robsworld78
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2011
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi, I currently have a 30g tank with a Roseline shark and some tetras. I had 2 Roseline sharks however one jumped out, which was devastating, and because I love those sharks so much I'm going to upgrade to a much larger tank, probably 180g or so and get serious with it. After having the smaller 30g tank for 1 1/2 years I know I want a big one now and I really owe it to my "Rupert" the remaining Roseline as he should have never been put in that 30g tank. After I got the fish I started reading about them and found out what I had wasn't what they really wanted, fish store of course didn't try to stop me from buying the 2. I don't have a lot of experience with fish as you can tell and what I'm hoping for is some of you fish experts will jump in and give me some advise on what I should use for equipment on what I want to achieve. Money isn't a huge issue however I want to be somewhat sense-able but my main goal is to have the best environment for my Roseline sharks, this is to be there vision of a paradise.
Here's what I'm looking to get for fish.
6-8 Roseline sharks
10 - 12 Tetras
3-4 small frogs
2 transparent fish
I don't think that's many fish for a 180g tank and that's how I want it and think it will make life better for the sharks and me.
I also want lots of live plants in the tank, no plastic plants. I'm also thinking a few rocks and a log. I want it to be real looking and the best environment for Roseline's, the tank is designed for them.
I've never grown live plants in a tank so looking for beginner plants that are easy to grow.
I haven't bought anything and before I do I want to make sure I get everything right, I can't depend on the person at pet-smart or wherever to really know what I need.
With my current tank the only complaint I have is my algae is difficult to control and returns fast after a cleaning. When I first got this 30g tank I knew nothing and was ignorant not to learn and did things I shouldn't have and don't want to do that again. When my algae problem was at its worse it was when I had lots of fish in my current 30g tank, I had 2 Roseline's and about 25 other smaller fish like tetras. So all that life in the tank was giving me high waste levels and things got ugly, nice thing though is the fish didn't seem to mind. I've had the tank about 1 1/2 years and now I'm down to my 1 Roseline and about 8 fish and the algae growth has slowed down.
My friend told me the reason for the aggressive growth rate on the algae is because the waste level is too high in the water and me doing 20% water change every 2 - 4 weeks isn't enough because I don't have enough beneficial bacteria to fight against it. I use just a standard power-head filter which has the screen, carbon and the biological rocks (1 1/2 years old rocks), . He told me those rocks don't really do much because there's not much oxygen in water and you need lots of oxygen to help build the beneficial bacteria. He mentioned a bio-wheel filter would really help with my current tank, what do you think about that? He's trying to tell me if I have enough beneficial bacteria and do my 20% water change every 2 weeks it wouldn't get out of control like it does.
But my concern is setting up the new tank properly. I hoping I can control the algae so it doesn't start growing thick and stringy on plants and takes more than a week to start showing on the glass. I'm wanting to get a really good filter system on the new tank so I know everything will be fine. I'm not trying to get lazy and never do water changes, I'm hoping to get it so I do a 20% water change once a month and only have to clean the glass every 1-2 months, the longer the better. Is that realistic?
So here's a list of things I think I need to get and need help on what to choose.
- Lights for live plants (type and wattage) (want a light that will work for most plant types, when I get more experience I'll probably add plants that are harder to grow and may need stronger light)
- Live plants (easy type to grow, I have lists but what do you recommend for Roseline's that's easy)
- co2 system (unsure about this, I don't want plants growing fast, at least not when they get to the size I want, but read if you have high power lights you need co2 because water doesn't have enough) I have no problem buying one but if I don't need it that would be good too, just want whats best for everything, I've read Roseline fish like lots of oxygen so maybe its good for them?
- Best substrate type (I like sand and currently have regular fine sand, but want whats best for plants, water quality and fish and don't think sand is best. Also something I can add a variety of plants to.)
- Filter system (I want the very best) As I mentioned my friend brought up the bio-wheel, is there something better if it's even good?
- Heater (I'm scared about a heater because I have a friend that had his water boil because it went bad, my other friend says get a good one and you have nothing to worry about, is that true?)
I think that's all I need, if not let me know.
So what would you recommend for a really good setup? My biggest concern is the filter system.
Thanks
Here's what I'm looking to get for fish.
6-8 Roseline sharks
10 - 12 Tetras
3-4 small frogs
2 transparent fish
I don't think that's many fish for a 180g tank and that's how I want it and think it will make life better for the sharks and me.
I also want lots of live plants in the tank, no plastic plants. I'm also thinking a few rocks and a log. I want it to be real looking and the best environment for Roseline's, the tank is designed for them.
I've never grown live plants in a tank so looking for beginner plants that are easy to grow.
I haven't bought anything and before I do I want to make sure I get everything right, I can't depend on the person at pet-smart or wherever to really know what I need.
With my current tank the only complaint I have is my algae is difficult to control and returns fast after a cleaning. When I first got this 30g tank I knew nothing and was ignorant not to learn and did things I shouldn't have and don't want to do that again. When my algae problem was at its worse it was when I had lots of fish in my current 30g tank, I had 2 Roseline's and about 25 other smaller fish like tetras. So all that life in the tank was giving me high waste levels and things got ugly, nice thing though is the fish didn't seem to mind. I've had the tank about 1 1/2 years and now I'm down to my 1 Roseline and about 8 fish and the algae growth has slowed down.
My friend told me the reason for the aggressive growth rate on the algae is because the waste level is too high in the water and me doing 20% water change every 2 - 4 weeks isn't enough because I don't have enough beneficial bacteria to fight against it. I use just a standard power-head filter which has the screen, carbon and the biological rocks (1 1/2 years old rocks), . He told me those rocks don't really do much because there's not much oxygen in water and you need lots of oxygen to help build the beneficial bacteria. He mentioned a bio-wheel filter would really help with my current tank, what do you think about that? He's trying to tell me if I have enough beneficial bacteria and do my 20% water change every 2 weeks it wouldn't get out of control like it does.
But my concern is setting up the new tank properly. I hoping I can control the algae so it doesn't start growing thick and stringy on plants and takes more than a week to start showing on the glass. I'm wanting to get a really good filter system on the new tank so I know everything will be fine. I'm not trying to get lazy and never do water changes, I'm hoping to get it so I do a 20% water change once a month and only have to clean the glass every 1-2 months, the longer the better. Is that realistic?
So here's a list of things I think I need to get and need help on what to choose.
- Lights for live plants (type and wattage) (want a light that will work for most plant types, when I get more experience I'll probably add plants that are harder to grow and may need stronger light)
- Live plants (easy type to grow, I have lists but what do you recommend for Roseline's that's easy)
- co2 system (unsure about this, I don't want plants growing fast, at least not when they get to the size I want, but read if you have high power lights you need co2 because water doesn't have enough) I have no problem buying one but if I don't need it that would be good too, just want whats best for everything, I've read Roseline fish like lots of oxygen so maybe its good for them?
- Best substrate type (I like sand and currently have regular fine sand, but want whats best for plants, water quality and fish and don't think sand is best. Also something I can add a variety of plants to.)
- Filter system (I want the very best) As I mentioned my friend brought up the bio-wheel, is there something better if it's even good?
- Heater (I'm scared about a heater because I have a friend that had his water boil because it went bad, my other friend says get a good one and you have nothing to worry about, is that true?)
I think that's all I need, if not let me know.
So what would you recommend for a really good setup? My biggest concern is the filter system.
Thanks
