[Polystyrene under tank...]

How thick should the polystyrene under my 120x50x50 (300L) be?

[Optimising plant growth and minimising algae]

Hi I'm just starting out with my new tank, it's a 120x50x50 300L and I really want a well planted setup. I'd like to know how to set up substrate (I would prefer to go with sand), ferts and CO2 and opinions on the best sort of lighting.

Also any tips on the following?

Alternanthera reineckii (rosaefolia)

Echinodorus bleheri (Amazon sword plant)

Echinodorus tenellus (chain sword plant)

Echinodorus quadricostatus

Echinodorus latifolius

Hygrophila difformis (water wisteria)

Hygrophila polysperma (dwarf Hygrophila)

Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig'

Ludwigia repens

Ludwigia arcuata

Rotala indica (Indian toothcup)

Limnophila sessiliflora (Asian marshweed)

Vesicularia montagnei (Christmas moss)

Vesicularia dubyana (Java moss)

Microsorum pteropus (Java fern)

Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov'

Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow Leaf'

Nymphaea lotus

Saggitaria subdulata

Cryptocoryne cordata

Cryptocoryne petchii

Cryptocoryne willisii

Cryptocoryne wendtii

Cryptocoryne affinis

Hydrocotyle verticillata (whorled or shield pennywort)

Heteranthera zosteraefolia

Riccia fuitans (crystalwort)

Lilaeopsis mauritiana

Lilaeopsis brasiliensis (micro sword)

Cabomba carolina (green Cabomba)

Anubias barteri

Anubias barteri var. Nana

[TURBO Silver arowana !! Help!!]

Urggh Darla!

[An oddball for the 300l tank?]

They'll eat stuff though won't they, like barbs or tetras, or kuhli loaches?

[An oddball for the 300l tank?]

OMG!!! I am loving those little spiny eels I must have one! Can we get those in NZ?

I have gotta get one of those if we can!

[Gourami]

Right! Have now purchased the 300L tank on Trademe :happy2:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/pets-animals/f ... 659312.htm

....Now I have only the CO2 setup, more sand, lighting, ferts, 3d backing, a Hardness test kit and the plants themselves to go before cycling.

Oh well, hopefully i'll be set by Christmas :roll:

[Movies and tv shows - let's discuss]

Lol I feel out of place, the only film I watched really recently was when I went and saw Monsters University with my younger sister and brother.

Cute film, I don't normally enjoy sequels.

[Earthquake]

I loved it! I jumped out of my chair and started surfing the carpet waves!

Till parents psyched out and screamed at me to get under a doorway. :yawnn:

Nothing even fell over.

[An oddball for the 300l tank?]

Too big, or so the book I'm going off says. Apparently they can grow up to a meter in length and need at least a 150x60x60.

But they are awesome looking. :love:

[Gourami]

Will kissing gourami eat smaller fish e.g Tiger Barbs, tetras?

[Long, funky and what the...?]

I wanna know where you bought your noodles!

They are soo cute whatever they are. :thup:

[albino birchir]

Woah! He/she is freakishly amazing not sure whether to think arrgh! or, cute!

[brutus in his temporary new home!]

Aww Brutus is awesome!

[An oddball for the 300l tank?]

The tank's a 120x50x50 and I would love one of these weird little guys that could go in this size tank. Any suggestions? I'd like it to be a planted community tank so nothing that wishes to devour the world please!

[fish you hate.]

1+ to the goldfish vote

Murdered the plants, then each other. We put the remaining ones outside in troughs and they survived until the kingfishers learnt to play go fish.

[Gourami]

How large a tank do clown loaches require?

[Gourami]

What lighting bulbs would you suggest? In the way of ferts I was going for an under-gravel mix as well as supplementary doses of liquid ferts every so often.

[New fish keeper]

That is one epic tank! :nfs:

[Gourami]

Fish I am considering for the heavily planted, mild acidic/neutral, 120X50X50 (not all of them together but a selection of these options):

Kuhli Loaches

Tiger Barbs

Marbled Hatchetfish

pearl or kissing gourami

a pair of dwarf cichlid (butterfly rams or cockatoo)

bristlenose cats

tetras: either cardinal, black widow or rummy nosed

ruby shark

[Gourami]

Awesome thanks!

[Gourami]

I'll need a PH control moniter to see if the level is harmful won't I?

[Gourami]

That is, the normal amount for what is going to be a heavily planted 300L tank.

[Gourami]

Again with the CO2 questions:

I don't know anything about maintaining them and haven't found anything on CO2 that explains their setup or regulation, in any aquarium book I've read. What's the bubble counter for and how many bubbles are the normal amount?

[Setting up the 60X30X30]

The tank I'm getting comes with a blue planet bubbilo TW300 twin outlet air pump. I've read they're real quiet and I hope so, the AP-250 practically vibrated the tank stand and the pet store told me it was one of the quiet ones! Oh well, it's free so I can always dump it if it turns out no good.

[Setting up the 60X30X30]

Dad has approved the tank! Now I just have to track down a lighting system for a 120x50x50 and a new heater.

Currently for aeration I have a 30cm air stone and an Aqua-one infinity AP-250 bubbler pump, but I'll probably have to replace those too, going from a nano tank to a large one. Any recommendations?

For this tank would a shoal of tiger barbs be ok or do they need a bigger still tank? Really interested in getting some if I can and hatchet fish too.