PENEJANE

I was considering using a large storage plastic tub for a tank considering that the tank will be in the garage and won't be for viewing and was wondering if this was ok just for plants?? With the right lights and a filter and heater would this work or am I just looking for trouble? Was just thinking that since they are so cheap (cheaper than a glass tank of the same size) it would be easy for me to get a hold of one and spend that little bit extra on the other equipment. Seems as the tank doesn't need to heat up to a high degree would a heater affect a plastic tub? Wanting to get this started asap so then I can start helping out with plants for people Once again is this stupid or would it work. Even if it ment that I had to replace the plastic tub once every 6 months due to wear that don't bother me. Cheers

I am having troubles getting the sort of tank that I would like for a planted tank. Do you guys have any tips or ideas on how to assemble your own tanks? like what sort of sealent to use and how to brace it till its set and blah blah blah. I am wanting to create a different style tank for the plants. Long but narrow to allow easy photo shots and to keep them into their own areas. Cheers

hmmm thats a lot of money. How about if there was to be two heaters in a tank?? depending on how large the tank is of course. I was thinking of getting 3 small tanks (about 30-40 ltrs I think) and cascading them??

With the under tank heating pad thingy how would that work?? Won't it melt the poly that you put under there? Or does it go inside the tank with substrate on top?? If I am going to do this I want to get it right as soon as possible to make it affective Once it is sorted, I will be looking at doing $10 lots (postage included) which will have a mixture of plants in it and if you are to be after a spacific plant then you will get 2 free To get a variety of plants I am going to have to spend a bit of $$ to get them all from front low plants to the big tall, big leafed plants and also some floating plants. The cost is to mainly pay for the Co2, Fert, and more plants if needed. Just so you know the $10 bag isn't going to be skimpy either. I ain't one to rip people off but also note that half of that is to cover postage. Cheers for the awesome feed back and info.

:-? so they may not be the same as brine shrimp but I can still use them to feed my guppies and gobys?? man this just got very confusing lol

Awesome Shilo. Very good info indeed. So in basic I don't really need a filter?? Just something that will blow a current in the water with out moving the surface?? I don't have any worries about the price of power as this tank will end up in the garage (hence the reason for plants only and no fish as lights will be on a timer) and with this weather it will get quite cold but our garage is hooked up on a seperate power meter which is never read ( it doesn't exist ) so its free power WOOO HOOO. I have never heard of kitty litter (yes I know what brand as I used to get it for our cat) being used in a tank but will consider it. I was just going to use a sand type substrate for the whole tank. I wonder if because the plants that are available to me from the fish store are in cold water if thats why most die in my tank? Guess I will have to consider a heater as well (will be asking more info on what size tank = what wattage heater later) to keep the plants at their best. I know this is going to cost a bit to set up as I don't have anything to start with but hoping to find some second hand bits about which will make things easier or for a huge sale. Thanks for the info I shall keep comming back to this so I get it right and provide the best I can for people needing/wanting plants Cheers again

AWESOME! thanks. Yes that does answer my question Guess I got to buy the expensive stuff eh lol

Billany due to not knowing what most plants look like it will be a while before I get it going good enough to help anyone. Any clippings (once tank is up and going) from others would be a great help to get variety and stock going. I won't be adding any fish as it won't be heated. The fish store don't heat their plant tanks and all do fine but I will have a good Co2 system and add fert to help them blossom Husband seems keen to let me do this which is an added bonus Hoping to keep it snail free so I will have to find out what chemicals are safe for plant clippings and what not to keep the snails at bay. Love your guys intrest and ideas If you want to help speed up the process... if anyone has any old filters about that they want rid of please let me know and maybe a light or two (depending on what size tank I manage to pick up) with out a bulb as I will get that sorted Cheers guys

I am looking at setting up some plant tanks (depending on size of tanks) I dont' know when this will be exactly but I am hoping to set it up and do a trade/exchange thing as you mentioned. I don't want to jump into it to early but would like to know peoples ideas and inputs for it. I am comming up to my first pruning and would like to use this as the start of the plant tanks and go from there. let me know what you all think. If all goes well I could eventually look into free postage won't that be a bonus hehehe Cheers PeneJane

I am guessing I am going to have to use some chemicals to get the plants growing good due to the fact that there won't be any fish in the tanks. Just plants. I don't know when I will be setting them up yet as it all depends on the expence of getting the parts. I also don't know how well this whole idea will go but I will give it a shot The plants that I do will depend on what I can get my hands on to start off with and how quickly they grow to get cuttings and get them to grow roots so I end up with a good thick supply (no point growing the one plant to keep taking cuttings off or I won't have much to hand out will I lol) Glad to hear your comments tho. When things are started I will let you know how the plants respond to what chemicals. Hoping to not use any apart from fert and Co2 and some good lighting.

