So.. A Checklist...

[Squid]

Just a last sanity check before i kick off.. If you see any issues, please be nice.. that is the point of this post, to make sure i do it right.. im learning.. but theres a lot to learn.

Got tank.. Rio 180.. so filter and heater in place.

Got Black background to attach.

Next...

Buy reflectors to aid plant growth (using low light requiring plants, anubius java moss etc)

Buy sand, wash sand put in 1 - 1/2 inches of it.. (gonna try the argos play stuff)

Buy Bogwood, soak bogwood for 2 days?

Add desired stones etc..

Buy plants, add plants - Before or after adding water.. or add some water then plants then water?

Add water with de-chlorinator

Buy amonia

an old filter sponge from inherited tank to aid fishless cycle

add amonia

Start fishless cycle with all steps explained in pinned posts.

test, test, test

big water change

add fish:

Fish researched so far, should be ok...

Dwarf Gouramis x 2 = 11cm
Angelfish x 2= 30 cm (eventually) (Add young ones last to help territorial problems.)
petazona barbs x 6 = 30 cm
otos x 4 = 16 cm


+ inherited little cat thing that hasnt grown than big in past few years which is stuck at about 10cm.

Total = 97 cm. got about 30cm to play with i think.. (any advice on potential others) .

Sit back and enjoy.

Is that it? also - what would you feed a community like that?

Cheers
Squid

 

[Pixie25]

if you want live plants you will need to add some nutrients to the sand. as sand alone is very hard for plants to flourish in.

i got some laterite and put a thin layer between 2 layers of sand. all my plants have grown enormously.

 

[Bloo]

I was about to say the same. Get something like API First Layer Laterite as a ground layer would help a great deal. And I'd aim for around 2" total substrate at least
If you do get the First Layer Laterite, don't expect to wash it till clear - just rinse loads until it looks like very weak tea.

Rinse the sand as much as you possibly can.

If you're going to be using ammonia to do a fishless cycle, I'd wait until it's complete before adding plants (and then fish). Add reflectors then too - loads of light and nothing else will just cause a mass of algae to start off.

I haven't really (for any length of time) kept any of the fish you wish to keep, so can't really offer suitable tank mates. Just keep in mind that tanks look better with fewer different types of fish, and more of the same (if that makes sense).

Feeding: just buy 3 or so different types of food from your lfs and rotate them on a daily basis, or feed a little of each per day. As you wish really !

Bogwood can be soaked as little or as much as you like. The longer you soak it in hot water (changed daily) the less likely you are to have a brown water tinged tank for ages. But the tannins do not harm the fish- it's just a little unsightly to most of us.

Ps: make sure you find out what the "cat thing" is though always good to know exactly what's in your tank.

Good luck

 

[Squid]

Thanks for the advice.. Laterite it is!

Squid

 

[dwarfgourami]

If you're going to be using ammonia to do a fishless cycle, I'd wait until it's complete before adding plants (and then fish). Add reflectors then too - loads of light and nothing else will just cause a mass of algae to start off.

I disagree on this one (sorry, bloozoo). Plants are fine with ammonia and IMO actually help to speed up the cycle.

 

[kris-b-]

Buy Bogwood, soak bogwood for 2 days?

The bogwood will release tannins for a lot longer than 2 days. It really just depends on if you like a brown tinge to your water, which with regular water changes will fade away over a period of time.

Also if you are performing a fishless cycle you are changing approx 90% of the water at the end of the cycle so you could put your bogwood in straight away as it will be soaking away in your cycling tank.

 

[Bloo]

If you're going to be using ammonia to do a fishless cycle, I'd wait until it's complete before adding plants (and then fish). Add reflectors then too - loads of light and nothing else will just cause a mass of algae to start off.

I disagree on this one (sorry, bloozoo). Plants are fine with ammonia and IMO actually help to speed up the cycle.

I might be wrong, but I think plants will fair better in a tank that's fully cycled fish to keep it ticking. Once algae gets a grip it can be very hard to shift and algae will notoriously rear it's ugly head when there's in imbalance of some sort.

 

[@ombomb]

If you're going to be using ammonia to do a fishless cycle, I'd wait until it's complete before adding plants (and then fish). Add reflectors then too - loads of light and nothing else will just cause a mass of algae to start off.

I disagree on this one (sorry, bloozoo). Plants are fine with ammonia and IMO actually help to speed up the cycle.

Surely the reason for not adding the plants is that they will use up a proportion of the amonia and slow the cycling down...

In terms of the Otos, while I have never kept them, they are delicate fish so I'd leave them to last on the list to let the tank mature, rather than adding them directly after the cycle is completed. If you're going to add Angels, it's probably best to add 4/5 and let a pair form then return the rest to the shop.

 

[Squid]

In terms of the Otos, while I have never kept them, they are delicate fish so I'd leave them to last on the list to let the tank mature, rather than adding them directly after the cycle is completed. If you're going to add Angels, it's probably best to add 4/5 and let a pair form then return the rest to the shop.

Crikey, Ive never heard that before.. i take it the angels just get returned, no money back..

What are the better cleaners, cory's or ottos???


One last thing, i saw you live in surrey, where do you buy your fish from? I went to maidenhead aquatics in west horsley at lunch, and spoke to a couple of the guys there. One didnt know about fishless cycling apart from a bit of Stress Zhyme or whatever it is.. the other one was more farmiliar with it, and agreed that you could add a high percentage of your fish so that you dont lose the bacteria, but they are still reluctant to guarantee the fish as it is thier policy to now recommend customers to do so..

Squid.

 

[Squid]

sorry.. another thing..

where do each of the ones i have selected spend most of their time... just trying to even out the tank.. top middle bottom etc..

 

[lavapeanut]

Squid, Hi.

I am very new to tropical fish keeping. But as far as I know. Ottos' diet are mainly algae while corydoras will also eat remindings fish food inside our fish tank (but not algae)...

let me guess which kinds of fish you chosen will spent most of their times..

Gouramis and angelfishs - (top, middle and bottom)
barbs - (middle & bottom)
ottos - ( middle and top)

Anyone can confirm these?

I am learning too....

 

[Bloo]

I've never kept Ottos, but to my knowledge yes they eat algae whilst corys (I have) eat and scavenge on the substrate - but they don't eat poo and dirt.

 

[rdd1952]

As for the otos, they are subject to suddenly dying. I haven't had much success with them. One thing that is extremely important if you plan to get some is to ask the store how long they have had them. If they haven't been there at least 2 weeks, don't buy them. The reason being is that all otos are wild caught so when they arrive at your LFS, they have just travels God knows how far and may not have eaten for a week or longer. They are very stressed and their die-off rate is close to 50%. If you get them the day they arrive, expect to lose half almost immediately. If you wait 2 weeks, the die-off will be over and the ones you get will most likely be healthy and survive.

 

[@ombomb]

sorry.. another thing..

where do each of the ones i have selected spend most of their time... just trying to even out the tank.. top middle bottom etc..

I buy most of my fish from Maidenhead Aquatics in Morden.

 

[Mr.September15]

OOO. How fun making a salt-water tank. I wish I had one so I can make it "Finding Nemo" themed...

-Arrowhead