Just bought a fish tank
Discussion
Oakey said:
Steve, is that a Juwel tank? Which is it? I want a bigger tank, can't decide whether I'd rather have a Juwel 180 or a Roma 200.
I originally had a Juwel Vision 180 for my tropicals - great tank, and the filter/heater/pump system is very simple and easy to use & clean. I also had a Juwel 120 for my first marine tank, a Rio 180 as a spare, and a Vio 40 for the puffers. They are great tanks, well designed and solidly built, and if you buy new there is always an offer somewhere to get a free cabinet with it.My big reef tank up there is a locally sourced custom build though, 6x3x2, with a 4ft sump underneath it.
Oakey said:
My two Gouramis have been doing okay since August now, even if they do hate each other. What kind did you have?
I was looking at some small orange coloured ones in Pets at Risk the other week and noticed one of them had dropsy, it looked ridiculous. Like some sort of bizarre puffer fish.
Steve, is that a Juwel tank? Which is it? I want a bigger tank, can't decide whether I'd rather have a Juwel 180 or a Roma 200.
Cant remember what they guy in the shop called them other than Gourami.I was looking at some small orange coloured ones in Pets at Risk the other week and noticed one of them had dropsy, it looked ridiculous. Like some sort of bizarre puffer fish.
Steve, is that a Juwel tank? Which is it? I want a bigger tank, can't decide whether I'd rather have a Juwel 180 or a Roma 200.
For now am going to stick to my dollars, Guppies, Plattys and that kind of stuff, would like to try a male Betta in there but not sure on that one.
The Gourami were always a bit slow and nervous, unless they were harassing each other, put me off them a bit.
One of the babies was out in the open, obviously getting a bit more confident, dont think the others looked all that bothered, only really at risk from other Plattys, but probably borderline for getting eaten by a Platty now at a centimetre long and they cant half move quick, they sort of teleport rahter than swim.
Out of nowhere I've developed an algae problem, I think it's black brush algae. I pick it out regularly but it keeps coming back. I've added a couple of new plants to see if that helps.
Any other solutions? More light, less light?
I'm currently using liquid co2, have the lights on low 8am-12pm then full lights until around 6pm followed by low lights again until 8pm.
Any other solutions? More light, less light?
I'm currently using liquid co2, have the lights on low 8am-12pm then full lights until around 6pm followed by low lights again until 8pm.
Nope, tested that, all the levels are as they usually would be. I do regular water changes too.
It started as a few tumbleweed looking bits growing on my java fern which I kept pulling off then it's spread to my dwarf grass and monte carlo, I can't pull it all off the latter two without pulling the plants out of the substrate.
I've added two snails which do wonders on the glass but couldn't care less about the algae. Same goes for all the shrimp!
It's been fine for months without problem. There was a brief period where I missed adding easycarbo co2 on a couple of days but don't know if that has anything to do with it.
It started as a few tumbleweed looking bits growing on my java fern which I kept pulling off then it's spread to my dwarf grass and monte carlo, I can't pull it all off the latter two without pulling the plants out of the substrate.
I've added two snails which do wonders on the glass but couldn't care less about the algae. Same goes for all the shrimp!
It's been fine for months without problem. There was a brief period where I missed adding easycarbo co2 on a couple of days but don't know if that has anything to do with it.
So, four months in and loving it, lost a couple of fish, Gouramis didnt do very well, couple of Neons and one of my Cory Pandas, however everything else is thriving, a bit too much as now ending up with a lot of Platys and Mollies, every time I look there seems to be more, I do a decent water change once a week and am not finding it a chore, do a bit of running cleaning through the week.
I think after a full year of tropical I may go Marine in the other room, the whole family loves the fish tank and pends ages looking at it, a major issue this week has been "Ghengis" the Bamboo Shrimps state of mind since a Golden Nugget Plec was introduced, my wife is applying some human psuedo psychology to fish which is amusing, I reckon he was just shedding, I mentioned that some Plecs may eat Shrimp, but not a small Golden Nugget.
Will need to go for a bigger tropical tank as my Silver Dollars will outgrow it.
But, Marine, where to start, will be a fairly small showpiece tank.
I think after a full year of tropical I may go Marine in the other room, the whole family loves the fish tank and pends ages looking at it, a major issue this week has been "Ghengis" the Bamboo Shrimps state of mind since a Golden Nugget Plec was introduced, my wife is applying some human psuedo psychology to fish which is amusing, I reckon he was just shedding, I mentioned that some Plecs may eat Shrimp, but not a small Golden Nugget.
Will need to go for a bigger tropical tank as my Silver Dollars will outgrow it.
But, Marine, where to start, will be a fairly small showpiece tank.
As much as I am really unaccustomed to saying it, but... "I told you so"...
I was in a similar position to yourself though - got into tropical, was worried about the expertise of marine, then took a punt on a small but established system, 125l for £100. I took a load of crates buckets, nets, syphons and polyboxes, and then had the most stressful 5 hours of life moving it all.
