Need Some Quick Advice (Channa Bleheri)

[ChrisNai]

Hi all,

i would like some quick advice. I'm currently keeping 4 Channa Bleheri in a 3 x 1.5 x 1.5 Feet Aquarium, which comes around to about 150 Litres or approx 50 gallons.

It is currently bare bottom with several driftwood on plants.

I saw some setups pictures on here, with sand, lots and lots of driftwood and plants. I would like to know how do you guys keep it clean especially with sand? Do you guys Gravel vac and rearrange the decorations every time? Please advise.

 

[ChrisNai]

Plants on Driftwood*

 

[Madou]

It's usually heavilly planted, and plants eat most of the waste because of how much of it there is. Since they don't require many water changes a year, you can just vacuum them whenever you change water (which for aurantis is twice a year, and I would say 4-5 times tops for bleheris).

Not only are channas tolerant of "bad" water, they also hate water changes.

 

[ChrisNai]

I prefer not to go planted as its more complicated. I only planning for Java Fern on Driftwood and Anubias. Would those be enough to eat the wastes?

 

[Gaz_ham]

I don't heavily plant my tanks, I always struggle to keep plants alive in sub tropical tanks, just put in as many plants as you can. I have double the needed filtration in my tank and do a few smaller water changes, instead of larger ones. As long as they are happy, That's the main thing

 

[Timmy]

I used gravel and heavily planted.....

 

[bathawk]

I have some amazon swords in my channa tanks they grow and spread out quite wide you get that heavly planted look I also have some java fern and several cyrpts they seem to be doing ok in the cooler water at the moment the words grow extremely quick and will feed off the waste

 

[Madou]

I prefer not to go planted as its more complicated. I only planning for Java Fern on Driftwood and Anubias. Would those be enough to eat the wastes?

I understand that you would rather not do planted, but if you want to keep channa, you may have to. If not heavilly, at least plant it enough so they can hide whenever they feel the need to. Bare bottoms and regular tropical aquariums don't work with channas.