29 Gallon Upgrade

[Byron]

I've been rethinking the livestock and filtration. Now I'm thinking of just going with just sponge filters so as to not have a lot of current in the tank and going with fish that prefer less flow. I want corys and according to Seriously Fish, Corydoras Habrosus (Salt and pepper cory) prefer areas where the water flow isn't strong.
Rasbora sarawakensis (Blue line rasbora) seem like good candidates. Maybe Nannostomus marginatus (Dwarf pencilfish). Possibly Trigonostigma heteromorpha (Harlequin rasboras), a mix of the red and purple varieties, but they might need a little more flow.
I'm interested in trying out all sponge filtration. I know the sponge itself acts as a bio medium. But I want the kind that has an extra compartment for bio beads. And either has a bubble disfuser built in or something I can rig with an air stone.

If you have plants as mentioned earlier in this thread, you do not need much filtration, a dual sponge would be enough. The plants are doing the nitrifying, not bacteria. The water flow is a separate issue though usually connected to the type of filter to avoid clogging the setup with extraneous equipment. I had no issues with a 29g tank with a dual sponge filter (pictured), with nano-type fish, hatchetfish, and a group of pygmy cories. But moving up one grade, if I felt the need for more water flow, I then turned to an interior corner filter like the Fluval "U" series or the Aqueon Quiet Flow pictured below, that is basically a sponge with a motor. You again do not want "biological" filtration as this is the job of the plants, and in any event it will occur regardless of the filter, even when there is no filter.

 

[sharkweek178]

If you have plants as mentioned earlier in this thread, you do not need much filtration, a dual sponge would be enough. The plants are doing the nitrifying, not bacteria. The water flow is a separate issue though usually connected to the type of filter to avoid clogging the setup with extraneous equipment. I had no issues with a 29g tank with a dual sponge filter (pictured), with nano-type fish, hatchetfish, and a group of pygmy cories. But moving up one grade, if I felt the need for more water flow, I then turned to an interior corner filter like the Fluval "U" series or the Aqueon Quiet Flow pictured below, that is basically a sponge with a motor. You again do not want "biological" filtration as this is the job of the plants, and in any event it will occur regardless of the filter, even when there is no filter.

I'm taking a belt and suspenders approach. I've never kept aquatic plants (come to think of it, or any other kind) before. So I'm thinking that it would be a good idea to have the bacteria present if the plants don't work out.

 

[Byron]

I'm taking a belt and suspenders approach. I've never kept aquatic plants (come to think of it, or any other kind) before. So I'm thinking that it would be a good idea to have the bacteria present if the plants don't work out.

Not really feasible, because aquatic plants grab the ammonia faster than the nitrifying bacteria can, so your plants are doing the filtration. Having said that, if the plants are all slow growing this will obviously be less because they need less. But the nitrifying bacteria will develop in the background so to speak.

 

[sharkweek178]

Not really feasible, because aquatic plants grab the ammonia faster than the nitrifying bacteria can, so your plants are doing the filtration. Having said that, if the plants are all slow growing this will obviously be less because they need less. But the nitrifying bacteria will develop in the background so to speak.

What if I did a fishless cycle before adding the plants?

 

[Byron]

What if I did a fishless cycle before adding the plants?

This would in my view be a complete waste of your time and effort. I have never cycled a tank is over 30 years. Growing plants (especially floating species) do the job, safer and faster.

 

[sharkweek178]

This would in my view be a complete waste of your time and effort. I have never cycled a tank is over 30 years. Growing plants (especially floating species) do the job, safer and faster.

I can take yes for an answer here and start adding fish after I get the tank equipped.

 

[sharkweek178]

Not really feasible, because aquatic plants grab the ammonia faster than the nitrifying bacteria can, so your plants are doing the filtration. Having said that, if the plants are all slow growing this will obviously be less because they need less. But the nitrifying bacteria will develop in the background so to speak.

I'm thinking for when after fish are added and the bio load is too much for the plants to handle thermselves. Wouldn't the bio media be helpful then?

 

[Byron]

I'm thinking for when after fish are added and the bio load is too much for the plants to handle thermselves. Wouldn't the bio media be helpful then?

It depends upon the plant species and number, and I will always recommend some floating plants because they are fast growers. If the only plants are maybe one Java Fern and some moss, that is not going to do much. But the uptake of ammonia/ammonium by fast growing plants is phenomenal. You cannot possibly add too many fish, always assuming you are not way overstocking the tank in the first place.

 

[Essjay]

I would advise anyone new to aquarium plants to wait until you're sure the plants are thriving before getting fish. Taking a photo of the newly planted tank will give you something to compare plant growth to over the next week or two so you'll know if they are actively growing.

