My First Tank..

[Comacchio]

Just looking for some advice mainly with regards to my planting.


Tank Snapshot by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Ten Seconds by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

2 * Echinodorus x barthii
2 * Eleocharis parvula (Split up around tank)
2 * moss ball
1 tiny bit of Myriophyllum mattogrossense (looks a bit tatty and might be dying)
1 Hydrocotyle verticillata

I was thinking that I perhaps need more sand, as some of the roots on the Echindorus are very exposed to the water column. Should I add ferts to the water once a week? Should there be anything under the sand to help the plants? I was going to get some Amazon swords for behind the bogwood to cover the heater and also some java moss to cover the two coconut shells.

Any tips/advice for me?

Thanks,

-Allan

 

[minnnt]

All the questions you asked are regarding to how 'tech' you want to go and how much money you want to plough into it. Adding a planted substrate will no doubt encourage your plants growth, but they can be expensive. Dosing ferts and carbon can also become expensive. All depends on which direction you want to go. Easy to care for plants will surfice with fish waste as nutrients, but adding a general fertiliser will help.

As for sand level, it looks decent. Nothing to stop you giving your plants a quick root prune before you plant them.

 

[Comacchio]

Thanks More plants and fish are in!

And for my first set of pics..


Stocked Tank by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Harlequin Rasbora by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Bristlenose Plec by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Albino Bristlenose Pleco by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Keyhole Cichlid by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Keyhole Cichlid-2 by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

One of my Keyholes is hiding (as you can see!) other is colouring up nicely

 

[minnnt]

Nice! The Keyholes are stunning mate. Good size too!

 

[Comacchio]

Nice! The Keyholes are stunning mate. Good size too!

Yep chuffed with one of them! The other isn't doing so good! Hasn't moved since I put it in

 

[minnnt]

Keyholes can be shy, are they a pair or just 2 random fish from a tank full? Is the confident one chasing the other or does it just leave it alone?

If you have 2 males then the other may be hiding because it's scared of the other.

 

[Comacchio]

Keyholes can be shy, are they a pair or just 2 random fish from a tank full? Is the confident one chasing the other or does it just leave it alone?

If you have 2 males then the other may be hiding because it's scared of the other.

I asked the guy in the shop for a pair - the tank was full of keyholes. He tried his best to get a male and a female though. Nope the confident one is just going about his business. The other is a little smaller than it.

I've just seen the confident one go over to the shy one and kinda.. almost tell it it was ok to come out. Theyre now both just sitting side by side behind my bogwood.

 

[minnnt]

They may not pair just because there is a male and female. It will come out eventually though, turn your tank lights off and let it settle in over night then have a look tomorrow.

 

[Comacchio]

Yep I'm aware of that, just hope they do! They came out to play:


Keyholes by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

What I assume is male on left, female on right. She looks like shes had a nip or 2 in the shop tank?

 

[minnnt]

Some decent sized water changes and good quality food will soon right her fins. They repair extremely quickly.

 

[Proxo]

Nice tank and also very nice keyholes, under rated fish imo.

 

[Comacchio]

Judging by the extensions on the dorsal and anal fins of my larger Keyhole, it looks like I have a male and female! Now to see if they pair..

 

[Comacchio]

Well performed a 20% water change after work tonight and also added 3 Platys (Girlfriend complained there wasnt enough colour in the tank!) Nitrates are around just 40ppm or so, another WC tomorrow or Sunday depending on how fast it rises and how fast my pH falls (My tap water has a pH of 5!)

One of my Keyholes (The smaller, suspected female but could just be a younger male) has a white mark/nip mark possibly on one of its sides. Trying to get a macro picture to see closer for myself. What does white spot look like?

Also, since I done my water change, one harlequin (The largest, looks a bit misformed in all honesty) has been hardly swimming all by hisself, I don't think hes long for this world!

Other than that all the fish seem to be doing fine!

 

[Rainbow911]

Hi

Wanted to say how good your tank looks and i am thinking of doing a similar one.

What lighting are you using? and are you using a plant substrate?

Regards

 

[Comacchio]

Hi Thanks, you should! Lighting is two 30W tubes, one slightly purpley, the other bright white. Nope just sand!