My 30gal Journal

[Esfa]

So I have a 30gal, dimentions are 39x15x12 and i have decided to go planted.

I am using Nutrafin basic c02 system, and nutrafin plant gro.

Sand substrate, with 2 pieices of bogwood.

I have 0.9 wpg. I know i need to sort this.

Plants:
Hygrophila Salicifolia
Eleocharis parvula
Microsorum pteropus
Sagittaria Subulata
Alternanthera Reineckii
Rotala macranda
Pista stratiotes
1 unknown plant

Planned Fish:
1x reedfish
1x Synodontis
6x otos
1x African Butterfly Fish
1x BN plec
1x Bumblebee Catfish

So any help or advice?

Pics:

 

[Esfa]

More:

 

[fry_lover]

So I have a 30gal, dimentions are 39x15x12 and i have decided to go planted.

I am using Nutrafin basic c02 system, and nutrafin glant gro.

Sand substrate, with 2 pieices of bogwood.

I have 0.9 wpg. I know i need to sort this.

Plants:
Hygrophila Salicifolia
Eleocharis parvula
Microsorum pteropus
Sagittaria Subulata
Alternanthera Reineckii
Rotala macranda
Pista stratiotes

Planned Fish:
3x reedfish
1x Synodontis
6x otos
1x African Butterfly Fish
5x Platties

So any help or advice?

Oh, and how do i get my pics under 100k? It wount let me upload them here.

hello mate

i guess you are aware that Reed Fish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus) can get to an average size of 20" in aquarium and in theory could get bigger. I keep x4 in a 48x22x20 but am prepared to upgrade at some point.

They also prefer lower lighting levels and a meaty diet (chopped up prawns and such are great)

All this really is a bit of a problem for your set up really (assuming you increase your light to quite high levels)

The Reed Fish would definitly (in my opinion and experience) benefit from shelter other than bog wood and plants, i use quite a bit of plastic tubing in my tank for them.

Good luck with it

 

[Esfa]

Yes, I am changing the backing, lol

 

[Esfa]

Thanks, fry lover, I am aware of their maximum size.

I feed mine bloodworm and prawns, and i have a pvc tubing that goes under the substrate with the opening poking up just above the sand.

But, due to their slim body, and the fact that they rarely acieve their full potential in the aquarium, they only need a tank of about 200l for a group of 3-4.

 

[fry_lover]

okies my friend, glad you done a bit research, sounds like you know your stuff a bit

i would want a bigger tank than 200 litres for 3-4 Reed Fish personally, but if you catering for all their needs (diet, decor etc) i guess a 40-48" 200 litre region tank might be okay, depending on what other fish were in the tank

As i am sure you know, the "footprint" of the tank is more important than the litres sometimes for such fish,

 

[mlawson]

If you cancelled the Platies and Otos you could have a nice African theme here.

 

[Esfa]

Thanks fry
I currently have one reedfish and he is the best fish ihave ever had. I heard they do better in groups so I was gunna get more. Maybe i should get 75gal and get a group of 5 haha, i wish i had some room and a spare bit of cash.

I had an african theme, but i felt that the shoal of congos with nothing else was boring. I was going to get a climbing spotted perch, but no LFS around me stocked them. Then I tried getting 6 tiger barbs, but the congos attacked and killed them! Never heard of them doing that.

 

[nry]

Any reason why you don't fill the water level higher? It'll look much better if the water line is just above the plastic lip at the top of the tank/hood

 

[fry_lover]

Thanks fry
I currently have one reedfish and he is the best fish ihave ever had. I heard they do better in groups so I was gunna get more. Maybe i should get 75gal and get a group of 5 haha, i wish i had some room and a spare bit of cash.

I had an african theme, but i felt that the shoal of congos with nothing else was boring. I was going to get a climbing spotted perch, but no LFS around me stocked them. Then I tried getting 6 tiger barbs, but the congos attacked and killed them! Never heard of them doing that.

Yeh, deffo prefer being in groups (Reed Fish) my four sometimes practically are on top of each other, its cute!

 

[Esfa]

Any reason why you don't fill the water level higher? It'll look much better if the water line is just above the plastic lip at the top of the tank/hood

I was halfway through a water change, and i thought... hmm, pics. haha.

 

[Biulu]

Looks nice already! I wouldn't upgrade your lighting too much. I understand that with the CO2, and adequate fertilisation you can also achieve good growth with lower light.

 

[Esfa]

Yeah, I think im going to go about 1.5WPG? maybe 2WPG if I'm lucky.

Going to the LFS now, so maybe you will get an update later.

 

[Esfa]

Im baaaaaackkkk.

Got another 30W bulb, so I will have 2WPG.

Going to drill it in later, haha, I will take some pics.

 

[fry_lover]

How exciting, planning a tank and doing a journal, i want to do one, perhaps its another excuse for a new tank LOL