Need Help On Redecorating My 55 Gallon

[ryguy]

ok well to start off i have about 12 cichlids 2 that are frontosas that i am being yelled at about (soon to trade in for 2 yellow labs). i have a 55 gallon with many rocks and white crushed coral. i dont like it that much (white on white ) what i am goin to do is get black sand. then i thought it would be cool to try some real plants. i need suggestions on the sand and soil i will need for the plants and how to do that including plant types and soild, sand tyep(black) and how much of each and how to layer. i also need to know if florcent bulbs will be good enough i would really like help. also to keep ph up would it be enough just to get an old tright and put crushed coral in there and place it in the filter or will i need more than just that.

 

[ryguy]

any ideas?

 

[mark7616]

As for the ph that would work plants I doubt will most plant will get eaten but you can try java fern and there are a few other that may not get eaten but these will be dug up. Why dont you just try to immitate a natural lake malawi set up.

 

[dthoffsett]

Yup, a stocking w/crushed coral in your filter will work, worked a treat in my tank. As far as plants, I understand java moss and java ferns do well, just be sure to attach them to rocks or driftwood. Almost any other plants will be dug up or eaten. I'm going to be redoing my tank next month, and have decided to add a couple of large fake plants for some variety, I'm going to tie them to rocks to prevent them from getting moved around. Just remember, mbuna LOVE to dig.

Most LFS carry black sand, or you can order it online, it's pretty expensive though.

 

[Ferris]

I've tried black sand on 2 occasions in different tanks (125 gal and 55 gal) and have been dissapointed with the look both times. In fact i replaced the substrates in both tanks with ordinary sand, which IMO looked much better.

Somehow it doesn't look the same in the tank as it does in the bags in your LFS - just my experience.

 

[ryguy]

1.) after looking at pis of the balck sand intanks i have decided to turn away from the balck sand but i want to get sand that looks smooth unlike rocks, like beach sand.

2.) also for my tank i have like a 30 pound rock will this compress the sand to much causeing those toxic pockets.

3.) will synos do enough turning of the sand so i wont have to do it(to prevent the toxic build up)

4.) will my regular florecent ligts be enough for a few javas and how do i plant the plants.

5.) and last will i need soil or special stuff to keep plants groing.


PS. i know this is a lot of questions and i appreciate that people help with them so thanks

 

[caboose_122]

1.) after looking at pis of the balck sand intanks i have decided to turn away from the balck sand but i want to get sand that looks smooth unlike rocks, like beach sand.

2.) also for my tank i have like a 30 pound rock will this compress the sand to much causeing those toxic pockets.

3.) will synos do enough turning of the sand so i wont have to do it(to prevent the toxic build up)

4.) will my regular florecent ligts be enough for a few javas and how do i plant the plants.

5.) and last will i need soil or special stuff to keep plants groing.


PS. i know this is a lot of questions and i appreciate that people help with them so thanks

ok beach sand looks much more like the sand from malawi i think personaly.

30 pounds of rock isnt very much lots of people have upwards if 100+ pounds of rock in there tank i think that the toxic pockets would still form underneth them

as far as i know synos dont churn the sand very much i think mbuna do more but i could be wrong you can churn the sand every 2-4 weeks i believe before doing a big water change, you can churn more frequintly also if you want but only once every 1-2 weeks

and as for plants i dont know becuase i never started a planted tank but for lighting i think it should be fine how many watts are they?

 

[ryguy]

by the way the one roc is 40 pounds alone i have like 150 pounds of rock total.

 

[caboose_122]

by the way the one roc is 40 pounds alone i have like 150 pounds of rock total.

thats a big rock

 

[angelmouse]

i think beach coloured sand will look much better, more natural, it would probably be bad idea to put anything under sand as they will dig it up and it will all mix, i've seen vallis growing well with mbuna and sand.
Angel

 

[ryguy]

i think beach coloured sand will look much better, more natural, it would probably be bad idea to put anything under sand as they will dig it up and it will all mix, i've seen vallis growing well with mbuna and sand.
Angel

will i need any special products or anything to give the plants nutrients?

 

[ryguy]

so?

 

[dthoffsett]

1.) after looking at pis of the balck sand intanks i have decided to turn away from the balck sand but i want to get sand that looks smooth unlike rocks, like beach sand.

2.) also for my tank i have like a 30 pound rock will this compress the sand to much causeing those toxic pockets.

3.) will synos do enough turning of the sand so i wont have to do it(to prevent the toxic build up)

4.) will my regular florecent ligts be enough for a few javas and how do i plant the plants.

5.) and last will i need soil or special stuff to keep plants groing.


PS. i know this is a lot of questions and i appreciate that people help with them so thanks

1. Pool filter sand would look nice.
2. Your rock should be placed on the bottom glass of the tank, then put the sand around them, mbuna will dig under rocks and if the rocks are on top of the sand, they can collapse killing fish and possibly breaking your tank.
3. IMO synos don't do much but sift in the sand for food, however as I stated before, mbuna will constantly move the sand around.
4. Java plants should do fine with regular lights, but you could always ask in the planted section. You can attach the plants to your rock or driftwood with thread or fishing line I believe. Again, the planted section can help with that.

 

[ryguy]

ok thanks so im going to the LFS today and i know they wont have pool sand there so would marine sand do? and would i beable to get plants today to?

 

[dthoffsett]

Marine (aragonite, not live) sand will work. In fact in a couple of weeks I'm switching my tank over to that. And I don't see any reason why you can't get the plants at the same time.