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Plant-less scape

Deano3

Member
Joined
8 Feb 2012
Messages
2,503
Hi everyone didn't know weather to put this in the journals section as not planted (for now) anyway the bairn is dying for fish which is fair enough as been wanting plants to flourish for ages and due to another child that's nearly 1 tank has been sitting with nothing happening anyway my son wants fish and so do I I have done a scape without plants for now just manzi and landscaping rock what I already had, I am think once have fish I may start adding plants slowly but surely just low tech ones like crypts and Anubis etc.

Going to leave this ticking over without any lighting for week or so then get some fishes in there do you like with the wood at front left or without ? Pic 1-2

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And some more pic ps no background yet as just didn't fit, you think black or smoked

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Still a bit cloudy from sand etc probs won't clear till water change I imagine also going to slope the sand on the right towards back slightly

Thanks dean


Thanks Dean
 
I much prefer wood at front left - it seems to complete that focal line

Do you have algae control plans for that rock & wood ;)
(though some tanks just seem to have v little hardscape algae) ... floating plants maybe???
If you do add anubias, you may want to have some shading plants in first .... microsorum sp? or perhaps some of those hang in/on tank planters with emerse growth plants (as seen in Green Pekoe Pond)

Funny, I was just look at ADG facebook (also hardscape gallery on their website is worth perusing) :)

Very nice hardscape & contrast with that sand :thumbup:
 
Thanks alot not getting any plants for a while and the light isn't going to be that bright just turned it up in order for pics, as for algae control plecs are meant to be good for removing and cleaning the wood etc so get one of them and some shrimp maybe algae eater , think about green neon tetras to start

Been looking at the adg hardscape a and some are amazing and look so clean hopefully with background and clear water mine will end up looking ok, meant to look like wood is hanging over the rocks and down


What you think for background keep it light and get smoked background ?

Thanks dean


Thanks Dean
 
Rather than a plec I'd consider some of the "hillstream" loaches (species index) - they are very cool fish to watch & breed quite easily if you've a mixed group (do some reading on LOL if you've not kept these fish before, hopefully your shop will have some idea of species)

For background - depends rather on how much you like the wallpaper effect (it would be rather interesting viewed through a smokey glass effect), if you want to eliminate the wallpaper, you might try posterboard against the tank back ... you can also add light effects with backlighting (low level LED strip ... the cheap room style sort should work fine)

Green neons are lovely fish, definitely add in at least 12 or so, they may need a larger shoal to show color/activity as light colored substrates can be intimidating for some fish ... fish may also be more relaxed with a dark background so I'd try out a couple options
 
Definitely with the foreground wood, really helps with the flow of the scape :thumbup:
You could also add some cattappa leaves to the tank to add an extra dimension and added security for the fish if you choose :)
Looks great though Dean and at least the little one will be able to enjoy some fish soon :D
Cheerio
Ady
 
Wow thanks for replies the wood is staying then

Yes it's a 60p tank

I don't know why didn't do this a a while ago start backwards by getting fish then adding bits and bobs of plants lol also I was thinking some leaves might look good ady ,anywhere with some info about them as don't know much about adding them does it benefit the fish etc and does it not create algae etc but tanks do look good with them in and think I might do that before greenery

The tank looks better in person sorry about the iphone pics , what's the verdict on background black or smoked , I would just put something behind tank for ease but it's quite away from wall unless when watching I just sit directly opposite


Thanks Dean
 
The right Leaves have antibacterial qualities such as catappa, oak and beech. They may also reduce ph when used in numbers. I collect fallen oak and beech in the autumn and catappa can be bought in large numbers on ebay. Beech are good to use as they alter the ph the least and take the longest to break down. I wouldn't get a plec as most get big and the also produce astounding amounts of poop so you'd be better just lifting the wood out and giving it a clean. Ramshorn snails are great clean up crew and come in some nice colours ie pink and blue and leopard spot.
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Oak and beech
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Very nice mate that's for the pics, yeah a few ppl have said that the plecs poop as much as they eat haha might get some cattappa leaves ordered off eBay then, still cannot make mind up on background ,

You think might be cycled after the 10 day mark ? I will check ammonia and nitrates and niterites with my test kit then anyway




Thanks Dean
 
Have you added a source of ammonia such as fish food? Unless there is something to kick start your cycle then your tank won't be cycled. I've never had to think about that as when I've started a tank I use substrates that leech ammonia.

