New Big Set Up

[gforce17]

I've just purchased a 4ft 230l tank. Never had one as big before. The cycling process will take a while so I've got plenty of time to think about how to stock it. Has anyone out there got advice for a range of fish that will look good, get on well and survive? Thanks.

 

[Aqua Tom]

I've just purchased a 4ft 230l tank. Never had one as big before. The cycling process will take a while so I've got plenty of time to think about how to stock it. Has anyone out there got advice for a range of fish that will look good, get on well and survive? Thanks.

The cycling prcess should be no longer or shorter than a small tank.


Tom

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

I'd probably pop some nice angels in there, and go with a planted tank! You could do a hardscape if you don't have time.

 

[gforce17]

I'd love some angels! Excuse ignorance - hardscape?

 

[onidrase]

Don't rule out getting a large community set up going in there, large schools of smaller fish look amazing- just cause you have a big tank doesn't mean it needs to have big fish

If you get a group of angels, I'd also recommend some dwarf cichlids, bolivian rams, apistogrammas, that sort.

I'd also like to throw in the idea of festivums or keyholes, maybe firemouths, (not all together) though the temperament of a firemouth is highly unpredictable.

 

[ZoddyZod]

hardscape = the position of rocks, wood, substrate etc.

 

[gforce17]

Thanks everyone!

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Hardscape is a way of aquascaping, without plants. It mostly uses gravel or white sand as substrate, some large pieces of wood aligned finely, larger rocks with a lot of smaller ones places around them. A hardscape is often used when the owner of the tank doesn't have much time with the tank, and wants it low maintenance.

If you don't have much time and energy to spend with plants, you could get some plastic ones

Here you can see an example of hardscaping with sand.

 

[gforce17]

Here's a question. How do you out there with big tanks do your water changes. I use a small pond pump with my 64l tank from a bucket and whilst I expect to do the same it will take a long time. Has anyone got a special way that makes it easier?

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Well we just syphone While you are syphoning out the dirt from your substrate, the water comes out too. And if you want to change more water, you just leave the syphon in there a bit more.

 

[gforce17]

It wasn't so much the emptying bit that I was asking about - more the filling up??

 

[The Taffy Apple]

It wasn't so much the emptying bit that I was asking about - more the filling up??

Alot of enthusiasts with the larger tanks use a hose pipe..eith connected to a 'mixer tap' or by using the pipe and a source of warm, de-chlorinated water.

Terry.

 

[Aqua Tom]

It wasn't so much the emptying bit that I was asking about - more the filling up??

Alot of enthusiasts with the larger tanks use a hose pipe..eith connected to a 'mixer tap' or by using the pipe and a source of warm, de-chlorinated water.

Terry.

I run a length of polyhose from my upstairs shower to my tank (which is downstairs). I know what setting to put the electric shower on to match the temp of the tank. Then I just dose with Prime as it is filling.


Tom

 

[gforce17]

How do they get dechlorinated water from a household tap?

Oh right. So it's ok to add the chlorinated water and add the dechlorinator as it goes in. I din't realise that this would be ok since I thought the water would harm the fish before it became effectively dechlorinated.

 

[Aqua Tom]

How do they get dechlorinated water from a household tap?

Oh right. So it's ok to add the chlorinated water and add the dechlorinator as it goes in. I din't realise that this would be ok since I thought the water would harm the fish before it became effectively dechlorinated.

Its fine as long as the filter is turned off. Chlorinated water kills our benificial bacteria which is the main reason we use a dechlorinator.

Turn filter off - water change while adding a dechlorinator - turn filter back on.

Tom