Show me your aquarium

Author
Discussion

techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Tuesday 22nd December 2020
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Turn7 said:
techguyone said:
Looking for recommendations for a small loach/sucker fish or two that don't grow beyond an inch or two for clean up duty, I doubt anything shrimpy would last too long with the danios.
Otocinclus....
Good call, I'll check the LFS

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2020
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techguyone said:
...
I'm probably in a minority of just having artificial plants, maybe next time I'll give those a whirl, but for now, I'm happy to go with the reduced maintenance.
...
Clearly, getting plants established can be problematic and inevitably takes a while, but in time they help maintain the system effectively reducing maintenance.

wjwren

4,484 posts

134 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2020
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New to this. What do you guys use to measure levels? Link please. Thanks.

Sway

26,070 posts

193 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2020
quotequote all
wjwren said:
New to this. What do you guys use to measure levels? Link please. Thanks.
Fresh or saltwater?

wjwren

4,484 posts

134 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2020
quotequote all
Fresh. Just a few fantails. Thanks

Sway

26,070 posts

193 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2020
quotequote all
wjwren said:
Fresh. Just a few fantails. Thanks
This is the one I've used for years for freshwater.


https://charterhouse-aquatics.com/shop/aquatics/ma...

You'll use some more than others, and once the tank is settled and mature after a few months you'll likely not test again unless there's an issue - but it covers all the important bases.

Glad you said freshwater - marine testing is both a minefield for accuracy, and bloody expensive!

techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2020
quotequote all
Sway said:
wjwren said:
Fresh. Just a few fantails. Thanks
This is the one I've used for years for freshwater.


https://charterhouse-aquatics.com/shop/aquatics/ma...

You'll use some more than others, and once the tank is settled and mature after a few months you'll likely not test again unless there's an issue - but it covers all the important bases.

Glad you said freshwater - marine testing is both a minefield for accuracy, and bloody expensive!
I use the same, be aware though it doesn't test for water hardness, though this isn't as great an issue as Ammonia, nitrite/nitrate though.

The wet kits offer better results and better value for money than the strips of coated paper that do the same thing. (plus you get the mad science experiment vibe with the test tubes and funky colours from the water results)

LimJim

2,274 posts

41 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2020
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Re marine. I’m considering a small reef tank. If you use local seawater for marine, and it’s quality soup, changed regularly, is it easier, do you still need to test as much?

Sway

26,070 posts

193 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2020
quotequote all
LimJim said:
Re marine. I’m considering a small reef tank. If you use local seawater for marine, and it’s quality soup, changed regularly, is it easier, do you still need to test as much?
You test different things with marine...

Once cycled (and natural seawater definitely helps with the cycle, as well as the biodiversity) then you're not going to be testing ammonia/nitrite/nitrate very often if at all.

However, you will need to test alkalinity (carbonate hardness) and phosphates - one gets used by corals to build the skeleton, and you'll likely need to dose alk daily in between water changes and the other is quite strange in that it doesn't really get removed/diluted by water changes (there are explanations for the chemistry causing this, but they're way over my head!).

pH is also important as it has a direct effect on alk levels - however I don't test this as I'm told that there simply isn't an effective and accurate home test.

My tank is a fluval evo 52l, so a nice little nano with a few mods. Once cycled and setup, I started adding corals.

A month or two later, I started testing alk daily to get my head around how much the tank was consuming (and how much it was dropping during the day due to me being in the same room and my CO2 dropping pH/alk). I then figured out what dosing to do (I use All4reef one part, which is awesome).

Now, I test alk weekly to ensure my dosing is about right (I need to increase my dosing about monthly as corals get bigger and consume more) and water change fortnightly.

A hell of a lot depends on your stocking. If purely soft corals, alk is broadly irrelevant. If stocking SPS (small polyp stony) then you'd have a completely different and much more detailed regime.

Mine is a mixed reef, with only one SPS a couple of LPS (large polyp stony) and several soft corals (oh, and an anemone which is an entirely different beast again!).

Definitely easier with regular, high quality water changes (nsw is amazing stuff!).

For test kits, I now solely use Fauna Marin Pro - which are individually expensive but I only need two. My Red Sea tests for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate were much cheaper, and now only ever used if there is a major problem like a fish death.

LimJim

2,274 posts

41 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2020
quotequote all
Super useful info, thank you

MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
So ive been doing a bit of research and with the gap I got I can fit in a 300 litre tank in the space I have in the room there are a few 2nd tanks with all the kit for sale in my area so think I will be going for that.
On fish front as its my first think im going to stick with a passive community to start of with thinking 6 or so corys with a golden nugget pleco. Was drawn to the clown loache but they don't seem to get on with the corys and they do grow pretty big.

4-6 platys they have some beautiful markings on them. Same again with cherry barb which look like they can live with more passive fish compared to the other barbs. 4 guppies, then im stuck for a shoaling type fish either rainbowfish or tetra.
Im trying to keep it to around 30-40 fish which I think from my readings will be fine for a 300 litre tank. What do people recon on that or have other options for possible fish types. Going to stay away from chichilds even though they are beautiful fish.

