Planted Aquarium

Floyds mum · Sep 28, 2009

Just set new tank up (no fish due to fishless cycle) so its abit cloudy, im going to add more live plants (and of course fish when cycle finished) but is it looking ok? (im trying for a natural planted aquarium)

If anyone has any pics of theirs (large or small) that might help people please post :shout:

OneOnion · Sep 28, 2009

Nice job, but I don't really like the rock in the middle, maybe you could move it back a bit and a little to the left. Other than that, :good:

Jallen · Sep 28, 2009

Neon blue gravel and 'natural' don't really go together :lol:

Also your tank is dangerously not-level and is underfilled...

Floyds mum · Sep 28, 2009

What do you mean by dangerously un level?
Ive tried to level it, it seemed level before i filled it

As for the piece of slate, would a flatter piece work? ive put it in to encourage algae growth so i can watch algae eaters while they "work" lol

timmystood · Sep 28, 2009

If you look at the left of the tank the water is much nearer the lid than on the right hand-side.

It's looking good. However, if I were you, I would change to a different filter. Those Stingray's are both unrealiable and dangerous.

aly_starh · Sep 28, 2009

I agree with leveling the tank.

Nice tank so far, get some tall live plants as well as others.

Floyds mum · Sep 28, 2009

I have every intention of getting tall plants

And ive already decided to leave singray filter in as my sister has the same tank and she hasn't had any problems, what do you mean by dangerous tho?

aly_starh · Sep 28, 2009

The water is going to weigh more on the right. If there is too much tension in the glass as its not level, it will twist and then crack. Meaning there will be quite abit of water on your carpet

Truck · Sep 28, 2009

the tank is level! its just the angle of the photo

and the hood may have not been fitted properly at the factory (just like my rio!)

the plants will be algae covered (especially the anubias) due to the ammonia.

if i were you i would cram it with plants, top it off with more water, dose full ferts and easy carbo and do a silent cycle.

gregswimm · Sep 28, 2009

truckasauras123 said:
the tank is level! its just the angle of the photo and the hood may have not been fitted properly at the factory (just like my rio!)

the plants will be algae covered (especially the anubias) due to the ammonia.

if i were you i would cram it with plants, top it off with more water, dose full ferts and easy carbo and do a silent cycle.

no, the tank needs to be leveld. You can see this by comparing the water level on both sides of the tank. Get some paper and stick it under the right side to bring it up.
I like the setup :good:

, although; may i suggest adding a bit more light (unless its just the photo). Your tank is taller then average and will need the extra light to reach the bottom.
What fish are you planning on putting in there?

Truck · Sep 28, 2009

gregswimm said:
truckasauras123 said:

the tank is level! its just the angle of the photo and the hood may have not been fitted properly at the factory (just like my rio!)

the plants will be algae covered (especially the anubias) due to the ammonia.

if i were you i would cram it with plants, top it off with more water, dose full ferts and easy carbo and do a silent cycle.

Click to expand...

no, the tank needs to be leveld. You can see this by comparing the water level on both sides of the tank. Get some paper and stick it under the right side to bring it up.
I like the setup , although; may i suggest adding a bit more light (unless its just the photo). Your tank is taller then average and will need the extra light to reach the bottom.
What fish are you planning on putting in there?

i know a tank should be level, im not the op by the way.
no more light will be needed for low light plants.
manufacturers can glue the lids on off centre sometimes, my rio and my tetra tank were like this! i checked the stand and theyre both level.

@ floydsmum: i would put a spirit level on the band around the bottom. and check if its level, if it is you have nothing to worry about!

also adding paper under a floating base tank is a bad idea! it will crack it

JoolsA2 · Sep 28, 2009

is that tank an elite style 35L?

Floyds mum · Sep 28, 2009

JoolsA2 said:
is that tank an elite style 35L?

Yes it is

Our floors are really uneven all over the house :blink:

but ill try to level it.
Ive put a thin pad of paper under the left side and it looks alot more even, thinking about it i should have bought a table like the one i have for my other tank lol its alot better made (solid wood) oh well i shall save up lol

JustKia · Sep 28, 2009

Yep, it's an elite style 35 - I had one too until it cracked (human error - don't ask :blush:

but it didn't include any fish, don't worry).
It's not deeper than average.
I do think the tank isn't level, probably not as off-level as it looks in the pic, but definitely not straight, judging by the water from base to water level. The lids on the Elite Style 35's don't fit well at all.
I too am wanting to know why the Stingray is "dangerous"? Other than it's got a pretty fierce output and there is a space behind that teeny teeny fish (in my case tiny snails) could potentially get themselves stuck in...

It's not a scape to my personal taste, but I think it's a good start. As you get more accustomed to what is available and waht you want you will no doubt start moving things and changing them about.
My first change was to get rid of the gravel and use sand instead :good:

Floyds mum said:
Our floors are really uneven all over the house but ill try to level it

Don't put anything under the tank to level it - rather put something under the base of the stand. That way you won't put stress on the tank itself. Although I would suggest if possible emptying the tank at least some before trying to level it.

Floyds mum · Sep 28, 2009

JustKia said:
Yep, it's an elite style 35 - I had one too until it cracked (human error - don't ask but it didn't include any fish, don't worry).
It's not deeper than average.
I do think the tank isn't level, probably not as off-level as it looks in the pic, but definitely not straight, judging by the water from base to water level. The lids on the Elite Style 35's don't fit well at all.
I too am wanting to know why the Stingray is "dangerous"? Other than it's got a pretty fierce output and there is a space behind that teeny teeny fish (in my case tiny snails) could potentially get themselves stuck in...

It's not a scape to my personal taste, but I think it's a good start. As you get more accustomed to what is available and waht you want you will no doubt start moving things and changing them about.
My first change was to get rid of the gravel and use sand instead

Floyds mum said:

Our floors are really uneven all over the house but ill try to level it

Click to expand...

Don't put anything under the tank to level it - rather put something under the base of the stand. That way you won't put stress on the tank itself. Although I would suggest if possible emptying the tank at least some before trying to level it.