 

[sharkweek178]

It depends upon the plant species and number, and I will always recommend some floating plants because they are fast growers. If the only plants are maybe one Java Fern and some moss, that is not going to do much. But the uptake of ammonia/ammonium by fast growing plants is phenomenal. You cannot possibly add too many fish, always assuming you are not way overstocking the tank in the first place.

I listed the plants in thinking of in the OP. Of those, I think the water wisteria and frogbit are definite additions. Because they are fast growing column feeders.

 

[sharkweek178]

I would advise anyone new to aquarium plants to wait until you're sure the plants are thriving before getting fish. Taking a photo of the newly planted tank will give you something to compare plant growth to over the next week or two so you'll know if they are actively growing.

Plus I'd think that if they weren't actively growing, I'd see that on an ammonia test.

 

[Byron]

I listed the plants in thinking of in the OP. Of those, I think the water wisteria and frogbit are definite additions. Because they are fast growing column feeders.

Yes, all substantial floating plants (Frogbit, Water Sprite, Water Lettuce) and stem plants (like Wisteria) are fast growing, and if you see obvious signs that any of these are growing, you are OK.

 

[sharkweek178]

I'm on a budget while I set this up. So far I've gotten lucky finding bargains or things on sale. I don't want to spend more than I have to but I still want quality. I think I want to spend a little more on the lights since the plants will depend on them. I'm also currently on some financial constraints. I might do a fish less cycle just to have something to do with the tank until I get the lights I want. Or maybe I'll get cheaper lights to stay with and replace them with something better down the line.

 

[Beastije]

I've been rethinking the livestock and filtration. Now I'm thinking of just going with just sponge filters so as to not have a lot of current in the tank and going with fish that prefer less flow. I want corys and according to Seriously Fish, Corydoras Habrosus (Salt and pepper cory) prefer areas where the water flow isn't strong.
Rasbora sarawakensis (Blue line rasbora) seem like good candidates. Maybe Nannostomus marginatus (Dwarf pencilfish). Possibly Trigonostigma heteromorpha (Harlequin rasboras), a mix of the red and purple varieties, but they might need a little more flow.
I'm interested in trying out all sponge filtration. I know the sponge itself acts as a bio medium. But I want the kind that has an extra compartment for bio beads. And either has a bubble disfuser built in or something I can rig with an air stone.

HI, please do research on the pencilfish. One of the pencilfish,(and if I am not mistaken) the marginatus, is a surface area fish that doesnt venture to mid level much. This combined with gourami may be stressful for both species. Other pencilfish, eques doesnt dwell on the surface and likes the mid area of the tank, which would be more suitable for the gourami, but it may be too boisterous. I would also be wary of the Harlequin rasboras, they chase each other vigorously and can nip at the gourami, they can turn into quite monsters if you dont have them in groups of at least 10. Other rasboras, like espei or hengeli may be not so crazy (from what I have read). My harlequins were all over the tank and stealing food from the bottom too, I read hengeli are more mid to top oriented.

 

[Beastije]

I'm on a budget while I set this up. So far I've gotten lucky finding bargains or things on sale. I don't want to spend more than I have to but I still want quality. I think I want to spend a little more on the lights since the plants will depend on them. I'm also currently on some financial constraints. I might do a fish less cycle just to have something to do with the tank until I get the lights I want. Or maybe I'll get cheaper lights to stay with and replace them with something better down the line.

BTW not sure how it works in your area, but in here a lot of plants are given away by other aquarist when they are doing tank maintenance. It is all the fast growing plants that are needed in the beginning of the setup, frogbit, duckweed, hornwort, lot of mosses and so. Join some facebook groups and look for people giving these away or even ask for some. Lot of plants like java fern are also regularly cut, a lot of people have anubias cuttings too. If I were closer I could give you bucket (and I have often done so and I also received a lot of plants that I needed in the beginning), basically except one echinodorus, I have never purchased plants for my current three tanks in the past 3 years.
There are also people selling stuff due to move or upgrades, so marketplace or specific website exchanges for lights and used heaters or filters are not a bad option.
For a 29 gallon a large sponge and a simple airfilter are more than enough (provided you will do water changes regularly or get the fast growing plants), and the air filter itself costs like 16 euro tops, and you cab buy the sponge sold regularly, or check for shops that will cut the sponges with higher PPI (or what is it called, the how small a hole in the netting is) and you can buy a large cut sponge for lwe price than the commercial sold and packed one. I bought a 20x10x20cm sponge for 4 euros and it has the large space the bacteria needs. It doesnt look pretty though, so there is that, but it can be hidden by a large plant (example of not looking so pretty below from my tank)

You can do a lot of things on a budget, you dont need to do everything at once and you can easily do a fishless cycle, add some plants in the upcoming weeks as you get them, wait some more weeks, move the platy you have, as it is a hardy fish, still wait, give the plants some more time, move some other fish and do this in a span of months rather than a weekend