Newbie!

[Craig89]

Hi all im craig and ive had my tank now for around a year its a juwel rekord 96. Few problems really my plants keep dying and over recent weeks there seems to have been a large build up of algae on the glass. Any tips on keeping the tank clean and keeping the plants alive?. At the moment i have 15 fish in 2xdiscuss 1xangle fish 1xsilver shark 10xneon tetra and 1xalgae eater. The tank is 3ft x 1ft how many more fish could i have with out the tank being over crowded. Thanksfor the help.

 

[JenCliBee]

Hi & Welcome to TFF

I'll let others give you grief about your stocking pmsl

jen

 

[Craig89]

oh no lol why have i made a mistake lol

 

[JenCliBee]

oh no lol why have i made a mistake lol

LOL, just a couple things and then the rest will give you full explantion lol, discus should be kept in much bigger tank and larger groups to even out aggression and keep then more secure (less spooked) and need very good water conditions and higher temps.... angels need at least 17inch deep tank.... you may find the neons will be a snack for the angels when they get larger ... think thats it for my quick explanation lol

 

[Craig89]

see they dont tell you that when your at the shop lol good job i signed up then. Hopefully will get the advice i need to achevie a really good setup.

 

[waterdrop]

Yup, you've got all the problems Jen touched on...

What are your maintenance habits? Do you gravel clean each week and if so what percentage of the water gets changed out when you do that?

What type of light at what total wattage? Any sun? How many hours and when are the lights on?

What type of water testing kit do you have?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Craig89]

yes i gravel clean at the end of each week and ide say about 50% of the water is removed the light is on for around 9 hours a day and the tank isnt in direct sun light there is a window in the room but at the other side. can you advise me on what fish i should be keeping and if an under gravel filter would be a good investment. Thanks

 

[oswoldy]

Dont forget pics.

Mike

 

[drobbyb]

yes i gravel clean at the end of each week and ide say about 50% of the water is removed the light is on for around 9 hours a day and the tank isnt in direct sun light there is a window in the room but at the other side. can you advise me on what fish i should be keeping and if an under gravel filter would be a good investment. Thanks

I would steer clear of the under gravel filter. Back several years ago they were great, but technology had rendered them all but obsolete. New filters have higher flow rates than under gravel filters, and if you pick a good power filter you get media options.

 

[rabbut]

oh no lol why have i made a mistake lol

LOL, just a couple things and then the rest will give you full explantion lol, discus should be kept in much bigger tank and larger groups to even out aggression and keep then more secure (less spooked) and need very good water conditions and higher temps.... angels need at least 17inch deep tank.... you may find the neons will be a snack for the angels when they get larger ... think thats it for my quick explanation lol

Not to mention that Silver Shark require a group also, and get as long as the tank they are in now

A lot of the fish you have aren't good stoking wise, and most will likely need re-homing I'm afraid IMO, Angels are just about OK in a record 98 if you don't have too much decor, but you need laid back angels for no decor to work... the Silver shark are too big and have to go unfortunately. Discus likewise, too big for a 98l in the minimum group, though a proven par will be fine in a 98 record. they'd be the only fish in there though, they'd literally kill everything else when spawning...

Neons are a good choice, and can would long-term with angels IME. Just don't add to the group once settled. the angels grow up with the Neons and don't regard them as food. they get used to you opening the flap and adding dinner. When you open the flap and add a bag of new Neons, they think "great, live food!" and suddenly regard both the new and existing Neon stock as lunch and thing start to go down-hill rather fast from there for the Neons...

What "Algae Eater" do you have? there are many fish under this name. Some are OK, many are not

I'd let the UGF (Under Gravel Filters) alone. They are the best filters for Mechanical and Biological filtration, but very high-maintenance and best suited to more experienced aquarists whom know all the ins and outs of this "old school" technology. Many have issues maintaining them If you want better filters, take a look a Externals, but when it comes to internal filters, the Juwel internals are good. I've taken the Record 98's internal through hell kicking and screaming backwards, before dragging it back again and I've never had an issue with it

I don't suppose you can post some water test results (numerical preferably) can you, along with the make and type of test kit you have?

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Craig89]

i dont have a test kit im afraid i take it to my local shop and they test it for me but i shall invest in one i did have a pair of silver sharks but one did die ive had this one now for nearly a year and it dosnt seem to have grown. So the angel and discus need to go then as well as the shark what kind of fish should i be looking at stocking then as ive basically had no mentoring on keeping tropics and the blokes at the shop are not the best when asking advice and all seem to have different answers to the same question. Also if i do have to get rid of those fish how do i go about this?

 

[peglegg]

i dont know heaps about fish keeping, but algae eating shrimp have always done wonders for my tanks

 

[Craig89]

ok guys cheers i have been looking at getting a new tank something round about the 200 litre mark, anymore help you guys can give is much appreciated.

 

[rabbut]

I think really, you ought to get a few fish bags from the store, round up the fish and return them for store credit While there, walk around and take a look at which fish you like. Write a list. Once you have your list, post it here and we'll be able to say what will and won't work for you It is very hard to make stocking recommendations when we don't know you or what fish you like, so you posting a list of ones you do like helps both of us in making recommendations and ensuring the fish are being correctly cared for

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Craig89]

ok that sounds like a good idea i dont think the store will take them back tho ide like to keep the neons and discus if that is possible and ide have to find out what the algae eater is i have as that is getting rather large now.