New Tank

[Boxa]

Just got a new tank, well just ordered it anyway, much bigger tank

My main question is about substrate and general decor for the floor.

Been looking at either using Sand or fake plastic grass, what are the general opinions of them and is fake plastic grass safe enough?




Thanks

 

[VidVid]

If you mean covering the whole base of your aquarium with fake plastic grass, i wouldnt think your bottom dwellers would like it....Some plastic plants are sharp and hard on edges and can have the potential to hurt fish especially bottom dwellers such as corydoras which have the tendency to loose their barbels from scavenging aroung hard, reasonably sharp edges of things....I would personally pefer a sand subtrate (either fine sand or small smooth-round gravel)....If your going to decide on a planted tank, its better to put some nutrient rich subtrate such as laterite under your chosen sand....Hope all goes well.....
P.S. a nice piece of driftwood with an attached java fern, anubias etc would be a perfect centerpiece if you want to keep your tank simple....
Note: Plants such as anubias and javamoss dont need a plant subtrate when attached to something like driftwood or rock....

 

[cane76]

what fish ae you gonna keep?

 

[voo]

I've heard of people having algae problems when growing real grass plants in their tanks, so i dont know if you might get the same problem with fake grass.

 

[Boxa]

Decided against the grass now anyway as I thought it might look a little silly on a big scale, might still try it on a smaller scale with one of my smaller tanks though.

Will go with Sand I think, that way I can add some bits of Coral and other rock-work, not sure on what fish to get for the new tank just yet but probably wont go with anything of a species kind because they just seem to be overpriced nowadays and just want to kill each other.

Its a 6ft tank, 2ft tall, any ideas of what fish might be best? Like I say though don't want anything too species/aggressive as I want to have Corydoras in it because they have to be one of the best catfish about.

 

[voo]

Coral can alter the pH of the tank i think

 

[Boxa]

Well a friend has a beer bottle in his "Empty" he said he was trying to create a scene from the Thames, the fish seem to like it though its a big beer bottle and some of the smaller ones swim in it and hide in there.

 

[BluMermaid]

Why dont you just use gravel rocks?

Seems to work best. B)

 

[Boxa]

Do you mean just normal gravel or sand looking gravel?

The only problem I can see with sand is would it not be a pain to keep clean and might it clog up the undergravel filter and fluval?

I found MUD for tropical tanks on this website:

http/www.seapets.co.uk/product-details/s...tegory/941.html

 

[voo]

I dunno if that's for tropical tanks or marine.

If you're setting up a new tank i wouldnt use an undergravel filter either. It's even harder to clean than sand is

 

[Boxa]

Well Didn't want to use a undergravel filter as I hate them things, you always have to make sure you have enough gravel to cover it which can sometimes mean extra bags and I didn't like the idea of the waste and crap being stored at the bottom of the tank. The tank is coming with one though and seems a bit of a waste not to use it, its also coming with a fluval 4.

As for the MUD though I think i will be staying away from things like that, just they claim to speed up the tank cycle.

 

[BigC]

Hi,
Using sand can be a right pain in the butt, especially when it gets dirty and can also clogg filters.
Best to use a smaller sized gravel especially if you are considering growing aquarium plants at a later stage. With substrate additives.
As for a carpeted look, If you cover some rocks with Riccia (essentially a floating plant) and cover this with a ladys hairnet (fine mesh) then you will, in time aquire the look you so desire.
Regards
BigC

 

[Boxa]

Yeah was thinking about the Sane earlier, it seems to be a pain to get hold of round here and when I do find it they seem to be charging silly amounts, looked at a "Pea Sand" like a fine gravel, doesn't clog the filter and is much cheaper than Sand.

Thanks for the help and advice people..