New aquarium

[gcparks2000]

Ordered an aquaoak 230l and wanted to know if a eheim Pro 4 600 is a good enough filter if I had it as a planted tank. Also what's a good plant substrate

 

[Byron]

Ordered an aquaoak 230l and wanted to know if a eheim Pro 4 600 is a good enough filter if I had it as a planted tank. Also what's a good plant substrate

I tried to find this tank online but got conflicting info, so could you post the dimensions (length and width especially). And what fish were you intending, by which I mean general species. Active fish or some loricariids might need more water flow than quieter fish and plants prefer, so this involves the filter.

I'll move on to the substrate question. Plants will grow in basically any substrate, provided the grains are not too large (pea gravel is as large as you want, and this might hamper some plants). So the real question is, what do the fish need? If you intend substrate fish like cories, loaches, etc, you need sand. If on the other hand you want a Central American stream tank a gravel will be authentic, though sand is still an option. Sand does provide a good plant anchor, and all fish will be safe. Aquarium river sand is the best for cories and loaches, or you can use play sand (I have this in my tanks). Avoid all industrial sands if you intend substrate fish.

Plant-specific substrates generally waste the money. Some of them do seriously impact fish. And it is easy enough to use substrate tabs and/or liquid fertilizer. Most of the plant substrates really do not have much in the way of nutrients anyway. I had Flourite for two years until I dumped it, and the plants grew no better than they do in inert sand.

 

[gcparks2000]

I tried to find this tank online but got conflicting info, so could you post the dimensions (length and width especially). And what fish were you intending, by which I mean general species. Active fish or some loricariids might need more water flow than quieter fish and plants prefer, so this involves the filter.

I'll move on to the substrate question. Plants will grow in basically any substrate, provided the grains are not too large (pea gravel is as large as you want, and this might hamper some plants). So the real question is, what do the fish need? If you intend substrate fish like cories, loaches, etc, you need sand. If on the other hand you want a Central American stream tank a gravel will be authentic, though sand is still an option. Sand does provide a good plant anchor, and all fish will be safe. Aquarium river sand is the best for cories and loaches, or you can use play sand (I have this in my tanks). Avoid all industrial sands if you intend substrate fish.

Plant-specific substrates generally waste the money. Some of them do seriously impact fish. And it is easy enough to use substrate tabs and/or liquid fertilizer. Most of the plant substrates really do not have much in the way of nutrients anyway. I had Flourite for two years until I dumped it, and the plants grew no better than they do in inert sand.

I have a couple of pictus catfish and 4 angels at the moment so guessing I should stick with sand. Is it better to just have a decent light?

 

[gcparks2000]

Also length is 116cm and wide is 38cm

 

[Byron]

Light is important when it comes to plants (and to fish but for a different reason). Intensity and spectrum are involved. The intensity needs to be sufficient for the plant species, and the spectrum needs to be high in red, blue and green. The easiest way to deal with spectrum is to have light with a Kelvin rating in the range 5000K to 7000K. "Daylight" around 6500K is ideal.

To the filter...pictus have a need for some water current, but angelfish definitely do not. Pictus occur in the Amazon River basin (Brazil, Peru) and Rio Orinoco basin (Columbia, Venezuela), and are found in shallow flowing waters (rivers and streams) with a substrate of sand or mud. Peaceful but it is predatory and as it matures it will eat small fish. Should be kept in a small group of at least 5; single fish may pine away. Tankmates should not include sedate fish like angels, discus, gourami and even cichlids as these will be pestered by the nocturnal habits of this catfish, nor nippy fish like barbs. Medium-sized characins, larger rasbora, rainbowfish are suitable.

 

[gcparks2000]

Light is important when it comes to plants (and to fish but for a different reason). Intensity and spectrum are involved. The intensity needs to be sufficient for the plant species, and the spectrum needs to be high in red, blue and green. The easiest way to deal with spectrum is to have light with a Kelvin rating in the range 5000K to 7000K. "Daylight" around 6500K is ideal.

To the filter...pictus have a need for some water current, but angelfish definitely do not. Pictus occur in the Amazon River basin (Brazil, Peru) and Rio Orinoco basin (Columbia, Venezuela), and are found in shallow flowing waters (rivers and streams) with a substrate of sand or mud. Peaceful but it is predatory and as it matures it will eat small fish. Should be kept in a small group of at least 5; single fish may pine away. Tankmates should not include sedate fish like angels, discus, gourami and even cichlids as these will be pestered by the nocturnal habits of this catfish, nor nippy fish like barbs. Medium-sized characins, larger rasbora, rainbowfish are suitable.

Unfortunately had to change the tank I was getting so gone for the ea freshwater 900 so going to rehome the pictus catfish