is my first proper go at it since I managed to mess up the last set up of it.

Also I was given a couple of ornaments to add for xmas, I have to add these as they were presents from the girlfriend. One is a crocodile with a snappy mouth controlled by an air pump. This will not be run 24/7 only when the light is off and for display purposes. Its bloody noisy and keeps me awake if I leave it on at night

Plants will be low light plants and I am starting with some low light weeds to avoid the algae. I am definitly going to stick som Java Fern and some Moss balls in.

I am going to add the first pictures tonight and any input would be great.

Thanks to Sam from the plants forum for helping me get started.

Cheers!

Rich.

 

[richiej1979]

Hi there,

Ok I am setting this up as a diary of my tank. I got a Elite 35 tank with an Arcadia freshwater tube going in. (1.5w per gallon) Its got the Pets at home fine black gravel and I am adding Co2. I am using a stingray filter.

This tank is my first proper go at it since I managed to mess up the last set up of it.

Also I was given a couple of ornaments to add for xmas, I have to add these as they were presents from the girlfriend. One is a crocodile with a snappy mouth controlled by an air pump. This will not be run 24/7 only when the light is off and for display purposes. Its bloody noisy and keeps me awake if I leave it on at night

Plants will be low light plants and I am starting with some low light weeds to avoid the algae. I am definitly going to stick som Java Fern and some Moss balls in.

I am going to add the first pictures tonight and any input would be great.

Thanks to Sam from the plants forum for helping me get started.

Cheers!

Rich.

 

[cane76]

looks nice mate well done

 

[richiej1979]

looks nice mate well done

cheers - problem is that the plants are dying as I didn't know about light and co2. I will be ripping this apart and starting again with some low light plants. Probably some java etc.

 

[Themuleous]

Looks good mate but looking forward to seeing it with a few more plants in it do you know that java fern needs to be attached to something and not planted in the substrate?

Here's what mine looks like after 6 months in a low light tank

Sam

 

[richiej1979]

Looks good mate but looking forward to seeing it with a few more plants in it do you know that java fern needs to be attached to something and not planted in the substrate?

Here's what mine looks like after 6 months in a low light tank

Sam

Thanks Sam, Yup I've work that out about Java Fern.

My LFS sells Java fern already tied on wood so I might get that as I am too lazy to do it myself.

Can't wait for my Co2 to turn up

 

[nath1]

looks good, what co2 are you gonna use?
nath1

 

[richiej1979]

looks good, what co2 are you gonna use?
nath1

Cheers, I am not really happy with the tank yet. I've ordered the Nutrfin Co2.

 

[gsta13]

keep us posted mate!, im currently undertaking the same ordeal, just with a bigger tank....so when i ripped out mine today i guess it takes me a bit longer on each messup lol
Good Luck
Greg

 

[richiej1979]

keep us posted mate!, im currently undertaking the same ordeal, just with a bigger tank....so when i ripped out mine today i guess it takes me a bit longer on each messup lol
Good Luck
Greg

Cheers mate - added the Nutrafin Co2 and the Arcadia Freshwater tube. Hopefully I should see some action. I put the tube on the 3rd setting which is for 20/30L tanks. I was thinking about using the 2nd setting but not sure if that will be too much?

Also I only saw about 6-8 bubbles this morning, is that right?

 

[14gtr14]

keep us posted mate!, im currently undertaking the same ordeal, just with a bigger tank....so when i ripped out mine today i guess it takes me a bit longer on each messup lol
Good Luck
Greg

I put the tube on the 3rd setting which is for 20/30L tanks. I was thinking about using the 2nd setting but not sure if that will be too much?

It really depends on what your wpg are. I would say you should just bung it up full. Did you say you were going low tech? Just try and keep it below 2 wpg I would think.


greg

 

[richiej1979]

keep us posted mate!, im currently undertaking the same ordeal, just with a bigger tank....so when i ripped out mine today i guess it takes me a bit longer on each messup lol
Good Luck
Greg

I put the tube on the 3rd setting which is for 20/30L tanks. I was thinking about using the 2nd setting but not sure if that will be too much?

It really depends on what your wpg are. I would say you should just bung it up full. Did you say you were going low tech? Just try and keep it below 2 wpg I would think.


greg

Well I am currently using one 15w Arcadia and my tank is 7.6 UK gallons (35 litres). I make that 1.8 wpg, shall I go for full on the Co2??

 

[gsta13]

TBH not sure on the dosage needed, but i read somewhere it takes a while for it to settle down. wouldnt worry to much jus yet
Greg

 

[RadaR]

Having no CO2 shouldnt really cause you much problems. However I would make sure you dosed 5ml of ferts every 4 days or so (change to less if you experience that the plants arent taking in a good amount of this) and planted the tank with a morderate amount of stem plants. Using CO2 will definetly help you agaisnt algae and you will see much better growth in your plants not to mention the better colours.

 

[richiej1979]

Having no CO2 shouldnt really cause you much problems. However I would make sure you dosed 5ml of ferts every 4 days or so (change to less if you experience that the plants arent taking in a good amount of this) and planted the tank with a morderate amount of stem plants. Using CO2 will definetly help you agaisnt algae and you will see much better growth in your plants not to mention the better colours.

Ok cool - I am going to get some Hogwort tonight and stick that in to stop the algae growth. I got 2 mossballs and they look stupid in my tank. Can I cut them up to make 4 smaller balls which would be nicer?