I am planning on a study come gaming room in the 2nd room upstairs so am tempted if they start breading in the main tank to get a 2nd smaller one for the smaller fish with some shrimp and maybe in the future go with the bigger fish in the main tank but that's further down the line.


Turn7

23,498 posts

220 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
300 litres is a good size, what sort of filtration and water change regime are you thinking about ?

Whats your tap water params ?

Ammo, Nitrite and Nitrate are the enemy, along with chlorine/chloramine from tap water.

Always use something like Prime to neutralize that danger on every water change.

Look at the smaller Barbs, not necessarily Tigers, but Cherrys, Odessa,Chequer. plus Chain Loach/Paikistan loach, great community fish and stays small, easily have 4 in that tank.

Im a big fan of Barbs as they are an active shoaling species, and the likes of Odessa's can look stunning. Tigers are great but can be a bit fin nippy.

Zebra danios, good size shoal with a healthy amount of current from the filter incoing and thye play fro hours in the current.

Edited by Turn7 on Friday 25th December 20:39

techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
MG CHRIS said:
So ive been doing a bit of research and with the gap I got I can fit in a 300 litre tank in the space I have in the room there are a few 2nd tanks with all the kit for sale in my area so think I will be going for that.
On fish front as its my first think im going to stick with a passive community to start of with thinking 6 or so corys with a golden nugget pleco. Was drawn to the clown loache but they don't seem to get on with the corys and they do grow pretty big.

4-6 platys they have some beautiful markings on them. Same again with cherry barb which look like they can live with more passive fish compared to the other barbs. 4 guppies, then im stuck for a shoaling type fish either rainbowfish or tetra.
Im trying to keep it to around 30-40 fish which I think from my readings will be fine for a 300 litre tank. What do people recon on that or have other options for possible fish types. Going to stay away from chichilds even though they are beautiful fish.

I am planning on a study come gaming room in the 2nd room upstairs so am tempted if they start breading in the main tank to get a 2nd smaller one for the smaller fish with some shrimp and maybe in the future go with the bigger fish in the main tank but that's further down the line.
There's a general rule of thumb that you can have a cm of fish for each litre, think fish is good for putting in the fish you might like, and if they get on with each other, take a look here:

https://www.thinkfish.co.uk/fish/neon-tetra.html

Scroll down the page a bit.

Then you can enter tank length, volume, and filter type, and it will tot up as you add fish.

Danios are lively, if a little plain to look at, they also can fin nip so guppies will be unhappy.

Rummy nose tetra are quite striking and also like Danios fairly lively, they are also just slightly smaller than a Danio, anyway take a look at the link, put your parems in and take it from there.

techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
looks like this.


MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
Turn7 said:
300 litres is a good size, what sort of filtration and water change regime are you thinking about ?

Whats your tap water params ?

Ammo, Nitrite and Nitrate are the enemy, along with chlorine/chloramine from tap water.

Always use something like Prime to neutralize that danger on every water change.

Look at the smaller Barbs, not necessarily Tigers, but Cherrys, Odessa,Chequer. plus Chain Loach/Paikistan loach, great community fish and stays small, easily have 4 in that tank.

Im a big fan of Barbs as they are an active shoaling species, and the likes of Odessa's can look stunning. Tigers are great but can be a bit fin nippy.

Zebra danios, good size shoal with a healthy amount of current from the filter incoing and thye play fro hours in the current.

Edited by Turn7 on Friday 25th December 20:39
Not sure what the tap water is like for params will have to pop to the local fish shop to get some kit to test and go from there. Luckily there is a local pet shop in the high street where im moving too so might pop in next week at some point. We also have a pets at home not far from my parents but my nearest dedicated aquatics place is a good 20 miles away. Ive seen a couple of tank set ups with all the kit with it so will do a bit more studying over the coming weeks and decide on what to go for.



techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
MG CHRIS said:
Turn7 said:
300 litres is a good size, what sort of filtration and water change regime are you thinking about ?

Whats your tap water params ?

Ammo, Nitrite and Nitrate are the enemy, along with chlorine/chloramine from tap water.

Always use something like Prime to neutralize that danger on every water change.

Look at the smaller Barbs, not necessarily Tigers, but Cherrys, Odessa,Chequer. plus Chain Loach/Paikistan loach, great community fish and stays small, easily have 4 in that tank.

Im a big fan of Barbs as they are an active shoaling species, and the likes of Odessa's can look stunning. Tigers are great but can be a bit fin nippy.

Zebra danios, good size shoal with a healthy amount of current from the filter incoing and thye play fro hours in the current.

Edited by Turn7 on Friday 25th December 20:39
Not sure what the tap water is like for params will have to pop to the local fish shop to get some kit to test and go from there. Luckily there is a local pet shop in the high street where im moving too so might pop in next week at some point. We also have a pets at home not far from my parents but my nearest dedicated aquatics place is a good 20 miles away. Ive seen a couple of tank set ups with all the kit with it so will do a bit more studying over the coming weeks and decide on what to go for.
This one is regarded as one of the best

https://www.amazon.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Aquarium-W...


