creative Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 I've just received a 4 ft planted tank that has been going for about 3 years - My husband told them I would love to have it, as I like fish (I have a 4 ft Malawi Cichlid tank - because no plants)....... Anyway, I'm going to give plants another try. They started with 40 fish and less than half of that are left. It is a canister filter - Eheim 2224. I've taken out the old gravel (didn't like it) and put in some Daltons aquatic mix with some really fine gravel over top. Little bit worried about the aquatic mix but nothing ventured nothing gained - let you know if it causes any problems. Have replaced 3 yr old tubes (one not working) with new arcadia freshwater lamps. There was only one kind of plant that had survived - don't know what it is, but the roots were under the reinforcing glass, pushing through the silicone - that gave me a bit of a fright. Phosphates and Nitrates are off the charts - so do you know of any plants that can handle this kind of setup - until I get the water parameters a little better? Also - the tank has a 250watt jager heater and another 300watt heater - this seems like overkill, do you think I could get away with using the 250watt jager? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderstorm Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 hi the aquatic mix will be ok as long as you have a good layer over the top, i have 3 inches of sand over the top of mine, the plants love it Is the nitrates because its a new setup? (new water) they should settle. how long has it been running for since you getting it? Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creative Posted March 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 I've had the tank for 5 days now - I kept all the same tank water - the high nitrates are due to the last water change being in July 2005, the one before that in May 2005. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kookie Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 I think it's about time you did a major water change on the tank. Minimum of 50%, then do water changes twice a week, down to weekly of about 20%. Everything will be much happier with some healthy fresh water. Don't delay, change most of the water now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creative Posted March 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Yep your right - I was a bit nervous to stress the fish too much with a major water change straight away - but I'll make sure this weekend I do that - and keep the water changes regular. Pretty upsetting to know the amount of fish and plants wasted because of poor maintenance. I've turned off one of the heaters - and its keeping temperature just fine with the 300watt. I have a problem with one of the fish - he is quite large and golden in colour - an algae eater, but since I changed the substrate to smaller gravel - he is digging huge holes everywhere - digging up the plants and has dug into the clay - I suspect he is the only reason the plants aren't completly covered in algae, but they are getting smothered with fine clay (not to mention root disturbance). Anyway, the main problem I have, is, what plants can I grow to get phospates down but will handle the difficult water situation I currently have - I need something fast growing and very hardy - any suggestions?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 HA, im not alone IM NOT ALONE (that didnt make me sound insane did it lol) recently changed my substrate to sand from large gravel and the first night he (Mr Bristles the bristlenose) dug a huge pit, dug smaller ones ever since and got down to my aquatic mix a few times :evil: . he mainly dug in his caves so i was mean and put a piece of slate just under the sand, worked a treat. hes stopped diggin and much as he was but he still does it. ive had to pile up the sand in a few places (which he digs in and puts it back to normal height lol). not sure why the do it, heard its for breeding pits but my girl doesnt like him. sorry i cant help you on the plant side of things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kookie Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Hi creative. I honestly doubt you will stress the fish out by doing a 50% water change. If anything you will probably find they will LOVE you for it, and swim in the new fresh water as your adding it. As for fast growing plants, I suggest Indian Fern, fine or broad leaf. It is rather hardy(I have found) and it grows fast. It will grow tall as well as branching out, so it would be best towards the back of your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsarmina Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 I have a problem with one of the fish - he is quite large and golden in colour - an algae eater, but since I changed the substrate to smaller gravel - he is digging huge holes everywhere - digging up the plants and has dug into the clay - I suspect he is the only reason the plants aren't completly covered in algae, but they are getting smothered with fine clay (not to mention root disturbance). i have 2 chinese algae eaters and when i put sand in the bottom of the tank, they went nuts. burrowing into the sand and digging holes under the ornaments and the plants. i removed 1 and put him in the other tank. no problems as the other tank has pebbles in the bottom. i have just removed to sand from the tank and put gravel in, and the 2nd cae has stopped burrowing too. if you have another tank available, that doesn't have a fine substance on the bottom, i would suggest moving the golden algae eater to there. otherwise you may find most of your plants floating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creative Posted March 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 thanks, I'll get some indian fern, I've also been recommended java fern - I'll do my major water change tommorrow, I think you're right about making the fish happier - even after changing the substrate and cleaning the filter they became more active. The algae eater is a problem, interesting that other people have