Setting up an AQUARIUM, how MUCH, and how DIFFICULT?

[Superphil]

Looks like snail damage mate....have you spotted any little snails in there...the loaches usually keep those down.

had a serious problem with snails, i now have 8 very fat clown loach and lots of shells !!!!!

I would hazard a guess that that isn't fish eating them, I would say more of a pest snail problem or die off, do you have sufficient lighting and co2? Do you have a substrate below your gravel/sand? Some plants need a lot of things to do well. Something the fish shops don't tell you about!

Well either my eyes deceive me, as I can't see any infestation of snails, or my Loaches are slacking, maybe I feed them too much. I am going to take another look.

As for substrate etc, yes, mixed with gravel at one end and sand at the other. The plants don't generally have a problem growing, at the other end of the tank I have Java Ferns, Vallisneria and a rampant floating cabomba type plant. and I do feed them every other week or so.

I don't tend to keep the lights on all day, just for a couple of hours in the evening when I can see the tank, do you think these little bleeders are coming out when it's dark? I've got 2 T8 lamps, One Power-Glo 40W (42in) and an Aqua-Glo 40W (42in) which come one for about 3 hours a day, should I have them on for longer?

 

[Dick Head]

I had a small snail problem that within a month evolved into a massive snail problem!!!

4 Assassn snails sorted it out, but I still don't know what the assassin snails will eat when they've eaten all the others

You might have to get some more snails!

 

[jevs]

One thing with snails is they have a terrible habbit of burying themselves in the sand/gravel and only coming out at night or when the tank is over fed. the only thing that really will kill them is by dosing the tank with copper......which is lethal to all invertabrates but will also put severe strain on your fishes organs...especially their liver. Always best to use alternative methods.

 

[Superphil]

If you have a moment, and nothing better to do, here we go, this was filmed just after I put the new plants in, before anything had started eating them! Bear in mind, it's an established tank, been going for well over 2 years.

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[Superphil]

One thing with snails is they have a terrible habbit of burying themselves in the sand/gravel and only coming out at night or when the tank is over fed. the only thing that really will kill them is by dosing the tank with copper......which is lethal to all invertabrates but will also put severe strain on your fishes organs...especially their liver. Always best to use alternative methods.

Shrimps

Might put the tank on reduced feeding, I thought I was pretty mean anyway, but I have seen uneaten food, I will knock it down for a week or so and see.

 

[Bakesy]

 

[Bakesy]

The above is my African cichlid set up...I'm not brave enough or wealthy enough to keep marine fish..lol

 

[jevs]

Each to their own Baksey but African's really don't do it for me....lol

 

[spongy]

Each to their own Baksey but African's really don't do it for me....lol

I think I'm the same as you....but I like the more vivid colours they have, some Malawi cichlids are stunning to look at but compatibility and aggression issues that they have puts me off....

Tank cleaning and maintenance would be a lot easier without live plants and just syphoning whilst doing a partial water change does sound appealing.

I'm seriously considering a switch to a sand substrate but the upheaval of uprooting plants and such would most likely see a massive die off seeing as I don't dose co2 or ferts.

Decisions decisions..... But we only only rent a one bedroom first floor flat and with my missus expecting our first baby in august we will have to move flat/house so starting a high tech set up only to break it down to move will be heart breaking.... And devastating

 

[perseus]

How can the amount of time spent maintaining a fish tank be directly equated with the amount of time "owning a small dog" ?

Glorious

Fish do poos as well. They remain in the tank and will pollute the water and change its chemistry. Hence filtration. Nitrogen cycle. The choice of the type of the filtration is important at the first stage. This depends on why type of aquarium, what fish you keep.

Books describe the nitrifying cycle in "O" level aquaculture level. Stage 4 and bacteria increase to a high level and use up the dissolved oxygen. Dirt acculuates in the aquarium and it does not look so pretty as it does at first. Aquarium housekeeping is needed. Large fish require more space and more oxygen, especially marine fish.

I have only kept marine fish though.

 

[spongy]

Fish do poos as well. They remain in the tank and will pollute the water and change its chemistry. Hence filtration. Nitrogen cycle. The choice of the type of the filtration is important at the first stage.

That's why a fishless cycle dosing with pure ammonia is important first. The ammonia in the water starts the cycle with Nitrites to nullify ammonia and nitrates to nullify the nitrite. A "fish in" cycle is cruel to the experimental fish who are normally the lambs to slaughter so to speak.

Get the bacteria colony thriving in the filter first then you're ready to stock whatever you want.

 

[jevs]

My new boy....double delta tail male Siamese fighter in full West ham kit lolol.

Currently in a big bottle in my home aquarium....this fella's heading for a little 6 gal tank on my desk.

Really getting the bug to start breeding this fish again !!!

 

[Deanbha]

I have a 4ft tank for sale with new lighting. 340 litres. It's a beast!

 

[The Bun Elephant]

My advise would be buy as big a tank that is possible to fit the location that you intend to have the tank
Bigger volumes of water are more stable
I have 30 degree tropicals

View attachment 50588
View attachment 50589

 

[jevs]

I have a 4ft tank for sale with new lighting. 340 litres. It's a beast!

Just the tank and lighting ? what about stand, lid, filters.....what are the dimensions of the tank/stand etc and, how much do you want for it ?

 

[Deanbha]

Just the tank and lighting ? what about stand, lid, filters.....what are the dimensions of the tank/stand etc and, how much do you want for it ?

Sorry it has a cabinet and heater but no filter. Looking for £150 ono. I'll upload a picture in a bit.

 

[LowerWesty]

Hi El
I've just packed up with my tropical tank, it started to leak, I've still got a Fluval 305 external filter, heater, air pump, enough gravel for a 4ft tank and odds inc. rocks ornaments etc.
If any of this is any good to you post me how to contact you and it's yours
Cheers Noel

 

[Deanbha]

View attachment 50591

 

[Deanbha]

Hi El
I've just packed up with my tropical tank, it started to leak, I've still got a Fluval 305 external filter, heater, air pump, enough gravel for a 4ft tank and odds inc. rocks ornaments etc.
If any of this is any good to you post me how to contact you and it's yours
Cheers Noel

Out of interest, how much for the fluval?

 

[maltaseagull]

Fish tanks are louder than you expect them to be. We had one for a short while and the noise of the filter really disrupted my enjoyment of TV - and I bloody love TV. Don't do it. Get a small dog instead.

But make sure the dog has been barking /yapping disabled. Your Vet will do this for a fee.