Newbie Into Freshwater

[Rillo Boy]

Hello all, I recently joined this forum as I set up a 500 ltr freshwater tank......need some advice about if I am heading in the right direction...

Equiptment so far is...tank as per pic...31" high x 48" wide x 20" deep
500 w Stainless Steel Heater
300 w Hydor inline heater
Both heaters attached to a STC 1000
TetraTec ex 1200
4 x 39w T5 tubes (2x blues 2x 10K whites ) with 4 x Blue moonlights
Tetra 100 air pump with two outlets...
Blue LED strip to come on before and after T5's

I intend to keep Guppies and Neon Tetras in this tank.......

 

[Aqua Tom]

Nice looking tank that you have there.

How are you planning on cycling it?

Tom


Edit. You heater should be at a 45 degree angle for best results.

 

[Rillo Boy]

Nice looking tank that you have there.

How are you planning on cycling it?

Tom

been up and running about a month before I put some guppies in....I used the nutrafin cycle on it, then gradually introduces some guppies and corys...

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Lovely looking tank
Looks bigger than 50L to me though, looks more like 90L, granted i may be looking at it in completely the wrong way mind...

Terry.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Its more like 500L based on to dimensions given.

 

[Rillo Boy]

Lovely looking tank
Looks bigger than 50L to me though, looks more like 90L, granted i may be looking at it in completely the wrong way mind...

Terry.

Argggghhhh...I meant 500 ltrs...will change it now...

 

[fluttermoth]

I don't think anyone here has any faith in Cycle...I'd recommend getting a bottle of ammonia and testing to check at the very least.

A couple of points;

your heater (I know you have another one, but anyway) should be as low down as you can get it, without it touching the substrate; if you forget to turn it off when you water change, it's not going to be pleasant; it can also lead to cold spots near the bottom of the tank when it's up high like that.

I don't like the look of your substrate for cories; they really ought to have sand to be able to express their natural behaviours

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Lovely looking tank
Looks bigger than 50L to me though, looks more like 90L, granted i may be looking at it in completely the wrong way mind...

Terry.

Argggghhhh...I meant 500 ltrs...will change it now...

Don't worry..i've just stated that it looks like 90L... EPIC FAIL Taffy Apple, should have gone to Specsavers

Terry.

 

[Rillo Boy]

I don't think anyone here has any faith in Cycle...I'd recommend getting a bottle of ammonia and testing to check at the very least.

A couple of points;

your heater (I know you have another one, but anyway) should be as low down as you can get it, without it touching the substrate; if you forget to turn it off when you water change, it's not going to be pleasant; it can also lead to cold spots near the bottom of the tank when it's up high like that.

I don't like the look of your substrate for cories; they really ought to have sand to be able to express their natural behaviours

ok.....but the heater is directly under the spray bar so the water is constantly moving over it.....the probe for the STC 1000 is down towards the bottom on the left hand side......as for the substrate, I thought it was better for coarse gravel...but if you think sand is better, I may have to change it........as for the water change, the STC 1000 plug and the external filter plug is on the same bar, so one cannot be removed without the other, the reason it was set up like that was for the inline heater never to run without water flowing thru it..

 

[minnnt]

If you intend to keep Corydoras then you will need sand as they sift through it to find any left over food etc. Something they won't be able to do with gravel. It can also damage their barbels.

And 500 litres for Guppies and Tetra's? Really?

 

[Rillo Boy]

If you intend to keep Corydoras then you will need sand as they sift through it to find any left over food etc. Something they won't be able to do with gravel. It can also damage their barbels.

And 500 litres for Guppies and Tetra's? Really?

yep...so I am now learning mate...so a trip to Shirleys is now in order.....I absolutely love Guppies and neons....every one thinks I am mad ! I also keep a 5 x 2 x 2 Marine tank....so that is more the showpiece

 

[minnnt]

Lol! So a shoal of 3 million Neons and enough Guppies to populate the North Sea yeah?

 

[Rillo Boy]

Lol! So a shoal of 3 million Neons and enough Guppies to populate the North Sea yeah?

lol...I am looking...but cant seem to find a supplier.....also looking for some java moss.......hint hint.....

 

[minnnt]

Got some Java Moss mate if you're interested?

 

[Rillo Boy]

Got some Java Moss mate if you're interested?

cool...give me a price, and can send money immediately...