Johns 450ltr (110 Gals) Journal

[john starkey]

Just had a thought guys gals, when i have get this lot up and planted how soon can i add algae eaters, ie shrimps, nerite snails, otos, flying foxs, i am going to add some filter start up to speed things up what does anybody recomend? also what are the most important test kits i will need first of all. cheers john

 

[Underwurlde]

i am going to add some filter start up to speed things up what does anybody recomend

Mulm. Other than that I don't recommend 'products' because they are next to useless.

also what are the most important test kits i will need first of all.

Ammonia,
Nitrite
Nitrate
pH (to convert your Ammonia reading into something useful).
GH & KH

Do you know what 'cycling your tank' is? Apologies if this is an obvious question. I don't mean to be condescending.

Andy

 

[nry]

With sufficient planting there's no need to cycle, though obviously don't drop hundreds of fish in etc.

Healthy fast growing plants (so decent lighting, stable 30ppm CO2 and maybe EI?) will take in the majority of ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte, and over a few months the filter will have developed enough to add more inhabitants.

I'm with others on the whole filter start stuff arguement. The Tetra 'SafeStart' product does (in most tests!) reduce ammonia and nitrIte build-ups, but it doesn't get rid of them completely. I'd stick to loads of plants and go from there. For your size of tank the money you'd spend on filter boost stuff will be significant enough to equal a good number of plants!

 

[lljdma06]

If your that concerned about building a colony, why not borrow some media from an established aquarium? I'm sure you've got other aquarium friends. A great way to kill some time. Go to the pub, exchange filter sponges, etc....A perfectly normal evening out with the guys.

But if it's densely planted from the onset, you should be able to handle adding your algae crew. It is a 110g tank. But that would mean no evening with just the aquarium guys. Your call.

llj

 

[john starkey]

i am going to add some filter start up to speed things up what does anybody recomend

Mulm. Other than that I don't recommend 'products' because they are next to useless.

also what are the most important test kits i will need first of all.

Ammonia,
Nitrite
Nitrate
pH (to convert your Ammonia reading into something useful).
GH & KH

Do you know what 'cycling your tank' is? Apologies if this is an obvious question. I don't mean to be condescending.

Andy

Hi underwurlde thanks for the tip on the test kits i apologise for the dumb question on cycling the tank (i have been out of the hobby for at least 15 yrs) things move on new ideas new products and so on , yeh i do understand the nitrogen cycle, as this is my first planted tank i wanted to make sure i dont mess up (after spending so much cash) after all that is why we have forums to learn off each other. regards john

With sufficient planting there's no need to cycle, though obviously don't drop hundreds of fish in etc.

Healthy fast growing plants (so decent lighting, stable 30ppm CO2 and maybe EI?) will take in the majority of ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte, and over a few months the filter will have developed enough to add more inhabitants.

I'm with others on the whole filter start stuff arguement. The Tetra 'SafeStart' product does (in most tests!) reduce ammonia and nitrIte build-ups, but it doesn't get rid of them completely. I'd stick to loads of plants and go from there. For your size of tank the money you'd spend on filter boost stuff will be significant enough to equal a good number of plants!

thanks nry, i aim to plant really heavy all fast growers then when its well established and alge if any under control i can start to try to aim for the lay out i really want. regards john

 

[john starkey]

If your that concerned about building a colony, why not borrow some media from an established aquarium? I'm sure you've got other aquarium friends. A great way to kill some time. Go to the pub, exchange filter sponges, etc....A perfectly normal evening out with the guys.

But if it's densely planted from the onset, you should be able to handle adding your algae crew. It is a 110g tank. But that would mean no evening with just the aquarium guys. Your call.

llj

Thank iijdman06 yeh i realise i could do that but some of my pals dont really look after their tanks as i would so i will go with the heavy planting . regards john

 

[George Farmer]

Straight in at the deep-end eh, John?

All the best with it all. I'm sure you'll get all the help you may need here.....

 

[Castellop123]

...