Avoid the dip sticks type, they don't offer great value for money and are not terribly accurate.

Turn7

23,498 posts

220 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
techguyone said:
MG CHRIS said:
Turn7 said:
300 litres is a good size, what sort of filtration and water change regime are you thinking about ?

Whats your tap water params ?

Ammo, Nitrite and Nitrate are the enemy, along with chlorine/chloramine from tap water.

Always use something like Prime to neutralize that danger on every water change.

Look at the smaller Barbs, not necessarily Tigers, but Cherrys, Odessa,Chequer. plus Chain Loach/Paikistan loach, great community fish and stays small, easily have 4 in that tank.

Im a big fan of Barbs as they are an active shoaling species, and the likes of Odessa's can look stunning. Tigers are great but can be a bit fin nippy.

Zebra danios, good size shoal with a healthy amount of current from the filter incoing and thye play fro hours in the current.

Edited by Turn7 on Friday 25th December 20:39
Not sure what the tap water is like for params will have to pop to the local fish shop to get some kit to test and go from there. Luckily there is a local pet shop in the high street where im moving too so might pop in next week at some point. We also have a pets at home not far from my parents but my nearest dedicated aquatics place is a good 20 miles away. Ive seen a couple of tank set ups with all the kit with it so will do a bit more studying over the coming weeks and decide on what to go for.
This one is regarded as one of the best

https://www.amazon.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Aquarium-W...


Avoid the dip sticks type, they don't offer great value for money and are not terribly accurate.
Agreed on the API and not using dip strips....

Sway

26,070 posts

193 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
300l is a lovely size.

I can never resist either a pair of kribensis, or a hareem of apistogramma - stunning fish, amazing behaviour and add some interest to the lower third.

Corys are just awesome.

Personally I steer clear of livebearers. They invariably become a pain in the arse.

A lovely shoal of tetras (lots of types out there - and they often don't show their colours until settled at home) is always gorgeous.

Maybe a pair of dwarf gourami? Similar behaviour to kribensis, but at the top of the tank.

Plus lots of plants, and huge quantities of cherry shrimp!

MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
Sway said:
300l is a lovely size.

I can never resist either a pair of kribensis, or a hareem of apistogramma - stunning fish, amazing behaviour and add some interest to the lower third.

Corys are just awesome.

Personally I steer clear of livebearers. They invariably become a pain in the arse.

A lovely shoal of tetras (lots of types out there - and they often don't show their colours until settled at home) is always gorgeous.

Maybe a pair of dwarf gourami? Similar behaviour to kribensis, but at the top of the tank.

Plus lots of plants, and huge quantities of cherry shrimp!
I was looking at the cherry shrimp but with the pleco being a bottom feeder would they eat the shrimp or any of the other fish. Or is it best to put them in first along with the corys to start on the fish stock. Also what levels of fish is recommended for a 300 litre tank I was thinking around 50 or so with a mix of mainly small to medium sized fish.

Deffenitly want plants just seen the kribensis wow they are certainly stunning. Lots of options out there. Also been looking at tuxedo swordtails very attractive fish.

MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Friday 25th December 2020
quotequote all
Turn7 said:
techguyone said:
MG CHRIS said:
Turn7 said:
300 litres is a good size, what sort of filtration and water change regime are you thinking about ?

Whats your tap water params ?

Ammo, Nitrite and Nitrate are the enemy, along with chlorine/chloramine from tap water.

Always use something like Prime to neutralize that danger on every water change.

Look at the smaller Barbs, not necessarily Tigers, but Cherrys, Odessa,Chequer. plus Chain Loach/Paikistan loach, great community fish and stays small, easily have 4 in that tank.

Im a big fan of Barbs as they are an active shoaling species, and the likes of Odessa's can look stunning. Tigers are great but can be a bit fin nippy.

Zebra danios, good size shoal with a healthy amount of current from the filter incoing and thye play fro hours in the current.

Edited by Turn7 on Friday 25th December 20:39
Not sure what the tap water is like for params will have to pop to the local fish shop to get some kit to test and go from there. Luckily there is a local pet shop in the high street where im moving too so might pop in next week at some point. We also have a pets at home not far from my parents but my nearest dedicated aquatics place is a good 20 miles away. Ive seen a couple of tank set ups with all the kit with it so will do a bit more studying over the coming weeks and decide on what to go for.
This one is regarded as one of the best

https://www.amazon.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Aquarium-W...


Avoid the dip sticks type, they don't offer great value for money and are not terribly accurate.
Agreed on the API and not using dip strips....
Thanks for the advice will look into more over the coming weeks got to sort putting up all the furniture upstairs that arrived 2 days ago first. This buying a house thing certainly rivals cars for expenses.

Hope everyone has had a good or as good as it can be Christmas this year.