Hey all,
This is my first tank...a simple 40x20 on my desk. I just went into a fish shop, selected a few plants and set it up together with the shop guy. Waiting for the plants to settle for 2 weeks before getting fish.
Im excited, but all clueless about what to expect! Need as much help as I can...
Please comment on the set-up and help me id the plants:
* left piece of wood (i know its some sort of moss?)
* right piece of wood (some sort of fern?)
* the younger shoots around the moss
* the tall stemmy ones at the left background
* the sparse grass at the right foreground
* the small bushy thing at middle foreground (which was apparently quite expensive)
Plants
Set-up
the small bushy thing at middle foreground with round leaf, how do you plant that? That is Anubias nana either mini or petite. It should not be plant on the soil. the rhizome should not be buried otherwise it will rot. You can tie it on wood or rocks. I can't really see from the photo
the ones in the left background is likely to be bacopa monnieri/caroliniana. the ferns on the right are windelov's.
Is this setup suitable for shrimp? Thinking of getting Taiwan red or sakura. I have cycled the water for 2 weeks
Anyway I'm quite surprised my plants are growing damn fast. Most of the stems have grown 1cm the past 2 weeks. I thought my led lamp won't b good enough?
if the plants show that they're growing and surviving, i think it's safe to say the LEDs are working.
you could invest in test kits to know if your tank is ready to house shrimps.
yes, i would say if the water parameter is right, you can put fire reds or sakuras. they don't need chiller to keep.
the moss looks like peacock moss / xmas moss.. need a better angle
The plant on the right are Windelovs
kindly think over your fauna choice.. fish or shrimps?
may I also know how did you start the cycling? you using Amazon soil?
Hey Marimo, pardon me if I make stupid choices eh, tt's why I need expert help from u guys
Fish or Shrimp: I have been thinking hard and have decided on shrimps. Maybe with a few 'shrimp-friendly' fish.
Cycling: Hmm I thought cycling simply means leaving water to filter and settle before adding fauna? I have let the water run for 2 weeks with the plants, with ard 5% change every few days (i have been skimming the water surface to rid some floating dirt, and replace with tap water)
Soil: The soil im using is called Advanced Soil, from Sam. Safe? They said it is safe for shrimps.
Thats why I thought what you were thinking too..Cycling: Hmm I thought cycling simply means leaving water to filter and settle before adding fauna? I have let the water run for 2 weeks with the plants, with ard 5% change every few days (i have been skimming the water surface to rid some floating dirt, and replace with tap water)
If you have decided to go shrimps (sensitive), the more you should do cycling to ensure clean water
You have to read up of fishless cycling, cycle meaning nitrogen cycle, we do that to minimize shrimp loss due to new tank syndrome.
simply in short , we want to cultivate beneficial bacteria (BBs) that breaks down rotting/waste fast into less harmless compound we call nitrate
the cycle is
Ammonia (waste & harmful) -> nitrite -> nitrate (good for plants & absorb it to grow)
without BBs, ammonia and nitrite stays in water longer and makes shrimps sick and eventually die.
So I guess you dont wish that to happen. So you may wish to buy test kit
I have no experience with advance soil. I believe its unlike amazon soil that kick start with ammonia. You need a external source like throwing a market prawn to create decomposing ammonia or I use ammonia bicarbonate (smelly powder in chinese)
I just came back from c328, wah tt place is amaaazing. Spent 1.5hr there staring blankly.
Bought 4 ottos and 6 golden tetras. Will see how they do before I buy my Sakura shrimps.
Very nice tank setup
wow .. good luck for your new fishes in new tank
tks marimo for your tips on fishless cycling. I read up on it...damn cheem.
I figured I'll just use the tetras and ottos as 'starter fish' to stabalise the ammonia, then will get the more sensitive sakuras at a later stage.
i don't think tetras take to ammonia very well too.Originally Posted by gid
If the tank is acidic then your Ammonia will be converted to Ammonium which is harmless to fish. My cardinals do just fine as my cycling fish..
Oh ya about water change...
I'm change 10% once a week. Ok to use tap water? If not, what do i use?
Sry for the incessant qns guys!
yes, can use tap water but remember to condition and age the water.
don't worry, we're all here to learn and share.
How to 'condition and age'? I put aside the water overnight with dose of anti chlorine b4 using it?
And i also wonder if boiled water is any better than fresh tap water. I have been using boiled water to top up evaporation loss cos i have a drinking flask conveniently in my room
Ideally I will store my aged water for at least 3 days. Before toping up the water, add anti chlorine.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks