bobo Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 So, Thank you very much for all the information given to me in other threads - I have taken it on board. Since we have bought another tank I have started this thread where I can pester for your collective wisdom. I am going to photo the progress. I am planning on a densely planted aqaurium. The tank will be going on a book shelf, so has slightly unusual dimensions: 116l x26d x 40h (appox 120l). The tank: Does this gear sound good: -I have 4x40W T8 Lighting - if that's too much I can switch a bulb off? -I want to get a subtrate of 6cm (average) Flourite - nothing else. DOes the depth sound good? It is expensive... -I want to get one of those CO2 systems where you use the satchels; I'm not sure what they are called. Anyone had any experience with these? This is instead of flourish excel. Bad/Good idea? -I am going to use PMDD. Planting I haven't looked into yet, but I want to densely plant certain species together, and obviously they have to suit the narrow nature of the tank. Fish types are up to my better half; but she likes Angelfish (one maybe), Blue Rams, Female Fighters, and Fancy Guppies. So I am going to look into the compatability of those fish and see what I can put together as a combo. Any other fish ideas? That's where I am now: I have one tank and two light units on the way (thank you trademe). Any advice/thoughts to give me? I appreciate all your help! Cheers BoBo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Sounds like your going to go all out with this tank and it should look awesome when it's finished. With the mix of co2 and those lights you are going to get heaps of plant growth. For fish I wouldn't add any Angelfish. You could find some pics of blue rams, gold rams, dwarf flag cichlids, panda corys, rummynose tetra, cardinals, neon tetras and see if you like them. If it was me I'd get a pair of gold rams and a pair of blue rams, a school of 10 rummynose tetra, a school of 10 cardinals, 5 or so corys and either some ottos or a BN and then a nice male siamese fighter. It would look awesome in a planted tank with black background and black substrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 The Nutrafin C02 systems are good. I have two in stock if you want to have a nosey at them. If you buy the angels small you should be okay to go with a huge mass of neons (like 20, looks awesome in a planted tank) Id always recommend just one species of shoaling fish, and get more of them. Looks far better IMO. A group of cories will work too, nice and active during the day, quite fun to watch AND they go ok with BN's. As for plants, grab a six pack and come over and we can go through the plant bible and the suppliers lists and choose what you like that is available 8) Oh and one last thing, make sure you still have decent access to the tank when its on the bookshelf. With a planted tank you will find you will have your hands in it quite a bit until you are happy with it, replanted, moving everything etc as they grow, as well as for trimming and pruning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 DIY CO2 won't have much of an effect on that tank. you can try it on there, but in reality it won't really do that much. that tank has a lot of potential. im imagining it now hahahha. Let me plant the tank pretty please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 The tank will be going on a book shelf, so has slightly unusual dimensions: 116l x26d x 40h (appox 120l). I have one that's 80x25x40 (wxdxh) filled with 50+ BN babies. This is making me want to plant it now... 8) For this tank you can't 'scape very deeply (front to back) so I'd pretty much have hairgrass/glosso in the front with stems covering the back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Hehe... I figured out the multiple quote thing (me so clever)... Sounds like your going to go all out with this tank and it should look awesome when it's finished. With the mix of co2 and those lights you are going to get heaps of plant growth. For fish I wouldn't add any Angelfish. You could find some pics of blue rams, gold rams, dwarf flag cichlids, panda corys, rummynose tetra, cardinals, neon tetras and see if you like them. If it was me I'd get a pair of gold rams and a pair of blue rams, a school of 10 rummynose tetra, a school of 10 cardinals, 5 or so corys and either some ottos or a BN and then a nice male siamese fighter. It would look awesome in a planted tank with black background and black substrate. Cheers Some nice fish there. I think the hardest choice will be what 'school' of fish to get. On a side note: It is sad, but I'm not sure my BN is going to make the switch - I'm pretty sure he has devastated my Amazon Sword leaves (over some time). The Nutrafin C02 systems are good. I have two in stock if you want to have a nosey at them. If you buy the angels small you should be okay to go with a huge mass of neons (like 20, looks awesome in a planted tank) Id always recommend just one species of shoaling fish, and get more of them. Looks far better IMO. A group of cories will work too, nice and active during the day, quite fun to watch AND they go ok with BN's. As for plants, grab a six pack and come over and we can go through the plant bible and the suppliers lists and choose what you like that is available 8) Oh and one last thing, make sure you still have decent access to the tank when its on the bookshelf. With a planted tank you will find you will have your hands in it quite a bit until you are happy with it, replanted, moving everything etc as they grow, as well as for trimming and pruning I'll take you up on that offer Morcs; I'll get the tank mostly up and the will take advantage of your generosity ;p Definitely keen on an Angel, but also Rams, and fighters, and those Corys are cool, and she likes guppies... so these will be the decisions that will plague my life.... Not so keen on Neons, although they do look great. The tank should be easily accessible. Cheers DIY CO2 won't have much of an effect on that tank. you can try it on there, but in reality it won't really do that much. that tank has a lot of potential. im imagining it now hahahha. Let me plant the tank pretty please? Hehe... I'm willing to listen to any ideas re: auascaping... since I don't have the best of eyes. I could always do flourish excel if it would do the 'CO2' job better, but it seemed pretty expensive in the long run. Cheers I have one that's 80x25x40 (wxdxh) filled with 50+ BN babies. This is making me want to plant it now... 8) For this tank you can't 'scape very deeply (front to back) so I'd pretty much have hairgrass/glosso in the front with stems covering the back. I certainly have a lot of research to do in regards to how to plant a tank - I do like the thick leaved plants, and wanted to create a focal ppoint using them, but I might be too limited by size constraints. You know you want to plant it ;p Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Thanks for all the replies guys I'll have the lights on it, and flourite in it by next weekend and will have some more photos. I'll then start thinking about plants and stocking... Appreciate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 You know you want to plant it ;p Perhaps once I sell all of the BNs in it, too much hassle trying to keep it clean and catch them in a planted tank. Flourite is expensive but good luck with this anyways, I'll be watching to see how it turns out. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 So I picked up two 2x40w Aqua One lighting systems today; both seem to be in reasonably good nick. Since I don't know how old the tubes are or what kelvin they emit (they are GLO powerGLOs, some have the kelvin written on, other don't), I went down to Mitre10 to buy some replacement bulbs; all their bulbs were 36W '865s'. I thought the 865s would be fine, but will 36W bulbs work ok in 40W fittings? Or do I have to buy aquarium bulbs? Tomorrow I plan to buy most of the rest of the equipments: 1) Does the filter matter? I assume I can get away with a pretty crappy filter? 2) I think I might go for flourish excel, instead of the CO2 tab system. Seem like a good idea? 3) Will grab a heater. 4) Going to buy the flourite - 3 bags I think (ouch) - going to have a pure flourite base. 5) I was going to buy PMDD for my fertilizer. Does that pretty much cover everything I need for a planted tank? Thanks again for all the help! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 So I picked up two 2x40w Aqua One lighting systems today; both seem to be in reasonably good nick. Since I don't know how old the tubes are or what kelvin they emit (they are GLO powerGLOs, some have the kelvin written on, other don't), I went down to Mitre10 to buy some replacement bulbs; all their bulbs were 36W '865s'. I thought the 865s would be fine, but will 36W bulbs work ok in 40W fittings? Or do I have to buy aquarium bulbs? Tomorrow I plan to buy most of the rest of the equipments: 1) Does the filter matter? I assume I can get away with a pretty crud filter? 2) I think I might go for flourish excel, instead of the CO2 tab system. Seem like a good idea? 3) Will grab a heater. 4) Going to buy the flourite - 3 bags I think (ouch) - going to have a pure flourite base. 5) I was going to buy PMDD for my fertilizer. Does that pretty much cover everything I need for a planted tank? Thanks again for all the help! Cheers What size heater do you need? Ive got an almost new Jebo 150W with heater guard that you can have for free. Also got half a bottle of flourish and excel too to get you started. Also a canister filter is recommened for various reasons: Less clutter in the tank = more space for plants Can be setup to create no surface movement like Hang ons (keeps CO2 in the water) I have Eheim 2224's on special for just $220 at the moment 8) Gimme a buzz, im not upto much today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 What size heater do you need? Ive got an almost new Jebo 150W with heater guard that you can have for free. Also got half a bottle of flourish and excel too to get you started. Also a canister filter is recommened for various reasons: Less clutter in the tank = more space for plants Can be setup to create no surface movement like Hang ons (keeps CO2 in the water) I have Eheim 2224's on special for just $220 at the moment 8) Gimme a buzz, im not upto much today. Hey dude, lost my cell/numbers, so PMed yah CHeers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 To make my rambles more concise: Can regular 4ft 36W fluoros from Mitre10 fit a 4ft 40W AquaOne unit? