Starting Again

[mattybee]

Hi Everyone

Little bit of a back ground - brought a tank 5 years ago - listened to my friend who told me what to do with the tank (advice was against what has been written on here) and everything went pete tong... sold the tank and regretted it ever since .

Now some years on, a bit more mature and ready to go again - I am collecting a tank I brought off eBay, tommorow, additional items such as filters, heaters and lighting will be purchased as and when I can get them (family have some old ehiem external filters, so may give them a go). I am going to do this properly this time, take my time and not rush into things and do a proper fishless cycle once I have all the required bits and bobs.

I am going to go with live plants as these look nicer and will be nicer for the fish, however I have some questions I am hoping can be answered:

1) The water testing kit is this ok - http/www.petsathome.com/shop/new-aquarium-start-up-kit-by-interpet-83013 (nearest place to me i'm afriad)
2) I am going to be using sand as part substrate, what other substrates would be needed to ensure good growth for my plants (I will not be using c02)
3) Fish wise - I am looking to have a community tank, with tetra, guppies, and perhaps 1 or 2 other similar types - the dimenions of the tank are below - what is the maximum amount of fish recommeneded in that size tank without over crowding?

Tank Dimensions (according to the auction) - 2 ft 11", wide, 16" depth, 1 ft 10 " height


Thanks

 

[Peter C]

Iv got a similar sized tank to you pal

Iv got guppies

Neon tetras

Harlequins

And 2 bristle nose plecs

Mines a 90 litre tank and iv got about 22/24 small fish in it, might seem a lot but each fish is not much off an inch apart from the plecs that are 2-3 inches

 

[Judgejudy]

Youv got lots of choice fish wise like: platies, guppies, barbs, neon tetras ( or other tetras ) small rasboras, ottos ( and other sort of catfish ) small gouramis, molies ( all tipes ) endlers, swordtails, pencil fish, algae eaters, shrimp or snail, danios and minnows......

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Hi mattybee, this is a pretty exciting time!

To answer your questions:

1. I don't reccommend that test kit, I've had one like it and it was a pain in the backside lol, I reccomend this one: http/www.petsathome.com/shop/api-master-test-kit-25613
2. You don't need anything but sand as your substrate. There are some other substrates made especially for planted tanks but just starting out I would go with sand. They will grow just fine in sand - if you want to get more technical with your planting later on, changing substrate isn't a biggie
3. These fish you've chosen will live happily together. Regarding stocking it depends on what species you want to have in the tank. If you provide a list of the fish you want then someone can give you an idea of numbers of each. It also depends on what filter you have.

 

[Peter C]

Hi mattybee, this is a pretty exciting time!

To answer your questions:

1. I don't reccommend that test kit, I've had one like it and it was a pain in the backside lol, I reccomend this one: http/www.petsathome.com/shop/api-master-test-kit-25613
2. You don't need anything but sand as your substrate. There are some other substrates made especially for planted tanks but just starting out I would go with sand. They will grow just fine in sand - if you want to get more technical with your planting later on, changing substrate isn't a biggie
3. These fish you've chosen will live happily together. Regarding stocking it depends on what species you want to have in the tank. If you provide a list of the fish you want then someone can give you an idea of numbers of each. It also depends on what filter you have.

Can the filter dictate the amount of fish in a tank?

 

[mattybee]

Hi mattybee, this is a pretty exciting time!

To answer your questions:

1. I don't reccommend that test kit, I've had one like it and it was a pain in the backside lol, I reccomend this one: http/www.petsathome.com/shop/api-master-test-kit-25613
2. You don't need anything but sand as your substrate. There are some other substrates made especially for planted tanks but just starting out I would go with sand. They will grow just fine in sand - if you want to get more technical with your planting later on, changing substrate isn't a biggie
3. These fish you've chosen will live happily together. Regarding stocking it depends on what species you want to have in the tank. If you provide a list of the fish you want then someone can give you an idea of numbers of each. It also depends on what filter you have.

I nearly fell of my chair when I saw the price of the test kit - however it does pay to shop around - just seen it for £20 on amazon

Fish I would like:
1 male + 1 female guppy (possibly another female but purchased from different LFS)
1 Plec
6-8 Neon Tetras
6 Cherry Barbs
and maybe a bolivian ram if there is suffciant space

Thats hoping anyways - advise needed for compatability with the Rams

Thanks

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

lol yeah I just listed that one because I thought you were going into P@H yourself.

 

[mattybee]

lol yeah I just listed that one because I thought you were going into P@H yourself.

Well it is only 5 mins from me - but I am open to all suggestions if anyone knows any good deals on the interweb for tester kits - i just don't want to screw it up again

 

[Peter C]

Hi mattybee, this is a pretty exciting time!

