Improving my fishtank... need advice

[kassidi]

I have a 10 Gallon, with 3 small angel fish (which I plan to move to a 55 gallon later on when they get bigger) and 5 neon tetra's, 3 platys, an African Dwarf Frog, and a Pleco. Here's my tank:



I have blue gravel right now, and it's only about 1 inch deep. I want it to look a bit more realistic, without killing my plants. I have 1 Gigantea Sword Plant, and 1 Ludwigia Repen, I was thinking either finer gravel, or sand. Is there anything I need to know about a sand substrate? Is it really hard to maintain? What kind of sand do I need? Is that a good idea?

I want to add more plants, but I don't know what to add. I just put 2 new 10 watt fluorescent bulbs.

As my tank is now, I am looking to just improve it. I have had it for about a year or more now.

If this was your tank, what would you do with it?

Any help is much appreciated!

[Carl]

Obviously we all will have our own opinions about what looks best (& I think this is a nice tank, as although blue gravel is not "natural" it does show off the fish and plants well IMO).

Sand can be used in planted tanks well, although without plants sand substrates can trap sulfide-reducing anaerobic bacteria.

You need to be careful when changing out gravel in an established tank such as yours so as to not disturb the healthy nitrogen cycle you have already going.
This can be done by removing half at a time (or less) in sections, then waiting 6 weeks for the other half.
Adding an additional bio-filter such as a Sponge Filter and then allowing at least three weeks to establish itself.

With sand substrate AND plants along with some basic vacuuming (not directly around roots) and the realization that in planted tank it is normal to have more "dirty" substrate around the roots this should not be difficult.

Your lights may be fine for some basic plants such as Java Ferns, Java Moss, Banana plants; otherwise I would update your lights to 6500 K (approx.) lights such as the newer compact Fluorescents or T2 lights

Here are a few articles I suggest reading:
Planted Freshwater Aquariums; Care, plants

The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

Sponge Filtration

Freshwater Basics, Care

Carl

[Carl]

I would also add that maybe a few more rocks/driftwood would look nice (although beware of too much driftwood with Platties as it can lower KH and GH too much unless you balance out with Buffers and Mineral Blocks such as Wonder Shells

Could you put one more option in your poll, such as "it looks good, but more can be added/changed"?

Carl

[murdock6701]

I agree w/ Carl on the poll issue - I'm not here to judge, to each his own, but I love platys so I'll say prefect! LOL! my platy tank also has blue gravel which I hate because while it looks "nice," it's not natural....your plants and decor liven the 10 up nicely - what are your plans for the 55? just the angels?

[kassidi]

"Sand can be used in planted tanks well, although without plants sand substrates can trap sulfide-reducing anaerobic bacteria."

I am going to keep the two plants that I have, but should I get more, to help maintain the bacteria? I was thinking going with more of a fine black gravel, because the idea of sand kind of scares me lol.

Thanks for the article links Carl


I actually was thinking of doing an Amazon Biotope in my 55 Gallon.

Something similar to this:
www.freshwateraquariumplants.com/amazonbiotope/amazon.html

I got it for my birthday, and it just came with the tank, and the hood. So I just bought a new stand for it, and I need to get the filter, and a heater, I don't really know what else to get.

Any suggestions on that issue? lol

Thanks for all your help

[goldenpuon]

I really like your tank. It looks so much better than mine with all the color. None of mine are heavily decorated. It looks very nice.

Unfortunately I don't know much on plants so I can't really give advice there. Good luck with your 10!

[Carl]

Please do not let me scare you as to sand, I have sand around my plant roots and many of my clients have had similar over the years without a problem (Brenda here on this group just switched over to a beautiful white sand in her aquarium).

I definitely like the idea of an Amazon Bio tank, but remember to make this tank appeal to YOUR tastes as both me and Murdock (John) have noted.

