Planted Fry/quarantine Tank?

[slakey]

Today I was thinking about setting up a smaller fry/quarantine tank.

So far I've looked at these tanks:

Arcadia Arc Tank 35L: http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/arcadi...rium-3066-p.asp

If not that tank then something that'll fit on my bedside table which is 16inches long by 16.5inches wide, not bothered about height aslong as it isn't stupidly small or stupidly tall.

The only other I have found is a Clearseal 16x8x8: http/www.onlineaquariumstore.com/acatalo...ank_Single.html

I don't want anything childish, as I am 18 lol.

Anyway onto the plant part. For this to be possible what would be needed?

What sort of lights depending on the tank. *Arcadia come with a Arc Pod light, will that be good enough for plants?*

What size C02 system?

What size filter? *I want it to be spotless so something over what it should normally have would be good*

Instead of having gravel or sand, I would like to have a sheet of planting, not entirely sur what would be a good plant for this, something easy as I'm not greatly experienced with plants. It's hard to explain, I want something that looks like lawn... lol

http/img72.imageshack.us/img72/1739/img0...pnesscleqn6.jpg

Like that, but downside for the tank I'll buy. Maybe with some sort of small branch?

Should I use the plant substrate stuff? Or is there otherways?

If it isn't used as a quarantine/fry tank, I'll probably have a Dwarf Pufferfish in there.

Not sure what else to ask so I'll leave it there.

 

[aaronnorth]

go with the arcadia and stick with the 11w light.
You dont have to inject CO2 with a kit, but if you want to help the plants then use seachem excel or easylife easy carbo as an alternative and dose daily.
For a filter there is the Eden 501 or use a HOB Azoo Mignon Range
You could do a Moss Carpet or use Eleocharis Parvula (this can be trimmed very low so it creates a lawn effect)
For the substrate you could use a nutrient rich substrate so you will hardly need to dose anything to the water column, a weekly fert will probably suffice. Would you be wanting a 'stand alone' substrate or something that needs capping with gravel or sand?

The other option is to just use gravel or sand on its own and then dose a bit more heavily into the water column.

A good fert is Seachem Flourish or Tropica Plant Nutrition+ (TPN+)

 

[slakey]

Well eventually I'd like to have the substrate completely covered with the carpet... So I was thinking about the special plant substrate, but unsure how much and what one I'd need.
I've been told on another forum that I should get a Eheim 2213...

I don't want something huge and loud as this will be on my bedside table, so a really small external if possible, it'll go on the floor, as the table has 3 draws full of stuff.

 

[aaronnorth]

you want about 10x turnover, the eden will give you 8.5x and the eheim will give you 11x
I only reccomended the eden because i thought you didnt have much space and it is quite a compact filter, any will do though in terms of turnover, but obviously the eheim has better build quality.

for the substrate i would use either a 3l bag of ADA aquasoil (from the green machine) or get something like tropica substrate from aqua essentials and cap it with sand or gravel.

 

[slakey]

Yeah I need the smallest external filter possible really.

Second thoughts, I have a old 2ft x 1ft x 1ft tank sitting in my shed. Should I make use of that instead of buying the Arcadia Arc?

 

[aaronnorth]

do whatever you want, but go with the eheim, or install an additional powerhead to help with circulation.

 

[slakey]

Hmm I'll have to have a think. which ever tank I go for, should it be a open tank or not?
Only concern I would have is dust, and possibly anything falling in, like my sisters cat for instance.

 

[Mikaila31]

I would not do open top. I've tried it before on planted tanks and I got a icky surface scum. Also you have to replace all the water that evaporates. I also got some pretty heavy moisture build up on the windows during winter, in the room w/ the open top tank.

I've got a tank really similar to what you are doing. 2x1x1 foot tank, low tech planted that I use as a fry/ quarantine tank. I use it as a plant grow out tank for plants I sell, so it isn't really a show tank. It runs in my closet . I have had good luck w/ 2wpg on this tank, no co2, and no ferts.

 

[slakey]

okay thanks for the thoughts =]

 

[MHunt]

To be honest, when looking after fry or sick fish (potentially if you are quarantining new fish), you want as little in the tank as possible. Personally a clean tank with no substrate and a simple air powered filter is more than sufficient imo. You need to be able to keep the tank clean and make it easy to maintain for using meds and catching the fish etc. Yes a couple of hardy plants are a good thing to help keep the water fresh and provide cover for your fish, but I wouldn't go overboard.