experienced them digging with sand too - I have a malawi setup which is no good for him, and due to the large amount of plants that are now floating I'm going to try to find him another home, and hope the tank doesn't overgrow in algae. I've popped in a couple plants of small val for the front - I think that val is usually hardy and grows reasonably easy. If they do okay in the tank without Mr alae eater and with the high phos&nitrates I'll carpet the front with them. I suppose it'll be a while before I can fully plant the tank though - dying plants are expensive and counterproductive. Just to note - very happy with the Daltons Aquatic Mix, even with being dug up so much, it doesn't cloud the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kookie Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 Try a bristle nose catfish or two. I have 8 in my tank, which has a sandy base. They don't dig it up and my plants stay anchored. I'm not usually a betting woman, but I bet your tank will look 100% better when you do the water change. Also you've chosen some nice plants, so that is going to make it look even better. You will also have some happy active fishies, which will just add that X factor to your tank. Hope you get some photos and share with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 goes to show how diff fish are in personality, its my BN male thats the digging culprit, had me up till 3am last night because he dug into my aquatic mix, covered everything in 'dust' and i couldnt see 2 inches into the tank, my female has never dug at all and she has only recently moved to sand aswell. he might be digging a nest but hell, hes got caves and driftwood to spawn in! the slate has stopped him before but last night one piece wasnt properly down and he got under it im hoping he will stop cause if this happens again im going to have to move him somewhere else, but spare tanks are running low sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 sharn - typical adult male BN behaviour. Try a flower pot with a chunk taken out of the lip to form a cave. Kookie - as far as I know your BNs are still very young. They will get messier and more boisterous as they get larger. Right now they're just trying to fill their bellies and not fill a belly - of another fish. Night all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creative Posted March 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 definatly steering away from chinese algae eaters & bristlenoses with sand. Am I wrong in thinking I don't need an algae eater once I get the phos/nitrates under control? Maybe I'll get a whiptail catfish or a black line fox? Thank you all for your advice etc... not ready to post up picture - the tank isn't setup they way I would have done it from the start and it looks pretty sad. By the way - the tank was maintained by Jansens, the poor person who gave me the tank has paid a small fortune to get a nice looking tank and didn't even know how badly it was being looked after. Anyone want a golden algae eater????? I think I might give the fish shop a call and see if they will take him - he is trashing the tank. I'll buy some indian fern too me thinks, might get some bog wood too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 Golden algae eaters are just like the chinese algae eaters and are known to attack other fish and "suck" onto them. although i have had one in the past and not ad this problem. siamese algae eaters IMO are the best, they eat black algae which is a bonus because if you get it YOU DONT WANT IT!!! i suggest getting 2 or 3 SAE once you have your tank running properly. they like to be kept in groups. you will also need good lids as the siamese algae eaters are known for jumping. they will find any small gap and escape if they want too, BUT, i know people who have them in tanks without lids and they have never had any escape thats just my 2 cents, Good luck with the tank **EVIL** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kookie Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 sharn - typical adult male BN behaviour. Try a flower pot with a chunk taken out of the lip to form a cave. Kookie - as far as I know your BNs are still very young. They will get messier and more boisterous as they get larger. Right now they're just trying to fill their bellies and not fill a belly - of another fish. 6 of them are young and two are adults, and neither my boy or girl go digging in the sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Creative, if you want some fast-growing plants, you can have heaps of clippings off my hygrophylla for free! I trim them every week and they just grow and grow and grow. This is a large-leaf plant... I think it was called "giant temple plant" in the shop when i bought it. Very hardy plant. Call me on 025-205-6585 if you want the plants. (I'm in Sandringham.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 I think you're referring to Hygrophilia Corymbosa. Great plant but takes up a lot of space and grows very fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Yes, that's definitely the stuff. Thanks for identifying it for me. It's a great way to remove excess nutrients very quickly. It grows very big - if not trimmed, it grows right out the top of the tank and changes to an emersed form. It has pretty blue flowers above the water but it would grow right up to the ceiling if I let it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Be great to see a photo of it growing out of your tank whetu. Any chance you can do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 I don't let it grow out of the tank - at times when I've accidentally let it do that, it becomes rather troublesome. The stems thicken up and get woody, and it develops mats of roots in the water. It very quickly uses up all the swimming room and the fish get cramped! (Great for raising fry though.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kookie Posted April 15, 2006 Report Share Posted April 15, 2006 How's the tank coming along creative? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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