There are always loads of sale on ebay and the various Facebook groups - £150-£200 will get you a complete and established set-up as a starter, and financially is not a crippler if the whole thing crashes on you.
If you do go down that route, get a few barrels of freshly mixed saltwater ready and up to temperature, enough for maybe a 25-30% water change. Breaking the tank down in Nottingham, driving back to Sheffield and setting it up again was a horrific experience as the water temperature was dropping and the four little fish I got with the tank were getting very stressed. All survived thankfully, more by luck than skill though. 3 of them are still with me in the 1200l system nearly 3 years later.
Learn to keep a small volume of salt water and a bigger system will be easier. It does take a while for the whole chemistry connection of salinity, kH, pH, to make sense, but it is a fascinating learning curve.
I was in a similar position to yourself though - got into tropical, was worried about the expertise of marine, then took a punt on a small but established system, 125l for £100. I took a load of crates buckets, nets, syphons and polyboxes, and then had the most stressful 5 hours of life moving it all.
There are always loads of sale on ebay and the various Facebook groups - £150-£200 will get you a complete and established set-up as a starter, and financially is not a crippler if the whole thing crashes on you.
If you do go down that route, get a few barrels of freshly mixed saltwater ready and up to temperature, enough for maybe a 25-30% water change. Breaking the tank down in Nottingham, driving back to Sheffield and setting it up again was a horrific experience as the water temperature was dropping and the four little fish I got with the tank were getting very stressed. All survived thankfully, more by luck than skill though. 3 of them are still with me in the 1200l system nearly 3 years later.
Learn to keep a small volume of salt water and a bigger system will be easier. It does take a while for the whole chemistry connection of salinity, kH, pH, to make sense, but it is a fascinating learning curve.
Following on from Steve, I went from tropical to marine - a secondhand setup.
Was great, a steep learning curve but a cheap way to do it.
Of course once it had all sunk in and become established the voice in your head starts...
A bigger tank would fit just right in the dining room... go oooooon
Was great, a steep learning curve but a cheap way to do it.
Of course once it had all sunk in and become established the voice in your head starts...
A bigger tank would fit just right in the dining room... go oooooon
I'm collecting my first marine tank next weekend!
I've kept freshwater planted tanks for a few years now. I've tried high/low tech but have ended up with an ADA setup for the main tank and two small shrimp tanks (one mixed Taiwan Bees, one Super Crystal Blacks)
The planted tank is being replaced with a Red Sea Reefer 170. I'd been reading and speccing and was on for £2500 of kit. I then found a guy selling pretty much exactly the same spec, 5 months old, for half the price. It was too good to pass up!
I'm going to be using a Nyos skimmer, Ecotech M1, MP10Ws, XR15 G4, Reeflink (Allows control of all of these online) & Battery backup. Going to run a Phosphate reactor and Siporax in the sump too. Reefloat wc kit looks tempting too.
Plan is to stock fish, soft corals and LPS. I'll learn the ropes with dosing etc. and then add a doser if I need.
For those who run reef tanks, what salt do you use? I'm looking at RS Coral pro or DD H2Ocean.
I've kept freshwater planted tanks for a few years now. I've tried high/low tech but have ended up with an ADA setup for the main tank and two small shrimp tanks (one mixed Taiwan Bees, one Super Crystal Blacks)
The planted tank is being replaced with a Red Sea Reefer 170. I'd been reading and speccing and was on for £2500 of kit. I then found a guy selling pretty much exactly the same spec, 5 months old, for half the price. It was too good to pass up!
I'm going to be using a Nyos skimmer, Ecotech M1, MP10Ws, XR15 G4, Reeflink (Allows control of all of these online) & Battery backup. Going to run a Phosphate reactor and Siporax in the sump too. Reefloat wc kit looks tempting too.
Plan is to stock fish, soft corals and LPS. I'll learn the ropes with dosing etc. and then add a doser if I need.
For those who run reef tanks, what salt do you use? I'm looking at RS Coral pro or DD H2Ocean.
Let us know how you get on.
I have had to euthanise two fish, a Neon that came with white spot, tried treating it but it just got mankier and mankier, and a Guppy that got a kind of tumour, came home and it was doing aerobatics, everythign else fine, water fine, just putting it down to stuff sometimes gets ill and dies, or gets helped to.
Need to divest myself of some of the numerous Platys I have, everythign I move there are more of the buggers, smaller than a grain of rice to full size, or nearly, they do like to breed, the Molies did but only two have survived, had three but I think the Silver Dollars are quite partial to them if they get compacent.
My Golden Nugget plec is a right boring bugger, lurks in the background, never really moves, will it get more sociable ?
I have had to euthanise two fish, a Neon that came with white spot, tried treating it but it just got mankier and mankier, and a Guppy that got a kind of tumour, came home and it was doing aerobatics, everythign else fine, water fine, just putting it down to stuff sometimes gets ill and dies, or gets helped to.
Need to divest myself of some of the numerous Platys I have, everythign I move there are more of the buggers, smaller than a grain of rice to full size, or nearly, they do like to breed, the Molies did but only two have survived, had three but I think the Silver Dollars are quite partial to them if they get compacent.