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 To make my rambles more concise: Can regular 4ft 36W fluoros from Mitre10 fit a 4ft 40W AquaOne unit? Cheers They should be able to, as long as they're the same diameter (T5/T8/12, etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 They should be able to, as long as they're the same diameter (T5/T8/12, etc) Sweet - didn't want to create an electrical problem. Thanks Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 didn't want to create an electrical problem. I'm just going by common sense and past experience. I've put lower wattage light tubes in higher rated units and nothing's gone wrong. That's not to say nothing will go wrong. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I'm just going by common sense and past experience. I've put lower wattage light tubes in higher rated units and nothing's gone wrong. That's not to say nothing will go wrong. :-? Will ask at the store then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 How much is the bulb worth? if its like $20 id personally just try it and see what happens... if its a $50 bulb on the other hand Id be cautious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 How much is the bulb worth? if its like $20 id personally just try it and see what happens... if its a $50 bulb on the other hand Id be cautious. They are approx. $5 from Mitre 10. The only 4ft bulbs they had there - 6500kelvin, 36 watts; seemed good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Sounds perfect to me! Any other news? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Sounds perfect to me! heh Any other news? Of course! ;p We went and bought a couple of bags of flourite today, but we also bought another bag of sand to mix with it because it was so bloody expensive (wanted three bags of flourite). And my better half has sketched an 'idea' of how we are going to try to aquascape the tank... naturally her idea and my 'realising' of it may not marry. :0 A way off plants and fishies though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I might be able to help when it comes to plants and perhaps fish too. I have about 50 baby BN's and a tank that needs trimming soon. Not to mention the hair grass tank I'm scrapping. :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I might be able to help when it comes to plants and perhaps fish too. I have about 50 baby BN's and a tank that needs trimming soon. Not to mention the hair grass tank I'm scrapping. :roll: Hehehe Definitely interested in the plants, not so much the BN - already have an adult one, who I might not be keeping due to the fact I think he is stripping some of my plants. Time for bed - night night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted December 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 STAGE 2: Thanks for your help so far. We have just: 1) Replaced the bulbs in the light units we picked up: 4x36W 6500K. 2) Moved the tank to its rightful place. 3) Put in the substrate and pebbles. Next steps: Going to: 1) Get a heater and filter. 2) Start planting (I got Flourish sup. and Excel). 3) Put filter, water and fishies from current tank into this tank - temporary until we start stocking with the fishies we want. So, what the tank looks like right now: Looks like I should stick a lizard in there Plant wise: -We are going to have glosso in the clearing, bleeding out either side across the front of the tank. Might also interrupt the glosso with the occasional dwarf sag. -We are going to have a feature plant/plants, like Anubias, on the right hand side. Surounded by a few stem plants. -Val at the back left and back right. -The left will be dominated by bushes of stem plants and a few crypt. I'll put the concept sketch up if I can get a decent image of it. On a side note: Does anyone who has been helping me want a Bristlenose (for free - pick up only) - two years old - I don't want it in my new tank. Cheers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N1CK Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Looks good , but I would put the rocks on more of an angle from the front,it should help give the tank more depth than it actually has (instead of strait) the planting plan sounds good as well but I would stick the val on one side only due to how it floats along the top so what did you end up using as a substrate? I can't tell from the pic I would have the BN if he was a male and you lived closer (I have a female that wants a friend) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 so what did you end up using as a substrate? I can't tell from the pic Flourite, yes? A very fresh setup, heaps of potential. Personally I'd have gone with larger rocks but if i had to use those rocks, I'd space them out a bit. Other than that, planting plan seems good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.