 

[john starkey]

I'd love to setup a huge planted tank! (Though, the cost is holding me back!)

hi corin i would just like say at such a young age i think you can and your parents be proud of what you acheive already your planted tanks (on such a short budget) always look very nice, you obviously work very hard at your hobby and i think when you are older and can provide a bigger budget (when you are working) i am sure we will see a very good large planted set up from you. kindest regards john

 

[john starkey]

Straight in at the deep-end eh, John?

All the best with it all. I'm sure you'll get all the help you may need here.....

yes george attack is the best form of defence, seriously i hope i am not biting off more than i can chew but i must admit i am seriously determined to make this project work. i hope one day if i get decent results to have a house meet to show all you pros how it looks, my biggest concern at the moment is how to do my 50% water change each week ,ie do i buy ro system? would make things easier, or do i just use dechlorinator and hard graft, 40 odd galls each week is regards john
ps hows your discus planted tank plans going ?

 

[Castellop123]

...

 

[nry]

Straight in at the deep-end eh, John?

All the best with it all. I'm sure you'll get all the help you may need here.....

yes george attack is the best form of defence, seriously i hope i am not biting off more than i can chew but i must admit i am seriously determined to make this project work. i hope one day if i get decent results to have a house meet to show all you pros how it looks, my biggest concern at the moment is how to do my 50% water change each week ,ie do i buy ro system? would make things easier, or do i just use dechlorinator and hard graft, 40 odd galls each week is regards john
ps hows your discus planted tank plans going ?

I asked ages ago about large-tank maintenance (though it may have been on a *cough* different forum!). I figured the best way to remove water was directly onto garden plants or into a drain via a hose pipe. Providing the tank is high enough off the ground this should be OK. Siphon the substrate first, then use some mesh to cover the hose-end and you could leave it fixed at the right level in the tank so it only takes out the water you want it to, you could go make a cuppa and come back to it.

Filling it back up was a bit tricky, I figure that providing you can get the water temperature OK, you could use a hose again directly fed from the tap. Add dechlorinator to the tank and then add the water.

When I had a 30" tank in my bedroom 10+ years ago, I siphoned water out via a hosepipe which went out of my bedroom window and into the kitchen sink below. I filled the tank in a similar way, hose on tap, water up from the kitchen into the tank. Providing you have a nozzle on the hose which you can shut off when the water level is correct it is likely OK. Worked for me!

 

[john starkey]

Straight in at the deep-end eh, John?

All the best with it all. I'm sure you'll get all the help you may need here.....

yes george attack is the best form of defence, seriously i hope i am not biting off more than i can chew but i must admit i am seriously determined to make this project work. i hope one day if i get decent results to have a house meet to show all you pros how it looks, my biggest concern at the moment is how to do my 50% water change each week ,ie do i buy ro system? would make things easier, or do i just use dechlorinator and hard graft, 40 odd galls each week is regards john
ps hows your discus planted tank plans going ?

I asked ages ago about large-tank maintenance (though it may have been on a *cough* different forum!). I figured the best way to remove water was directly onto garden plants or into a drain via a hose pipe. Providing the tank is high enough off the ground this should be OK. Siphon the substrate first, then use some mesh to cover the hose-end and you could leave it fixed at the right level in the tank so it only takes out the water you want it to, you could go make a cuppa and come back to it.

Filling it back up was a bit tricky, I figure that providing you can get the water temperature OK, you could use a hose again directly fed from the tap. Add dechlorinator to the tank and then add the water.

When I had a 30" tank in my bedroom 10+ years ago, I siphoned water out via a hosepipe which went out of my bedroom window and into the kitchen sink below. I filled the tank in a similar way, hose on tap, water up from the kitchen into the tank. Providing you have a nozzle on the hose which you can shut off when the water level is correct it is likely OK. Worked for me!

thanks nry some good pionters there i think its gonna be hard graft whatever way i do it im sure i will come up with something. regards john

 

[Underwurlde]

Or instead of a syphon,
Use a python.
I'm a poet,
And I don't know it.

Andy

 

[john starkey]

Or instead of a syphon,
Use a python.
I'm a poet,
And I don't know it.

Andy

very good andy how miuch are these python things?.