My Golden Nugget plec is a right boring bugger, lurks in the background, never really moves, will it get more sociable ?
Platy's do love to breed thats for sure! I have just set up a new to me tank, used to keep them years ago and bred lots of livebearers then.
After sister in law came to stay for a month following a break up we had a small goldfish tank left at ours with a large goldfish and 2 bristlenose plecs in it! They didnt want to keep it and I knew the goldfish was to large for the tank and the plecs belonged in a tropical set up. Then I saw a lovely aqua oak aquarium for sale locally at a steal, bit of man maths later and I have a lovely 3.5ft tank set up in living room! The plecs are very happy with there new surroundings and the goldfish has been rehomed into a family members pond!
It is a bit addictive and I am already planning to reuse the small goldfish tank as a nursery tank or maybe move some of the tetras into it!
After sister in law came to stay for a month following a break up we had a small goldfish tank left at ours with a large goldfish and 2 bristlenose plecs in it! They didnt want to keep it and I knew the goldfish was to large for the tank and the plecs belonged in a tropical set up. Then I saw a lovely aqua oak aquarium for sale locally at a steal, bit of man maths later and I have a lovely 3.5ft tank set up in living room! The plecs are very happy with there new surroundings and the goldfish has been rehomed into a family members pond!
It is a bit addictive and I am already planning to reuse the small goldfish tank as a nursery tank or maybe move some of the tetras into it!
Edited by jackthelad1984 on Thursday 27th April 22:02
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Platys will pop out more babies than a council estate slapper - I started with 4, and within a few months I was giving them away to friends. Even when I cleared the tank of Platys a new baby one would suddenly appear a couple of weeks later. A pair of Gouramis soon sorted out that out though.
Sick fish is part and parcel of the hobby - and a real pain in a reef tank. Virtually all of the mainstream treatments are copper based which will wipe out inverts and corals. I've got a small (40l) tank that I keep for sick fish - if I can catch them, and a 200l plastic tub for any of the bigger fish. So far I've only had to use the little tank twice.
I did put in a shoal of 6 Lyretail Anthius last year. One of them picked off the other 5, then jumped out of the tank - £240 gone in a weekend. Although the clean up crew were happy picking over the massacred remains at the back of the tank where my grabbers wont reach.
Sick fish is part and parcel of the hobby - and a real pain in a reef tank. Virtually all of the mainstream treatments are copper based which will wipe out inverts and corals. I've got a small (40l) tank that I keep for sick fish - if I can catch them, and a 200l plastic tub for any of the bigger fish. So far I've only had to use the little tank twice.
I did put in a shoal of 6 Lyretail Anthius last year. One of them picked off the other 5, then jumped out of the tank - £240 gone in a weekend. Although the clean up crew were happy picking over the massacred remains at the back of the tank where my grabbers wont reach.
Yeah, was thrilled to see the babies and we were checkign on them for ages, seeing if we could spot them, now its like sea of Orange, with a couple of Black Lyretail Mollie babies as well, goign to whack a load in a bag and take them to the LFS, he said he would take them, I like Platys but dont need 20 odd of them, and liek you say, you think you can see them all, then you clean up and flush them out and there are miniscule ones lurking, I find them in the tank water taken out when cleaning and have been popping them back but kind of past bothering now.
J4CKO said:
Yeah, was thrilled to see the babies and we were checkign on them for ages, seeing if we could spot them, now its like sea of Orange, with a couple of Black Lyretail Mollie babies as well, goign to whack a load in a bag and take them to the LFS, he said he would take them, I like Platys but dont need 20 odd of them, and liek you say, you think you can see them all, then you clean up and flush them out and there are miniscule ones lurking, I find them in the tank water taken out when cleaning and have been popping them back but kind of past bothering now.
Indeed. Breeding in a normal tank is fun at the start but a pain as normal maintenance continues. My livebearers were popping out loads of babies per month, so getting them out of the tank before the bioload increased meant other tanks... which became shrimp tanks when I decided to stop having mixed sex livebearers in the tank.I now have the same problem with shrimps. It is not too bad on a water change, but any filter maintenance means that I am there with six feet of airline and a bright light above the bucket of tank water sucking the little blighters up one by one.
Knowing what a horrible death it is for a creature to encounter our waste water system means that I just have to get them back in the tank before pouring the water away. I am a soft sod like that. It is not unusual to find 20 minuscule shrimps when cleaning the filter, which does add some considerable time to the process while repatriating them.
I had to redo my tank today, apparently I had an invasion of trumpet snails. I only spotted them by chance when I turned the light on one night and after staking out the tank in darkness and shining a torch in was greeted by the sight of hundreds. It also gave me an opportunity to try and end that black brush algae problem.
Going to have to restock with plants now as I binned the existing ones in case any snails were still in there.
Going to have to restock with plants now as I binned the existing ones in case any snails were still in there.
Edited by Oakey on Friday 2nd June 20:55
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