Advice Needed Please :)

[jim_uk_2006]

Hiya guys, just looking for some advice really so here go's
I have a juwel rio 300 which is a 350 ltr tank and so far stocked with 12 black widow tetras, 7 yellow tetras, 10 corys a mixture of pepper, albinio and bronze, 5 guppys and a red tailed shark.
The tank is planted with a 48" package from plants alive, some of the plants have died and some are doing ok. I have added plants alive gro tabs and liquid flora boost. The substrate is very small 3mm dorset pea gravel.

I have been doing regular testing and the water quality is fine, i have also been doing weekly water changes.
So anyway what i would like advice about is:

Plants, if anybody has any ideas of plants that would do well in my tank without a co2 system, or advice about a suitable co2 sytem that wont break the bank.
I have also noticed im starting to get quite a bit of what i think is thread algae, do i need to do anything with this? will it overgrow everything?

Stocking, i need to add more colour to the tank as although i like what i have it just looks a bit dull and needs something that stands out. I have been thinking about a shoal of cardinal tetras and maybe a couple of feature fish.

The tank has been running for about6 months, 4 months with fish and plants in.

I'm not really good at putting what i want to say into words so i hope this comes accross ok. Thanks for your time and i look forward to hearing back from you all, thanks jim

 

[Haveagojoe]

Have you thought about going down the diy co2 route, on your size it would mean multiple bottles but it makes such a difference on the plants, as for stocking I love the pencil rasboras they are great charachters in a shoal and so peaceful.

 

[myrtle]

There's no way you'd get stable CO2 on a tank that size wih DIY yeast; you'd be asking for black brush algae! I'd either go pressurised (fire extinguisher, regulator, diffusor etc) or non-CO2 with plants like cryptocoryne, anubias, Java fern, mosses. The growth wil be slower without Co2 but more manageable. You could go liquid carbon but unless you're made of money a tank that size would be expensive. It's really up to you, though you may get more responses in the planted section further down. If you could post a pic of the algae it would be helpful as they can have different causes and methods of eradication.

 

[jim_uk_2006]

They look like a nice fish, they are just a very similar colour to what i have.
The DIY co2 might be worth looking into as long as i dont have coke bottles all over the house lol,, i was thinking of one of these
http/tmc-ltd.co.uk/planted-tank/aquagro-sets.asp
but i think you can only use them in aquariums upto 150 ltrs

 

[jim_uk_2006]

There's no way you'd get stable CO2 on a tank that size wih DIY yeast; you'd be asking for black brush algae! I'd either go pressurised (fire extinguisher, regulator, diffusor etc) or non-CO2 with plants like cryptocoryne, anubias, Java fern, mosses. The growth wil be slower without Co2 but more manageable. You could go liquid carbon but unless you're made of money a tank that size would be expensive. It's really up to you, though you may get more responses in the planted section further down. If you could post a pic of the algae it would be helpful as they can have different causes and methods of eradication.

i think im going to have to find out what type of plants i can grow without co2, so if anybody has anymore suggestions i would be greatful, thanks for for yours myrtle

 

[jim_uk_2006]

Just thought i would TRY and add a few pics lol

 

[jim_uk_2006]

another, it will only let me do one per post

 

[jim_uk_2006]

the tank is higher a the back so it has two levels

another lol

and heres a pic of the algae, hope everybody likes, look forward to hearing your comments

 

[notg2009]

how about cardinals or rasboras? I think it's better to go to the lfs and see what they offer, since most of us are at the mercy of lfs when it comes to stocking a tank

 

[jim_uk_2006]

what are rasboras?
i will probably know what they are when i see them lol

 

[notg2009]

http/www.google.com/images?hl=&q=rasbora&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGLL_enUS402US402&ie=UTF-8&biw=1280&bih=609

http/www.fishlore.com/profile-harlequinrasbora.htm

 

[jim_uk_2006]

i really like the galaxy rasbora, that looks a lovely fish but i can't say that i have seen any in the shops

 

[jim_uk_2006]

just looking at the pics again and you really do have to look hard to see the fish, it really does need some fish that stand out

 

[jim_uk_2006]

i have just realised my lemon tetras are actually xray tetras lol anyway i have increased their numbers up to 12.
so what does everybody think of the set up so far? any ideas greatfully excepted

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

I like the layout in your tank and the background is great!
I have the same tank which is cycling at the moment but i have gone for artificial plants as it is my first big tank.
I have put bog and mopani wood but it is a deep tank.

Therefore i am going to put a shoal Melanotaenia boesemani - Boeseman's rainbowfish in first as they will use the height of the tank.
Still scratching my head for other ideas but thinking about some Mikrogeophagus altispinosus - Bolivian Rams as well.
Using below sites to help me decide:

http/www.aquariumlife.net/fishprof.asp

http/www.seriouslyfish.com/kb.php

http/www.badmanstropicalfish.com/species-gallery/gallery_main.html

The plants look great in there, hope you can keep them going.