Stupid Questions

[amerz]

If you'd all care to know, I cycled my tank properly, introduced some fish, a few at a time... I now have a healthy happy tank (so far, so good)

Here are some things I've been wondering:

1. Is it necessary to have at least one bottom-feeder or suckerfish in a 30 gallon tank?

2. Is it possible to add live plants after the fish are introduced? On that note, can I have some live plants and some fake?

3. Does it make any difference to the fish whether I have a fluorescent or incandescent light? I don't have to get a different fixture if I want to switch from fluorescent to incandescent, do I?

 

[Eelzor]

You should ask question in beginners quesitons or tropical chit chat. But I'll welcome you amerz!

 

[De Plano]

Hello and welcome to the forums!

 

[Griffith420]

you dont need a bottom feeder but it helps

 

[EddieW]

Hi Amerz,

Welcome to the forum.

As Eelzor says you shoud post this in Beginners Questions or Tropical Chit Chat as you will get better answers. As all of the mods are probabyl busy recovering from the maliciousness it might take a while for thsi to get moved.

1. Is it necessary to have at least one bottom-feeder or suckerfish in a 30 gallon tank?
Not at all, if you don't want one then don't have one. Having said that, as Griffith420 states, it will help. Without bottomg feeders any food that reaches the gravel/sand will remain un-eaten and if not vacuumed out, will rot and add to the bio-load on your filter.

2. Is it possible to add live plants after the fish are introduced? On that note, can I have some live plants and some fake?
Yes, you can add plants after fish but you will need to be very careful not to disturb the substrate too much. It is better to add the plants first as you WILL stir up some debris. And yes you can mix live and fake plants if you wish.

3. Does it make any difference to the fish whether I have a fluorescent or incandescent light? I don't have to get a different fixture if I want to switch from fluorescent to incandescent, do I?
It won't make any real difference to the fish (apart from the colours not looking as good) but will make a difference to your plants. An incandescent lamp emits light that is skewed much more towards the red (and infra-red) end of the spectrum. As water absorbs these wavelengths very quickly aqautic plants have evolved to use much bluer light than terrestrial plants. This is why most aqautic fluorescent tubes are skewed to ther blue end of the spectrum. Using a fluorescent tube will give better light coverage (due to the length of the tube), better plant growth and reduced algae growth (due to the correct wavelengths) and better fish colours. You will also use less power as a fluorscent tube produces a lot more light per watt than an incandescent and you will have less problems with the tank temperature as tubes run a lot colder.

HTH, Eddie

 

[phoenix]

EddieW summed it up pretty well, while its not necessary to have a bottom feeder I think must people will agree that it is Very benifical to have one for the reason EddieW gave. It takes a load off the filtration /bio system just make sure if you get one that it will not outgrow your tank size their are many that stay rather small..

 

[William]

Great job eddie seems like you've got it all covered, moving topic....