Hi guys and girls, I have a question that I'm sure has been asked numerous times before, but I'm too lazy to look for it and people probably aren't responding anymore anyway. So here goes. I am setting up a planted grow out tank (75) and am looking for something impressive to put in there. It has 100# of play sand, didn't rinse first because it was supposed to be washed (not my fault) and a very large piece of wood that is currently floating in the murk. I do have a lot of frogbit, an Amazon sword and about 10 jungle Val's. I would prefer cichlids but am open to others, also I do have larger tanks that I will be setting up in the future, so don't hold back. Thanks.
large cichlid in planted tank
- Thread starter Brazzen1
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- large cichlid. plant
Tear the tank down and rinse the sand. It will save you trouble in the long run, I made the same mistake, and eventually gave in and tore the tank down to clean the sand. Also if you have sandblasting or pool filter sand available, switch it with the playsand. It is that much better.
As for plant safe fish, here is a recent thread.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/plant-safe-fish.702964/#post-7924916
You have rather tough plants, just about anything barely 'plant safe' will work. I would also try flowerpots with soil and sand caps, or root tabs, or some kind of ferts, because, at the very least, the sword is unlikely to be happy with just fish poop and sand. The frogbit probably doesn't care, and I have no positive experience with vals, I bought some once but they just melted and died, so I don't know.
As for plant safe fish, here is a recent thread.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/plant-safe-fish.702964/#post-7924916
You have rather tough plants, just about anything barely 'plant safe' will work. I would also try flowerpots with soil and sand caps, or root tabs, or some kind of ferts, because, at the very least, the sword is unlikely to be happy with just fish poop and sand. The frogbit probably doesn't care, and I have no positive experience with vals, I bought some once but they just melted and died, so I don't know.
Thanks J, its clearing up now that I have an old power filter running. I did put some osmocote under the sand, had a jungle last time I do that with the play sand. Thus is my first time trying jungle Val's, got them real cheap on cl and the frogbit came with them. The as word was pretty much free since I had a coopen from Petco.
No more truth has even been spokenYeech. I hope you have a prefilter. Sand can eat an impeller quite quickly
My Oscar Toni kicked up so much sand I had to change out the impeller shafts twice in six months.
To fix the issue I went to gravel and a huge plant she can't mess with too much.
Off topic, I know, but you keep fish with just plants and lights? I have six tanks between .05 and 10 gallons that have no lights, heater or filter, just sunlight and ambient light in the room, and I have no problem keeping plants and snails in them. Never occurred to me to do fish. Maybe I'll get some wcmm or set up a 55g for fancy goldfish... any tips?
(the goal is 0 watts)
You'll love the sword they're beautiful and grow big and fast.
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Well, the last time that I did it I had a gold saum, marble goby, redtail shark and a couple of peacocks. I may have had a few others but can't remember them all off hand, it was so crouded with plants. The only thing tat I had running was 4 t5's. Plant wise, hygro, anacharis, and a sword that just kept reproducing. Substrate was play sand and MTS. Everyone always got a kick when they could spot a fish swimming around. I was aquatic specialist at Petco so I could order almost anything I wanted and had people bringing in fish, I Eben fgot a 9" clown loach once.
