Hi Newbie Needs Some Help

[Karey]

Hi everyone, my names Karey (Kaz) and I'm from Sunny Barnsley, Sth Yorks

I'm quite new to tropical fishkeeping and I have a 2ft tank with

2x corys
2x tiger barbs
2x red eye tetras

I currently have coloured gravel but want to change to sand.
I have 5 artificial plants
1x ornamental urn
1x ornamental bridge

Heater
filter
undergravel filter
Hood with built in light (T5 15w)

My tank is quite boring and I want to make it more natural looking with sand, stones, rocks, slate, wood etc.
Also what other fish could I get?

Any help would be much appreciated

Thanks
Karey!

 

[thereverendturtle]

Increase the numbers of what you have to 6-8 each species, and call it a day. all the fish you have do best in groups, as they are shoaling species.

 

[Karey]

Increase the numbers of what you have to 6-8 each species, and call it a day. all the fish you have do best in groups, as they are shoaling species.

Hi thereverendturtle

thanks for your reply, I will probably get some some barbs and tetras but I was hoping to make it a bit more interesting too. If not with different fish, then maybe with rocks etc..

 

[mike455555]

Increase the numbers of what you have to 6-8 each species, and call it a day. all the fish you have do best in groups, as they are shoaling species.

+1 to that and add some low tech live plants like java fern, java moss, amazon swords, crypts, anubias.

 

[Karey]

Increase the numbers of what you have to 6-8 each species, and call it a day. all the fish you have do best in groups, as they are shoaling species.

+1 to that and add some low tech live plants like java fern, java moss, amazon swords, crypts, anubias.

hi mike455555 thanks for that.

so it looks like I can only get more tiger barbs/red eye tetras or corys?

what about replacing my ornaments and gravel with sand and stones/rocks/wood/slate etc?

 

[mike455555]

the corys will love a change to sand =D its not to hard todo either if i were you id throw some live plants in there as well and make a stunning tank

 

[Karey]

the corys will love a change to sand =D its not to hard todo either if i were you id throw some live plants in there as well and make a stunning tank

Thanks that sounds good. I've heard that play sand (from Argos) is fine to use as long as its thoroughly rinsed first and a layer of gravel is put down first to stop the filters getting clogged.

I am definately going to get some live plants too, next question is lighting... at the moment my light is really dull. I have it on now and you can hardly tell there's a light on.. and it's starting to get dark in my room, can you reccommend a good type of light.

I am on a very tight budget so trying to keep everything to a minimal cost

 

[Harlequins]

The gravel will get mixed up with the sand eventually, so i wouldn't leave any gravel in there, has it can still damage the barbels of the corys...

Changing to sand is easy, like you said wash play sand well and you shouldn't mess the filter up

I would up the corys & tetras if you can, personally i think a 2 ft tank is too small for tiger barbs,they can be aggressive and need space...

 

[mike455555]

argos play sand is fine iv used it in all my tanks (do you know how to wash it?) do you have a under gravel filter and another filter?

ummm lightings normally the costy part. you could try replacing the bulb if not try car boots you can normally pick up stuff there fairly cheep if your willing to take the risk of second hand stuff id recommend just getting the starter there and buying new bulbs for it

 

[ripil]

i would suggest not mixing substrate. a few bits moved it will look odd n you'll like one more than the other n hate yourself for putting the one you don't like in the tank at all. been there lol upping the numbers of the species you have it good advice n i think removing the fake plants and using sand a nice size bit of bog wood with some java fern will look stunning. at a guess your light might be less than you need. my two foot tank is 20 gallons so i got a starter kit and a 20 watt tube n it looks top rate. think i read somewhere that its 1 watt per 1 gallon. id sort the light first as most live plants need good lighting. led lights look really good and for a two foot tank shouldnt cost too much. hope this helps

 

[Karey]

The gravel will get mixed up with the sand eventually, so i wouldn't leave any gravel in there, has it can still damage the barbels of the corys...

Changing to sand is easy, like you said wash play sand well and you shouldn't mess the filter up

I would up the corys & tetras if you can, personally i think a 2 ft tank is too small for tiger barbs,they can be aggressive and need space...

Hi Harlequins
thanks,..I wish the guy in the fish shop had been more helpful, I asked him what fish would be ok with my corys in a 2ft tank and he sed get 2 tigers and 2 red eyes

The barbs are really small, less than an inch long so hopefully they will have enough room?

argos play sand is fine iv used it in all my tanks (do you know how to wash it?) do you have a under gravel filter and another filter?

ummm lightings normally the costy part. you could try replacing the bulb if not try car boots you can normally pick up stuff there fairly cheep if your willing to take the risk of second hand stuff id recommend just getting the starter there and buying new bulbs for it

I presume I would wash it like I would rice?? lol keep rinsing and rinsing in a bucket of water until it runs clear? Yep I have an under gravel filter and an internal filter using charcoal and wooly fibre.

Hmmm I might have to leave the lighting for now then...I was thinking of getting a cheap led strip light or something..

 

[mike455555]

im not sure how you wash rice but with sand

*half fill a bucket with sand
*fill with water
*stir it up
*let it settle for about 30 secs
*pour water off
*repeat until the water is clear and the sand settles quickly. i normally give it ~10 secs for it all to settle if it doesn't i keep washing

do you need both filters? iv never needed to use an under gravel filter i find the internal's work fine

 

[Karey]

i would suggest not mixing substrate. a few bits moved it will look odd n you'll like one more than the other n hate yourself for putting the one you don't like in the tank at all. been there lol upping the numbers of the species you have it good advice n i think removing the fake plants and using sand a nice size bit of bog wood with some java fern will look stunning. at a guess your light might be less than you need. my two foot tank is 20 gallons so i got a starter kit and a 20 watt tube n it looks top rate. think i read somewhere that its 1 watt per 1 gallon. id sort the light first as most live plants need good lighting. led lights look really good and for a two foot tank shouldnt cost too much. hope this helps

Hi ripil

thanks

Yeh I'm definately going to get sand and probably some bogwood if I can afford it, and some plants. I was thinking of LED lights, can I just buy a normal LED light ( thinking like the ones that you can buy for patio tables or camping etc ) or do they have to be special aquatic ones? Again, I'm trying to keep costs down.

My tank measures 25x12x12 so how many litres would that be?

 

[mike455555]

theres a calculator on the forums (look at the top)

i guess you could use any lights long if they dident leek or do anything i cant see a problem

 

[Harlequins]

Bogwood looks good with plants on , try getting jern fern or anubias these need to be tied onto bogwood instead of in the substrate