Setting Up A New Fish Tank

[foley69]

as a centerpiece why not look into a small PEACFUL cichlid like apisto's or a keyhole would be good for a centre piece

 

[Gnad]

alright so i got my ammonia and all the fun gismos to set up the cycling but now i have some questions on sand.

what sand would you recommend?
is "living sand" worth it or just a gimmick?
where can i find the sand?
once i get it should i rinse/clean the sand?
how much sand do i need?
should i put something underneath my sand?
and how many inches of sand should i use?

also what live plants would you recommend that are easy to maintain and easy to find.?

oh and lastly i am using a tetra 20i filter

thanks a lot for puting up with and answering my inexpirienced questions.

 

[Gnad]

Uh oh i just read through the comments and saw someone say not to buy i whisper filter (must have missed that comment) however they then said that tetras were good? i bought a tetra 20 i filter. yay or nay? shall i return it?

 

[Gnad]

please help.....i really want to start the cycle tomorow

 

[Ally555]

I don't know much about sand because I use gravel but I do know that you need to clean or wash the sand. Put it in a bucket bit by bit and wash it until the water that comes out is clear. It can take a while but it's something that needs to be done. Other members of the forum will tell you more but I thought I'd just tell you that.

Oh and

 

[onebto]

Welcome to TFF Gnad

Ally555 was correct about sand you have to give it a good clean as mentioned I got my sand from Argos (if your in the UK ?) it was kids play pit sand apparently you can get a similar type at toys r us I do recall from another post

 

[waterdrop]

Uh oh i just read through the comments and saw someone say not to buy i whisper filter (must have missed that comment) however they then said that tetras were good? i bought a tetra 20 i filter. yay or nay? shall i return it?

Hi Gnad,

I find it a bit hard to comment on the smaller, more proprietary filters like the Tetra 20i model you are asking about. The problem for me is that there seem to be several downsides (which I'll try to mention) but then there also may be members who have overcome these problems or who don't find them to be a problem and the issue of expense always comes in, so the inexpensiveness of this filter may be an important factor.

I don't have hands-on experience with this filter but from pictures it appears to be an internal that adjusts up and down the inside aquarium wall on its suction cups (which is good.) Its got a flow rate of 125g per hour, which puts it a bit over 5x turnover for your 20g, which is appropriate range that we usually recommend, so its got the basics right. The negative thing is that it appears to be one of the more "proprietary" designs. The designers appear to have worked hard on the problem of how to get the consumer back into the store buying replacement cartridges on a regular basis, this often being what the companies spend their design time on. The selling point is "easy snap-in maintenance." The problem is that "replacement" maintenance is not at all what modern "biofilters" are all about. Biofilters are all about growing the correct two species of bacteria and them attempting to keep them alive and healthy for life, *not* throwing them out!

This Tetra model appears to want you to buy "bio-bags" to periodically snap in. I searched and the bio-bags appear to be perhaps padded mesh bags (which means they will form part of the biofilter which one does not want to throw out) that hold carbon (aka activated charcoal.) Carbon is actually used by hobbyists as an optional -chemical- filtration media and is only effective for about 3 days, after which it is ready to be thrown out. It is only usually needed for removal of meds, tannins or unusual organic smells, which should be only unusual rare occurances during the years you practice the hobby. In other words, carbon is meant to sit on the shelf, not in the filter on a regualr basis.

As a result, out on the web you find owners attempting to modify their Tetra 20i filters to hold more of the regular biomedia that is needed in large amounts. I found a picture of a person trying to stretch pantyhose over the Tetra media frame to create a custom "biobag" to hold what looks like ceramic pebbles (stuff that looks like aquarium gravel but actually has much better gripping surface for the beneficial bacteria.)

At the 20G sized aquarium you should be fine with an internal filter, but its good to be aware that in general HOB (hang on back) filter have somewhat larger media volume than internals and then external cannisters have considerably larger media volume than either of those, and more flexibility in holding custom media chosen by the owner rather than the manufacturer.

Again, I hope one or more members will come along (maybe already have while I write!) who can relate their experience wtih these, perhaps reassuring you that they are fine!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Miss Wiggle]

it should be noted that once the chemical filtration has gone past it's chemical use and become inert it will become biological filtration. it may not be quite as good at the job as a specially designed bio filter media but bacteria will still grow there so you can use it 'as is' but don't change the cartridges and just remember thast your biological load capacity may be slightly less than a 'standard' filter of the same specification would provide.

 

[Gnad]

can anyone recommend me a good filter. (please reply quickly because i am gonna go get the sand today and would like to return old and buy new fitler.

thanks alot for all the replies so far(exspecialy water drop seems like you took a lot of time out.)

 

[Truck]

external or internal?

 

[Gnad]

external or internal?

whatever you recommend

 

[waterdrop]

You could take a look at the larger Aquaclear hang-on-back (aka "power filters" in USA) as they have pretty flexible spaces for media. Or one of the smaller external cannisters from Tetratec, the EX600 or EX700 perhaps. There are also probably some very good internals that hopefully the members will recommend you look at.

~~waterdrop~~