Joshlikesfish Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Then deep is good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 So, will the 3/2/3cm set up I have work? Or should it be deeper? - I have heaps of Daltons and sand, not so much pebbles. I could easily go 4-5cm of Daltons/2-4cm of sand/3cm of pebbles. Just how deep do I want it? My top layer will be a 3-6mm gravel, which seems quite large, but since I won't be doing many gravel vacs, it allows for the detritus to settle into the substrate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I have 5cm daltons, 3cm sand, 2 cm gravel and it works really well. 3-5cm is a long way for the roots to grow before hitting the daltons. You'll find you end up planting everything in the sand anyway as the gravel isn't really any good for holding onto the plants (unless it's finer than mine or course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I might go 5/2/2 then? So as not to need to go quite as far to hit the daltons. Will that 2cm of sand and 2cm of gravel be enough to keep the Daltons from 'escaping'? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 How high is the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 60cm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 So, doing a bit of reading, does this sound like it will work? Layer 1: Daltons - ~3cm - is that enough? Layer 2: Sand ~2cm Layer 3: Gravel/Pebbles ~3cm That method is fine. You can go for a little less sand and a little less gravel if you liked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Thanks for all the help guys. I set up the tank today - probably over did it a little bit with the sand/gravel layers - I think I panicked about the idea of Dalton's clouding my water. I obviously have a lot more planting to do. But here is how it looks: In terms of stocking, we decided to go with the barbs, and I'm glad we did - they are awesome to watch. 10 Tiger Barbs (mixed regular and green) 1 Red Tail Shark 3 Bristlenose Cats Again, thanks for the advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Looking good What else are you planning to stock with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 I'm not going to rush into stocking, I'll fully plant it first, and then slowly increase the bioload. Some ideas include: Bosemani Rainbows Kribs Zebra Loaches Corys - not entirely keen, but might get due to their cleaning capabilities SAEs - if/when I develop algae Any thoughts? Any fish that you think are compatible with the current occupants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfishybuisness Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 you need a centre place fish I.e discus would look nice or some angels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Discus would be brilliant in that tank once its fully planted etc. Maybe get some nice pleco's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 I thought discus or angels wouldn't be compatible with Tiger Barbs? Although I do agree that it would be nice to have a 'centre piece' fish. I will certainly contemplate Plecos - I just don't know a lot about them - I'll have to read up on different types. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 From what i've heard, the tiger barbs loose the aggression in large groups? You could get some rams or appisto? Dwarf cichlids to be more broad Bristlenose pleco are rather cheap. They're quite cool fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Yeah - I'll see if the Tiger Barbs settle down. However, with the way they were acting today I wouldn't trust the 'safe if in a school logic'. Dwarf cichlids are an idea - however my pH tends to fluctuate a little and I think they're a little sensitive to that. Still, they are cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Wow that looks awesome Even though Tiger Barbs aren't as agressive in a group, I still wouldn't put Discus/Angels in there. You never know. Here's some nice Dwarf Cichlids that will suit your tank : Apistogramma agassizii 'Double Red' Apistogramma 'Steel Blue' Laetacara curviceps Microgeophagus altispinosa Microgeophagus ramirezi Pelvicachromis taeniatus (these are nicer the P. pulcher) Don't get all of them though. This is just a guideline to go by when choosing fish for your tank. Maybe get four or five pairs of different species for your tank? I think it is good that you overdid the gravel layer. The plants will have more substrate and will love you for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Thanks. I'll definitely look into that list of Dwarf Cichlids. Plus I'll think about Bosemani Rainbows and Kribs. Ah the choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 LOooks good. Avoid the SAEs if you can - once it's fuly planted and really growing you should be able to control the algae by controlling the light timings and fertilising well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Yeah - I'll buy the SAEs if I end up with a BBA situation - which I'm worried I will, since this is a no CO2 tank (although low light). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 If you get black beard algae, Flourish Excel deals to it a million times better than SAEs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted January 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Yeah - I have found that, but it would probably get expensive continually dosing a largish tank if there is some kind of underlying problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Then you don't need to continually dose your tank - just put enough Flourish in to weaken it/eliminate it for a short period, and fix the underlining problem while you have the algae at bay 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.