Piranhas and plants? Substrates? New to this!

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RoyalPiranha

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 18, 2011
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USA
Hello, I'm new to planted tanks. I need plants that are hardy, and easy to maintain.

I have several lights for my 175 gallon bow front - since this was previously salt water, I have the T5s and metal halides. I do not want to use it so often, since it'll spike my eletrical bill again. So, regular flourescent lights I do have. My tank is 29" deep.

Anyways, I have piranhas, and I want to give it the amazonoian look.

I have seven caribes currently in the 90 gallon at 5-6", will be moving them over to the 175 gallon this week.

I have regular light tanish brown gravel that you see in stores. I want to get some flourite or maybe sand. I just want to hear your thoughts and see if I can mix substrates and not compromise the look.

Thanks for listening to me rant. This has been a great forum so far.
 
I don't see any issue with mixing the substrate.
if you go with planted tank, use the T5's, I think they will be better since your tank is pretty tall at 29".
I have a 70W metal halide on my 180g and I like the effect very much but T5 would be good too, so you don't need to use the MH.
go with something hardly, like java fern, crypt wenditt, amazon sword, etc. for foreground you can go with some dwarf sag. just check out the media section and see if you like some of the aquascape there, might give you some ideas.
a nice driftwood as center piece/focal point would make the tank pop, IMO.
 
I had someone tell me amazon sword plants are good additions to piranha tanks on my thread. Let us know what you go with.
 
awesome! great ideas - what about substrate? I heard flourite is the way to go by seachem or ecosystem. But for the footprint I'll cover, I'll likely get only enough for $100 which is about 6 -7 bags of 15lbs flourite.

Sand I heard is tough to keep due to debris and piranha's skittish behavior which could cause sudden dash of smoke when frighten.
 
I have pool filter sand in my 180g, it was fine. I actually like it lot.
amazon swords are heavy root feeder so make sure you have good substrate or use root tabs, needs good amount of iron.
crypts wendtii isn't too picky, I have they grow just fine in my 180g, java fern and anubias you can just tie them to driftwood/rock, etc so don't even have to worry about substrate.
it's always best to start with a lot of plants all at once and I would let them grow out a bit (while you cycling the tank) before you add the pygos in. mine clip off leaves every now and then, especially during feeding.
 
jp80911 said:
I have pool filter sand in my 180g, it was fine. I actually like it lot.
amazon swords are heavy root feeder so make sure you have good substrate or use root tabs, needs good amount of iron.
crypts wendtii isn't too picky, I have they grow just fine in my 180g, java fern and anubias you can just tie them to driftwood/rock, etc so don't even have to worry about substrate.
it's always best to start with a lot of plants all at once and I would let them grow out a bit (while you cycling the tank) before you add the pygos in. mine clip off leaves every now and then, especially during feeding.
Click to expand...
Thanks man - hey do you have pics of your tank? Any issues keeping any plants w/ the pool filter sand? Can you provide a link to the sand you have?
 
jsut a stupid question...how are you going to trim and maintain your plants with the Piranhas in there? I used to have just a jack demsey and he would go after my hand when i just did water changes....
 
Here are some old pix and vid.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?431988-pygo-picture-update
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...s-update-wild-reds-terns-cariba-feeding-video

here are some recent ones
DSC_2567.jpg

DSC_2571.jpg


here's pic of the tank
DSC_2327.jpg


Plants do ok with pool sand just need a longer period of it to start have nutrient build up under it, but there are better substrate out there that would be more suitable if you are very key on plants. I just didn't have the budget to spend $150-$200 on substrate, so at the time $40 for 200lb pool filter sand seemed more appealing to me. if you have the money then go with eco complete or similar substrate.

you can google "pool filter sand for plants" and see what other says
here are two the links that came up
http://www.aquascapingworld.com/forum/substrate/3330-pool-filter-sand-substrate.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/...lants-discussions/47321-pool-filter-sand.html

I got mine from my local Leslies' pool supplies. so check with your local pool supply stores and see what they have. some might be darker color some might be lighter color.

as for trimming plants in a piranha tank, it's really not too dangerous unless you happen to have a crazy mental piranha like the ones in Hollywood films. They are more skittish than most people think and whenever I work on my tank they always try to stay as far from me as possible. if you concern then just keep an close eye to them or use long trimming tools if you don't feel comfortable of putting your hand in water.
 
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