Help needed to start a newbie

[Tony]

Hi All,

I totally new to this hobby and have started out my 1st 2ft tank with the following:

5 x Fantail goldfish (abt 5cm)
8 x Yamato shrimp (abt 2cm)
2 x leopard cory (at 2.5cm)

Plants include java ferns and amazon swords tied to DW. Moss on mesh for carpet and wall. Just thrown in a small pot of water sprite on the front right corner. (because of goldfish, I've to put hardy plants on DW and moss on mesh for fear of uproot).

It is a bare-tank with no soil, cornered 25% floor space with pebbles for the cory to suck while the rest are empty for easy siphone of messy goldfish waste.

I have 2ft light with 14W white tube (x2 tubes) and 2 external filters with rainbar (Rena XP3 and Dolphin C-500). A tornado fan to keep the temperature cooler.

All the above equipment and tank are 2nd hand to help me start off at lower cost. Note the DW still release tanin causing a yellow tint water look.

Really need advise on how to create a low cost/maintenance aquascape. Have heard all the good things abt GEX soil (green?) but dare not venture since started with fishes already inside and afraid of problem siphoning/cleaning the tank. The plants at the corner, java ferns and swords still have some brown leaves after 2 months.

Please help advice on how to improve the aquascape. If you know of any items to be added at lower cost, do share with me the place to get them.

Thanks in advance!

[zenscape]

Tony, a good start and your layout seems alright.

Just a few pointers:- Goldfish and planted tank don't go together. Although you have tough plants like Java, your moss will be eaten very soon unless your goldfish don't like it. If you really want to keep goodfish, can consider anubias barteri (aka nana). Also, why not put in find sand? It will help in the overall well being of your tank by giving nitrifying bacteria a place to colonise.

Guess you are not adding Co2 and it appears to be a low maintenance tank. As you are keeping goldfish, are the rainbars above surface to create splash for oxygen?

[Tony]

Hi Zenscape,

Good observation! Yes, low maintenance with no Co2 device, only pop in Co2 tablets fortnightly. So far the moss managed to stay there for more than 1 week, still keeping fingers crossed.

The rainbars are pointed inwards hitting the wall so that they don't generate too much splash while still able to create small fizzy bubbles to increase oxygen and looks nice

What kind of sand should I put in that will help good bacteria? Brand and quantity? Any good place to get them?

I was hoping to put more greens into the tank; but run out of ideas how to go about.

[zenscape]

If you are not into heavily planted tank and don't mind without base fertiliser as you intend to have Java ferns and hardy plants with rhizomes, Lapis sand will do. Cheap and a big bag of it

[Tony]

Hi Zenscape,

Will lapis sand pose a challenge to siphone the waste from sand? (Is it more suited to marine?) Also, I read that lapis contains limestone and sea-shell which may change ph. My goldies will be immune to it; but how about the cory and yamato?

I heard that tank with soil will help the moss on mesh grow even better and helps lower ph, etc. Any facts to it?

[zenscape]

Hi Tony

I merely siphone a few cm on top of the sand for waste during water change. Stir the rubber hose in a circular motion whilst water is being siphoned.

I have lapis sand with yamato and it seems not an issue.

I don't know anything about the fact that soil will enhance moss growth. But most LFS wilth nice moss use only bare tank to contain it.

[Tony]

Hi Zenscape,

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep a look out for lapis sand.

BTW, will adding Ocean free Iron Suppliment liquid help in promoting plant growth? Will the over filtering (i.e. 2 x external filter) affect the fertilisation or Co2 tablet that I pop in every fortnight? (i.e. all suck into the filter before plant get them)

I've bought and inserted a 1ft DW tied to very thick moss from a bro in this forum today to compliment the existing thich moss carpet and now the tank bottom is fully covered by moss and the cory and yamato are happily exploring the caves created and lush moss

[torque6]

Good for a beginner's tank, as plants are correctly and densely planted. Looking forward to more rescapes from you.

[Tony]

Hi Torque6,

Thanks for the encouragement. I've just posted on the marketplace looking for GEX soil to start some light planting. Maybe some swords, onion plants? Still not sure how to go about improving the scape. Do share with me some ideas or pointers.

[torque6]

Your tank's densely planted, i didnt see you have no soil

[Tony]

Hi torque6,

The thick moss are tied to mesh while the ferns and swords are on DW. Thinking of getting my hands on some GEX to do light planting with hardy plants. Still looing for inspiration to go about rescaping; while waiting for any kind bros that has excess GEX to let go, else will pick up a pack the next time I go LFS.

[Verminator]

cory's like to have substrate to dig around in, they only shove their nose in but its nice to be able to provide anything fish use in there every day habbits.

When you do add you gravel/sand put a slight slope on it from back to front in general, obviously back being higher than the front. This slope can be as extreme as you want it, i go for a 2cm difference roughly. For two reasons really;

1) Ensures fish actually use all their fins to swim at different heights, just as humans are encouraged to move in all directions within reason.
2) IT looks more natural and ensures when fish are at the back you can still see them when viewing from further back.

I must say i'm impressed with the look you've achieved without gravel up till now. I hate seeing bare bottom tanks, but you've covered it nicely. Do post pics when you've added your substrate!

[torque6]

Hi torque6,

The thick moss are tied to mesh while the ferns and swords are on DW. Thinking of getting my hands on some GEX to do light planting with hardy plants. Still looing for inspiration to go about rescaping; while waiting for any kind bros that has excess GEX to let go, else will pick up a pack the next time I go LFS.

AQ has it sticky on various inspiration links to good aquascaping techniques and showcase. ADA site has good manual in pdf which you can download as well.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=15723

Enjoy your hobby.

[Tony]

Hi Verminator,

Thanks for the tips. I'll post the updated pics once I have gravel done up.

[Tony]

Hi Torque6,

Thanks for the links, the pics posted there really are impressive! Real Professionals!

Not sure how much can be done on a low tech tank setup of mine. Will post updated pics of add-ons when I get them.

[torque6]

I started with a low tech and slowly move to a high tech. Even with various low tech plants, a tank could look equally good with less than half the maintenance required.

[Tony]

Hi All,

An update on my tank. I've replace my old centre piece of DW with a bigger 1.5Ft DW with thick Windelov and another 1ft covered with spiky moss.

Also, added a small nanas on DW front right corner and elodea Still not added GEX soil.

Sorry for the poor quality photos taken using my mobile phone. The tank now looks like a jungle with the thick windelov forming an umbrella for the fishes and yamato to hide and rest. I've posted the over view and some close-up on the new DW and plants.

[torque6]

You might want to slot the nanas to midground instead of the corner.

[Tony]

Hi All,

Here is the latest update with soil added and plants re-arranged.

[Verminator]

Looking good, given a few months this will look good. Definately better with soil.