To answer your questions:

1. I don't reccommend that test kit, I've had one like it and it was a pain in the backside lol, I reccomend this one: http/www.petsathome.com/shop/api-master-test-kit-25613
2. You don't need anything but sand as your substrate. There are some other substrates made especially for planted tanks but just starting out I would go with sand. They will grow just fine in sand - if you want to get more technical with your planting later on, changing substrate isn't a biggie
3. These fish you've chosen will live happily together. Regarding stocking it depends on what species you want to have in the tank. If you provide a list of the fish you want then someone can give you an idea of numbers of each. It also depends on what filter you have.

I nearly fell of my chair when I saw the price of the test kit - however it does pay to shop around - just seen it for £20 on amazon

Fish I would like:
1 male + 1 female guppy (possibly another female but purchased from different LFS)
1 Plec
6-8 Neon Tetras
6 Cherry Barbs
and maybe a bolivian ram if there is suffciant space

Thats hoping anyways - advise needed for compatability with the Rams

Thanks

I'd get 2 or 3 female guppies to 1 male as the males are like a dog with 3 dicks, the female WILL get pregnant, that's more certain than rain being wet. But if she's the only female the male will hound her and will stress the female out, maybe to death. 2 or 3 ladies reduces the attention

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I still reccomend API just not from P@H! What filter are you going to use in the tank?

 

[mattybee]

Hi mattybee, this is a pretty exciting time!

To answer your questions:

1. I don't reccommend that test kit, I've had one like it and it was a pain in the backside lol, I reccomend this one: http/www.petsathome.com/shop/api-master-test-kit-25613
2. You don't need anything but sand as your substrate. There are some other substrates made especially for planted tanks but just starting out I would go with sand. They will grow just fine in sand - if you want to get more technical with your planting later on, changing substrate isn't a biggie
3. These fish you've chosen will live happily together. Regarding stocking it depends on what species you want to have in the tank. If you provide a list of the fish you want then someone can give you an idea of numbers of each. It also depends on what filter you have.

I nearly fell of my chair when I saw the price of the test kit - however it does pay to shop around - just seen it for £20 on amazon

Fish I would like:
1 male + 1 female guppy (possibly another female but purchased from different LFS)
1 Plec
6-8 Neon Tetras
6 Cherry Barbs
and maybe a bolivian ram if there is suffciant space

Thats hoping anyways - advise needed for compatability with the Rams

Thanks

I'd get 2 or 3 female guppies to 1 male as the males are like a dog with 3 dicks, the female WILL get pregnant, that's more certain than rain being wet. But if she's the only female the male will hound her and will stress the female out, maybe to death. 2 or 3 ladies reduces the attention

Thanks for that..

I still reccomend API just not from P@H! What filter are you going to use in the tank?

Filter not 100% sure of specs till I get it from Uncle (its in his loft) All i know its and eheim external

 

[Jayladd]

They are on ebay for around £20 too including delivery

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Freshwater-Master-test-kit-/260669737422?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb12089ce

 

[mattybee]

They are on ebay for around £20 too including delivery

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Freshwater-Master-test-kit-/260669737422?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb12089ce

Yeah I have seen them, currently bidding on one for £6.00

As I want to make sure I do this correctly I am not going to rush things as all good things come to those who wait...

Is anyone familair with community tank fish that are a no no when using live plants?

thanks

 

[Peter C]

They are on ebay for around £20 too including delivery

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Freshwater-Master-test-kit-/260669737422?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb12089ce

Yeah I have seen them, currently bidding on one for £6.00

As I want to make sure I do this correctly I am not going to rush things as all good things come to those who wait...

Is anyone familair with community tank fish that are a no no when using live plants?

thanks

All my plants are live an they seem to be doing ok...so far!

 

[OldMan47]

Mattybee, it looks to me like you have a nice 45 gallon show tank. It will hold plenty of fish to have a nice community. I keep mine with an endler breeding colony, a nice betta to go with them and 4 bristlenose plecs as cleanup crew. My plants stay put because nobody in the tank tries to move them around. A tank that size can hold a large number of 1 to 2 inch fish like platies, swordtails, guppies, rasboras, rummy nose, and similar fish. It could even house a pair of angels but then you would need to be careful not to stock any truly small fish like neons. Angels are ambush hunters and in a planted tank there are plenty of vertical leaves they can imitate until a small fish swims by.

Stay away from most cichlids if you have plants. They always seem to be rearranging their decor, including plants, and it gets frustrating trying to plant them again every day. The cichlids have more time for the tank than you do. (Note: Angels are cichlids but they don't rearrange things like so many cichlids do.)