If you only have a few plants, simply place the fine substrate in the area of the plant roots (which is what I generally do), the sand will generally sift down anyway.
I also recommend a plant substrate such as Azoo Plant Grower Bed which is fine and can be used in place of sand with the fine black gravel around this.

I would also read the Amazon River Water Section of this article as well:
Aquarium GH, KH,pH, Calcium; Amazon River Water

Carl

[babygeige]

Try tying an anubias plant to a rock such as lava rock or driftwood. An attractive anubias plant makes a great addition to the tank and is very undemanding!

In the tank blog section, I have a thread called "Aquarium Plants" with pictures and descriptions of the plants that I have in my tanks. I also have a 10 gallon, maybe it will give you some ideas.
I have blue gravel in my 10 too. Once I have fewer fish in there (which hopefully won't be for a long time), I plan on switching my gravel over to something more natural, most likely a brown.

[bikeguy33]

if you do use sand, sandbox sand has a real beach look and it is perfectly usable and cheap as borsch....but if you decide against sand....you can by river rock. it is naturally tumbled and the colors are all very very natural. looks like the round gravel you see on a stoney beach. once again tho....don`t switch all at once. a very large amount of your bacteria is found in the gravel...

[bikeguy33]

btw....what a beautiful tank...even with the blue. you do great work....

[kassidi]

I think what I'm going to do is leave this 10 gallon alone, and start on my 55 gallon already

These are the fish and plants I want to include:
(they are the ones from that website so I looked them up and made these collages... but don't worry, I like them =P )


I added Angel Fish, and everyone says that the Angels will eat the Tetra's, but I have Angels, and Tetra's in the tank I have now, and the Angels dont even bother the Tetra's.

These are the plants:


Does anyone know of any website where I can buy fish? Is buying fish from a website a good idea?

[kassidi]

And, thanks for all the compliments on my tank... ;D

I hope it will continue to do as good as it has been.

[bikeguy33]

as for fish....you have made some good choices....but you hafta keep in mind, you have a couple cichlids in there. the 2 rams. they are incredibly docile but will take the occasional tinier fish if given the chance....also, as many here have discovered....rams can be very tough to keep alive.murdoch fairly recently went through alot of time and effort and not to mention cash trying to keep them only to have them parish even with great care.also...they require an extremely low ph...

[Carl]

I too have MANY Tetras with Angels without a problem. Usually in a tank with room to move around and ample decor this has rarely been a problem with me or my clients (there is the occasional "rogue" fish though).

I personally have not bought fish online, only plants; however I know others here have such as Jon V (I believe via Aqua Bid and eBay).
I myself am rather un-trusting of some of the larger online fish retailers such as Live Aquaria based on their known business practices within the industry.

Bikeguy (Bill) made a good point as to the Rams Cichlids, and I would add the Apistogramma to the list pf delicate, Amazon River Fish.
If you are considering these more delicate fish, first try and find a reputable dealer, then make sure you have the best possible conditions and equipment. This would include filter redundancy, a stable pH as well as correct mineralization (which is often missed), a balanced Redox AND UV Sterilization.

See:
Aquarium Redox
UV Sterilization; how it works, truths, myths

Varl

[murdock6701]

research your fish well before buying them as to their needs and compatability, not just because they're beautiful or colorful.....not being sarcastic here - the apistos you pictured are beautiful but are fragile and have a life expectancy of about 3 years - I attempted German blue rams as Bill mentioned in my SA tank and it ended poorly, not due to lack of effort, just one of those things - go slowly - add a few fish at a time over a period of a few days - tank parameters will change as the tank seasons - you are fortunate to have water abd media from your 10 to start with - be careful, have fun. but spend the time researching fish before you buy - I would ask Jonv or 8 in the corner for avice on cichlid purchases or Fpenycat - they do a lot of online buying and shipping - wouldn't do it if it's cold where you are now - wait til it's warm - less risk of fish being left in the cold....again, good luck!