the-obstacle Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 So I picked up a Blue Planet 50L tank with built in t5 light and filter in the hood a couple of nights ago and now I'm wondering what to do with it. Its a really nice tank/package so I'd like to make it into a display tank of some sort but I'm literally stuck for ideas. I've got plenty of planted tanks so don't want to use it specifically for plants (but will do so for whatever fish go in there if they need it). I was considering a FOWLR setup but can't really be bothered with all the work and I'm not a very accurate type of guy so the chemistry side of salt water tanks would probably fail on me, or i'd fail on them/kill everything by accident etc. I also considered running it with an external algae turf scrubber as I really like the idea of them but I could always use one on a brightly lit FW tank too. Anybody got any awesome/out-there ideas? I'm happy to change the bulb and filter setups, add power heads for heaps of flow and open to all ideas so let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 You can put plants in there. Then you can put some cories and tetras? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted June 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 You can put plants in there. Then you can put some cories and tetras? I've already got 2 tanks with cories and tetra. I love them but thought I could something a little different with this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Brain cannot comprehend. Maybe you can have a pleco tank? Just some small plecos and some congo tetras? Use lots of schist and caves; kinda like an african tank only with some normal leaf java fern and the Congo tetra? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Cherry barbs and Otto's Or fowlr they're not difficult, biggest requirement is patience imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Try get a pair of jullie dickfeildi from hollywoods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Try get a pair of jullie dickfeildi from hollywoods Now that's an idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 ornate ctenopoma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critter_crazy Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Go for something really bright like a school of male cherry barbs :happy2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 FOWLR pretty straight forward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted June 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 FOWLR pretty straight forward What would I need to add to the tank for this to work? I'm assuming a skimmer of some sort and some specialist salt water only chemicals in the filter? I've read the beginners guide a few times but can't seem to pick the exact setup I'd need. ornate ctenopoma Did you get the one you were after? Now that's an idea Hmm, according to the internets I'd need to buy 8 or so up front and wait for a year for them to pair off? Cherry barbs and Otto's Or fowlr they're not difficult, biggest requirement is patience imo. I like the idea of a FOWLR tank but not sure what I'd need to make it work (other than a bit of live rock and a fish or 2) Brain cannot comprehend. Maybe you can have a pleco tank? Just some small plecos and some congo tetras? Use lots of schist and caves; kinda like an african tank only with some normal leaf java fern and the Congo tetra? Not a bad idea. I think I did just agree to buy a gold nugget off Rabbit but was going to put him in the big tank. Keep the ideas coming! This is great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfishybuisness Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 maybe if you want a salt water "looking tank" try some shellies they have great little personalitys and maybe you can breed them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ismart120 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Puffers? Can be kinda cool... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Maybe you can have a pleco tank? Just some small plecos and some congo tetras? What small plecos are suited to a 50L tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Puffers? Can be kinda cool... +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirio Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Yeah, FOWLR won't be too hard man. It's a 50L, so you could probably just pick some Live Rock, get some salt. Maybe something to up the flow, maybe. But other then that FOWLR is pretty basic man. Should be no problem at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seahorsemad Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 I like the idea of puffer as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 with 50L you could get away with a big school of little fish, do some suitable plants and let the school be the main focus. I think a smallish tank looks best with small occupants and you can usually get away with a full load of little ones filtering-wise. A black background with lots of green and a big school of ember tetra or dwarf rasbora and some otos. Also you could do another black sand bottom like me and get some dwarf chain loaches, they are such fun little guys to watch, like muppets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilez Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Some mudskippers ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted June 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Ok, here's what I'm NOT doing: I've written off the idea of a salt water tank for now but will maybe come back to it at another date. This is the direction I'm thinking of going: After turning it on and testing the light I decided it'd be a real shame not to put something in there that can use all the light it throws out as it's got a 20W power compact bulb in it and is hella bright for the size of the tank. I'm thinking either colourful little african fish with rocks/sand or planted tank of some sort with interesting wood work and/or a focus plant. I like the idea of a big school of little guys. I wonder if RyanJury will sell me his tank full of runt size steel blues? They'd make an awesome addition to a planted tank. I thought about puffers or shellies only in this tank but I'm quite keen to try something different. I may still come back to these ideas though. Thanks all for the ideas - keep 'em coming if you can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 do you think display tank only, or will breeding be actively encouraged? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted June 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 I'm keen on encouraging breeding if it's something that the chosen breeds will do happily in a display tank. Something like a tetra I wouldn't expect to breed but every other fish I've got has at least tried to breed in my tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 how much are you willing to spend per fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ismart120 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Keen on seeing what you/others come up with - the only smaller african fish I can think of is the butterfly fish - not sure thats quite what you want. lol. Not knowing anything about them, what about goby fish of some sort? The ones i'm thinking of seem to be fresh water, but would look good in either a planted or a rock based set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Ooh, also how about black or blue background, mossy feathery plants over a gravel base, a school of white cloud mountain minnows - they will/should breed and can do without a heater in summer I believe. The lights will bring out their sparkle. HFF have some long finned ones (marked sold) but they might be able to get more. Also they have some golden ones which are very pretty too. Golden pencils also very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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