I am looking into setting up a reasonable size tank with just plants to trade and sell via trademe and the forums here. But before I go into pocket over it I was wanting to know the depand for them and what type of plants. Just looking at a way to help people out (expecially new to the fish world) and making a little pocket money for myself (husband and kids not included ) So let me know your ideas and depending on how things go I am hoping to have it set up as free postage (bonus for all) Cheers

this may sound stupid but brine shrip..... are they the same thing as the sea monkeys that used to be a big hit?? :roll: :-?

I have 1 b/n in my 90 ltr tank and was feeding it cucumber but it didn't take to that very well so I switched to courgette and it loves it. I leave one piece in there (1cm slice cut in half again) and it will be totaly gone in just under 2 days then I wait a day and give it another piece. I haven't lost it yet and it seems to still be swimming about the tank fine. The only time I see it during the day is when it comes out for a feed then it dissapears again in its rock cave. I wouldn't of thought it would give them a tummy ache. Maybe there is something else in the tank?? :-?

Let us know if any hatch. It would be interesting if there was a X breed. Wonder what they would look like

I am not even registered with the invercargill library yet so I can't check any books out (should go in there tho). I started my research Nov/Dec of last year and didn't get my tank till Easter this year. The only fish I was interested in were Guppies. But have discovered a lot of other things like B/N's and how they help maintain the algae in the tank (its doing a wonderful job) and I am soon to get two bumblebee gobies which will be interesting

yeah I have gone back to the fish shop and seen that theirs are all the same so I guess its just normal It had me worried at first but its doing well and an awesome cleaning job I hope to see some bristles soon so then I can finaly tell my kids that its a boy or a girl. They are always asking me and I have to keep telling them that I don't know. lol

Well I didn't want to jinkx myself but the bristlenose that I got a few weeks ago is still alive and doing well My next question though is how long will it be untill I start seeing bristles if its a male? Its about 5-6 cms long.

I know that ther isn't a big amount of Co2 getting into the water but there has been enough to make a difference. Before hand the airstone was sitting under the breeding trap where it was sitting as one large bubble and disolving away. I have only just recently taken the breeding trap out so yes I will have to look at doing it a different way, as you say adding it to the input on my filter which is something that my husband and I will look into But just wanting to show people how easy it is to set one up and its all done from home so the expence is low

Hi there. I myself am also living in Invercargill Origionaly from Hamilton. I got my first tank in the easter break and already I am hitting my husband up for another tank but I keep getting the lines "wait till we buy a house" so I am having to wait. :evil: Welcome aboard and hope you find all the info you require in these forums. If not then ask any question. I am sure that there will be someone about that is able to give you some suggestions

My pictures are still crap but you can see the basic colours and patterns. This picture is of a male from my first drop of fry just after Easter. Hes half black with a light blueish/white fin on top and a multi coloured tail with spots. I think hes purdy...... for a fish hahaha :lol: I have had another drop of fry over the last fortnight so it would be interesting to see how many other colours I get. I have also got a male that is showing colours of white and purple tones in its tail. enjoy

I just thought I would show you the Co2 system that I am using. I have noticed a difference with in just a week!!! Yet I thought I was going to stuff it up and end up with real bad algae. the mixture I use is 2 cups sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of yeast (surebake is what I used) and fulled the bottle up to where the bottle starts comming in (about 1 1/2 lts or water). Be interesting to see what other peoples set ups are

dubbieboy I got the parcel today. Awesome addition to the tank.

Awesome DubbieBoy I shall let you know when it arrives. I can't wait

DubbieBoy have you recieved my private message?? I sent you one via these forums with my address

HOLY something!!! now that tank has some awesome plant growth!! makes mine look dead and spindly