Stocking ideas

[Yanbbrox]

poor fish.
theyre gonna die of ammonia burns.

i fi were you,i wouldve done some mini preds.
nandus nandus,butis butis,some butterfly fish.

Sorry I missed the suggestions, someone also said the go for a pred tank with butterflys, but I've not seen them over here. Thanks for the comments.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the pleco tank though, I think it will be a good look, if I can cover some of the wood with java moss/fern that is.

I'd start another thread but rather than clutter up the boards I may as well carry on here until it's up and running

i know.

Thought as much just wanted to make sure

If nothing else I just want to prove it won't be:

Sounds like as much fun as a tankful of Marbles. .

Since I've been here the one thing I've learned is that if Tequila dislikes something then there is a fair chance I'll like it All his input and experience went into the discus tank being converted to a planted one and he doesn't really like that

Back onto the pleco theme, I actually saw the one that lives in George's tank today, unless I'm doing a water change I never see it that much maybe once every 2 months, maybe Tequila has a point

 

[Loulou]

That's why you need tetras as well... and maybe angels too... They would thrive in the tannin...

 

[Yanbbrox]

That's why you need tetras as well... and maybe angels too... They would thrive in the tannin...[/quote]I've always been a fan of large shoaling small fish, going to be offline for a few days now, thanks for the input

 

[Yanbbrox]

Did a 3/4 water change today, sounds a lot but I'm loving the tiny tank, it took less than 10 minutes

Took the new(old) water from under the substrate in the gg tank, my word that substrate was a mess and it's been in less than a week.

Anyway, tank still cycling, nematodes galore, it's full of them, not had the lights on for a good few days

Been adding filter start as well so maybe a week or so until the first fish arrive, the usual lots of neons to add the cycle after another big change with some clean water, finally.

 

[Tequila]

Did a 3/4 water change today, sounds a lot but I'm loving the tiny tank, it took less than 10 minutes

Took the new(old) water from under the substrate in the gg tank, my word that substrate was a mess and it's been in less than a week.

Anyway, tank still cycling, nematodes galore, it's full of them, not had the lights on for a good few days

Been adding filter start as well so maybe a week or so until the first fish arrive, the usual lots of neons to add the cycle after another big change with some clean water, finally.

Question........ if you took say 3/4 of the first intro of water directly from your established aquarium and 1/4 clean water why then did you need to cycle the tank to begin with? Why not just run the filter for a day and then start adding fish? Or just run the filter in the old aquarium first for a few days and then add the water from the exisiting tank, and move the filter then just add fish.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Question........ if you took say 3/4 of the first intro of water directly from your established aquarium and 1/4 clean water why then did you need to cycle the tank to begin with? Why not just run the filter for a day and then start adding fish? Or just run the filter in the old aquarium first for a few days and then add the water from the exisiting tank, and move the filter then just add fish.

So tired now, will answer tomorrow

 

[Yanbbrox]

Question........ if you took say 3/4 of the first intro of water directly from your established aquarium and 1/4 clean water why then did you need to cycle the tank to begin with? Why not just run the filter for a day and then start adding fish? Or just run the filter in the old aquarium first for a few days and then add the water from the exisiting tank, and move the filter then just add fish.

Sorry dude I forgot to answer this.

I understand your point, but I like to take things slowly with a new tank. The best solution would have been to add used media in the new tank but it's too small to fit it in. I can't move the filter to the established tank as it's fixed into the tank and doesn't come out unless you want a real headache.

Plus with all the efforts made to keep excellent water in the established tanks, I enjoy basically adding a load of fish waste in to the new one without consequence, it makes a nice change for now

 

[Yanbbrox]

We've started the aquascaping today

Tank was drained to about halve level, takes no time at all
Substrate was added as was larger rocks. We built a cave in the corner with a piece of slate. Two pieces of wood added, I would have got some more wood, but it came from the place that wanted to charge me the same amount be it a huge chunk or a twig. When I went to pay, they must have under charged me because it was cheap

We are still arguing over the branches idea(from Lou's old tank) I think it would look better but Mrs Y disagrees
I'm guessing any wood would do for this or is there some that are better than others?
Cost breakdown:
Substrate = $10
Wood = $5 each
Slate = $3
Rocks = free

As this lfs is a good source of plecs we had a look for a stocking list. I want to start of slowly with 3 or 4 fish. Was thinking of L134, L190 and a L200, Mrs Y also saw a driftwood cat that she wants in there, I've done a bit of reading since we got home and they should be ok, can always go in with George if it gets too big.
After all was done I filled in back up again with more fish waste from George for the last time, I'll give another week and start to add clean water. Years and years ago when we got out first ever tank the guy at the lfs at the time for some reason gave up a ton of nitrate tests and I've still got some so I did a test and the results were

Still to come, I've ordered some java moss to grow on the rocks and some floating plants to reduce the lighting in there a bit. I think the moss will do much better in there with the higher ph. Hopefully the branches, argument permitting

 

[Loulou]

I really like the substrate and the rocks Very nice

The wood is nice too though I would have preferred more root-like types... these big chunks kinda take a lot of space... and they don't really fit into the amazonian pleco biotope idea where we would have seen roots and submerged branches... (I definitely need to find some pictures on the web to show you... saw some once and can't remember where)

BTW, will the moss grow fine with the subdued lighting? Anyway, I don't think they would add much value to the biotope you want to re-create... it should be basically wood and rocks.

The more I look at your tank now, the more I think of a nice river bed... these pebbles are really nice... But the slate doesn't fit in (though it's useful)... maybe you could replace it by a bigger (yet still rounded) rock?

Just my 2 cents
​

 

[Yanbbrox]

I really like the substrate and the rocks Very nice
Thanks

The wood is nice too though I would have preferred more root-like types... these big chunks kinda take a lot of space... and they don't really fit into the amazonian pleco biotope idea where we would have seen roots and submerged branches... (I definitely need to find some pictures on the web to show you... saw some once and can't remember where)
I know, I would have liked a root structure my self but they are so hard to find and very expensive when one crops up(over here anyway). It does however provide good cover and more natural caves(see pictures)

BTW, will the moss grow fine with the subdued lighting? Anyway, I don't think they would add much value to the biotope you want to re-create... it should be basically wood and rocks.
Yes it will grow in low lighting but probably not thrive.

The more I look at your tank now, the more I think of a nice river bed... these pebbles are really nice... But the slate doesn't fit in (though it's useful)... maybe you could replace it by a bigger (yet still rounded) rock?
Good I was trying for a river bed look and yes the slate doesn't really work with the theme but it does the job, that's where I was thinking of growing the moss to hide it

Just my 2 cents
​

2 cents, always welcome
The fish like the new caves