First-Timer Needing Your Advice/Help

[jarthel]

Hello everyone. I'm about to receive a 4ft tank (2nd hand) and I wanted it to be a planted aquarium with a community fish centered around a angelfish.

1. I have looked around and eco-complete or carrib-see seems to be the best but I can't justify the costs. The shop owner then suggested aquaclay which seems very cheap for how much I get. Any thoughts on this product?

2. Also any tips on for a first-timer. I wanted plants that are easy to grow without much hassle. I prepared to learn of course. But I do not want a plant that requires me to check various water parameters (ph, salinity, toxicity and etc). it is not ideal for a first timer in my opinion. I was thinking of doing a fishless cycle until I read one of the sticky (http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/299827-why-we-should-not-fishless-cycle-planted-tanks/) in this forum section. I read the sticky but I'm not so sure on what to do. But it is way over my head. Can you please summarise? or help me understand on how to prepare my planted tank.

3. oh, if you're from Australia and have used easy-to-grow native plants, please recommended what you have used.

4. Do you know of a website with photos of planted aquarium setup? I need some inspiration for my setup.

5. any other tips you want to share, it would be most appreciated.

thank you very much!!!

 

[OldMan47]

Moved at the OP's request.

 

[Neesmo]

from what my girlfriend has told me, and she has years of experience with bettas. I dont think betta typically last long in a filtered tank. I dont know that for fact. just what ive been told

Kyle

 

[jarthel]

from what my girlfriend has told me, and she has years of experience with bettas. I dont think betta typically last long in a filtered tank. I dont know that for fact. just what ive been told

Kyle

1st post edited. after I created the thread, I found out that planted aquarium = high current and betta don't like that at all.

 

[Neesmo]

cool. i love angelfish. You have to make sure to get a rather tall tank. they tipically get to around 8" as far as i remember, and pretty tall body style obviously. Hope you can find an angel that suites you!

Kyle

 

[Carter]

Any form of filtration in a tank will be beneficial to the tank and its inhabitants. Betta's are naturally from pools of water, however, placing a filter in the tank will only make the conditions better for them. Eg. I highly recommend a Jebo R331 tank for a betta.

In regards to your tank and your ideas behind setting it up as a planted tank, it is ideal to understand the certain conditions that must be there for it to occur. Eg. Lighting. Lighting is a key aspect of any planted tank and you first need to understand that for a 4ft tank, this is critical for the plants to properly photosynthesise in the water. Not enough light means that the plants will not be able to do this and they can die form it, polluting your water and eventually killing your fish.

It is also required that in heavy planted tanks that you have a large enough amount of circulation to allow for gas exchange between the water and the atmosphere and the plants themselves. Not enough water flow and the water around the stems can become stagnant and thus, rot the plants.

Now. I know i have been critical with a lot of this, and i apologise about it, however i would rather you know about what can happen then go out and experience it yourself.

Aqua clay is, like you said, cheap, however, it will provide a descent amount of nutrients for your plants to grow with out having to add supplements and for the roots to be able to establish.

A suggestion of plats to start off with? Well i'm from Melbourne and i am fairly sure that the majority of pet stores and aquariums around australia will deal with a supplier called Pisces Enterprises. http/www.piscesenterprises.com They are a Queensland based company that deal with a large range of plants for aquariums. They are who wee deal with and the plants are of a very high quality.

Now recommendations for you?

Rush
Ambulia
Violet
yellow Ivy
Red Ivy
Dwarf Blyxa
Java fern
green pennywort
gold pennywort
corkscrew val
amazon sword
hygrophila
Wisteria
Lizard Tail
Purple waffle
Rose
Strict
Rotala Wallichii
Anubias

The list goes on...

It is a bit long, but i hope it helps you.

regard;