I know you can pick them up a lot cheaper used, but, its got to be black to match decor which is a problem, also the cabinet has to be the size of the juwel. What sort of plants etc would anyone recommend?
K
your tank will need to be cycled first and why its doing this you can research what plants will do best in your water. hardness and pH have a role in what determins the species of plant that can be kept, also some fish will eat plants so be carefull when mixing cetain species of plants with some fish. DO NOT listen to fish shops that tell you to leave the tank running for a week then add fish and that you need to buy bacteria in a bottle from their shelf. this bottled bacteria is of no use and is a waste of money. running a tank with just water has absolutely no effect what so ever on the tank cycle. they will also ask you for a water sample to test and of course there will be no ammonia or nitrites present as there hasnt been any fish in the tank to cause this so they will sell you fish. when added the fish will start to produce ammonia and without the bacteria colonies in the filter already set up by cycling the fish will slowly become unwell and poisoned by its own poo and wee.... and maybe even die. so the fish shop will sell you more fish and so on. its a good money earner for the shop and can be expensive and frustrating for yourself.
read these links below, they will help you with your tank cycle
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=175355
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=271928&hl=
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306
dont forget that plants will need fertiliser just like the plants in your garden to do well, the time the tank takes to cycle can be as long as 3 months so you have plenty of time to choose compatable fish species and plants.
when choosing fish they need to be able to live together in peace so you ideally dont want big fish that will eat little fish or too many fish that get teritorial that will fight with other fish that get too close. your water stats will also play a role in what fish can be kept as some prefer higher pH and some lower, some prefer softer water and some harder, some like cooler water and some prefer hotter.
with a lot of fish now being farm bred they have not actually seen their wild homes and have never been in their natural water conditions so pH isnt really too much of an issue with most fish. for example most tetras in the wild will be in a low pH like 6 but many people including myself keep them at much higher pH levels like 7.5 - 8 quite happily, just be sure to acclimatise them slowly and well.
also its best to keep certain numbers of each sex of fish with some species. keeping 2 females with a single male will keep the stress from being harassed spread amongst the 2 females instead of 2 males trying to get their way with a single female and stressing her so eventually she will hide away and may become ill.
some fish prefer to be in groups and the bigger the better. like tetras, danios, barbs etc they will be found in there hundreds in the wild and its in their nature to be in a group when startled so they feel safer. if 1 or 2 tetras etc are kept then they wont feel secure and you wont get the best out of the fish. also its best to keep 1 or 2 bigger groups of the same species rather than 1 big group of mixed species, it looks so much better too
i hope this helps you a bit, dont rush anything and feel free to ask any questions you have on anything your not sure on from cycling the tank/filter to plant and fish choice.
good luck and keep us posted,
Matt