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Floating plants would help put fish at ease and also soak up excess nutrients.

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I didn't add any source of ammonia but a few ppl thought that the wood and rocks would start the cycle I also added a small amount of household ammonia after water change today to hopefully get it kick started a bit as just looked and my fish food a few years out of date

And not adding any plants yet except maybe catappa leaves but one question do they turn the water dark brown ?

I will be adding greenery in future for sure just want to get fishes for bairn first really like green neon tetras if can find anywhere local that does them couldn't see them in pets at home, what shrimp you advised ? And also might get some snails and any other recommendations for clean up crew

Also realised there is a slight difference on water level front to back by 1-2 mm you think will be ok ?




Thanks Dean
 
We'll think I will just leave the way it is for now as like the clear water maybe add them in future any other opinions on anything like clean up crew etc what best shrimp etc hopefully don't really get a algae problem as going to have 1 aquabar on less than 50% so should be quite low light and only on 5 hours a day or so for viewing will do weekly water change a quick vacuum over the sand so at the minute I want a shoul of tetra either neon or green neon tetra and some shrimp and you think otto or algae eaters ?

You think will cycle now added some ammonia ? Will check parameters this week or so

Also you think 1-2mm did fence of water level from front to back will be ok ?




Thanks Dean
 
You'll be fine with the slight un-level - just check that tank is not rocking but stable with a slight slope, also check there is no "twist"

Best shrimp depends a bit on type of fish you add- some shrimp are more outgoing than others, all shrimp are more confident in numbers so best to just add 10 -12 of one species/type rather than 4 each of a few different species ... most shrimp will breed readily but survival of the offspring is usually better in a shrimp only tank or heavily planted tank (think moss thickets)

I've recently added a group of "red-nose" (nominally shipped as Caridina Gracilirostris but suspect they are mostly these ) & they are loads of fun to watch & are excellent algae grazers
Cherry are usually quite hardy (& breed readily in most tanks)
Amano's of course (require brackish water to breed & food source)
Tiger breed readily in tanks - I find these to be rather bolder than Cherrry
Observing various shrimp, they seem to have algae preferences - whichever sort you get, expect to subsidize their diet with appropriate foods (there are loads of shrimp specialist foods but I just feed a mixed 'fish' diet & shrimp seem to do fine - filter cleaning takes a while though as there are always baby shrimp, I finally set up a Spec 19 tank to grow out the babies)

Avoid the ammonia, just add fish food daily - so much simpler :)
Tanks will cycle without any intervention, but usually take longer & you still need to slowly add in fish, as bacterial populations are small.
Wood/plant/stone from an established tank will usually "jump-start" a tank cycle.

When you add in new fish, a few days of daily water changes are always a positive (clean water is the best medicine), this will allow the filter to catch up if needed.

To keep sand clean, shrimp will pick the surface, cory's will sift top layers, various botias will burrow & turn over the sand (again look for smaller species, take note of oxygen requirements & social number needed).
Oto's will help tidy the glass & are the best diatom cleaners.
There are quite a number of smaller "plec*'s" in the 3-4 in range, but most are quite shy compared to otos & loaches (hillstreams are usually quite easily kept, stiphodon loaches/gobies are generally more $$ & more demanding re environs/food etc)
 
Brilliant thanks for all that mate, think I will go for amano shrimp will they just eat normal tropical flakes or require different shrimp food ?

Also will add a small pinch of food daily to water you think I should place in enheim skimmer so doesn't float all over tank however will still break down ? Just a pinch ?

And tetras , amano shrimp and Otos are certain for now , and hopefully low light and surface Hoover will keep algae away


Thanks Dean
 
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