Lots of good questions

[Mantis737]

I am going to be starting a 29g tank in the near future, maybe within a few weeks. I wanted to get feedback from everyone here, since I am pretty new to the hobby and realize that there are a lot of things I dont know or understand. So here goes.

1.) I want to to go with a very natural look, but I have heard sand is a bad idea with too much of it. If I can use sand what sand should I use in particular? How much will I need for this size tank?

2.) I would like to make this a nicely planted tank to handle the bioload of a nice community tank. Is this tough for a newbie and what type of things will I need to do to prepare my tank for plants?

3.) Stocking ideas!?:)

[OrionGirl]

Sand is not bad, it just requires different care. For planted tanks, I really like sand--it holds plants better than gravel, and the plants benefit from the lower oxygen in the sand. I use medium grain sand over some high-iron, aquarium safe gravel. It mixes a bit, but is attractive and easy to clean.

I love plants. I have plants in all my tanks. Without getting into too much complexity, and expense, you can have a nicely planted, low light tank easily. Jave ferns, african ferns (bolbitis) anubias, and some crypts offer a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and will thrive in less than 1 watt/gallon of lighting. The ferns and anubias attach to rocks and wood rather than growing in the substrate, while crypts will thrive in sand.

Stocking: 7-8 blood fin tetras (my current favorites), 4-6 cories (skunks, again, my favorites), and a single gold gouramie.

[Wippit Guud]

Sand is good, lots of kinds are possible, but the easiest would be playsand (the kind used for sandboxes). For a 29, should't need all that much, only need 2in depth which isn't much. Personally, most of my tanks use sand taken right off of a beach, but it's hard to clean initially

For plants, need to have enough light, the right additives for iron and such, and possible a CO2 injector. I'm still trying to figure out the plant thing.

As for stock... well, what kind of activity are you looking for?


EDIT: my current plan for my 29g is 2 firemouth cichlids, 7 tiger barbs, and 4 cories. Wish the firemouths would show up at an LFS soon.

[tomm10]

Home Depot sells playsand in 50lb bags for cheap money (like $3). The one near me had 2 different ones, Quikrete Playsand and Southdown tropical playsand. Both should work okay although I guess the Southdown stuff is coveted by those who can't find it in the western part of the US. I got a 50lb bag for my 29 which I think should be fine.

Plants are easy as long as you pick the right ones, don't over light and don't overplant. Crypts anubias, java fern, java moss will all work great in 1.5-2 watts per gallon or so. Start of with just a couple and take it from there.

The more plants or light you have the greater their need for nutrients and C02 so don't jump in with a dozen plants and a 110 watt light.

[Aquarius0015]

Isn't Southdown coral-based or something? I heard it raises pH, but maybe I'm thinking of another brand.

[OrionGirl]

Southdown is not appropriate for all FW tanks--as Aquarius0015 indicated, it will effect your water chemistry. For African cichlids, this is good, but not good for most Asian and South American fish. It also is called Old Kastle play sand.

[tomm10]

You know, when I saw the two brands side by side at HD I purposely grabbed the Quikrete brand because Southdown said something about coral or something and I figured it would screw with my ph but since so many people rave about it I figured it was fine. I'm glad to know my instincts were right.

The quikrete does have some limestone in it so I'm not expecting that to be completely inert either. I'm not exactly sure what it will do though :confused:

[OrionGirl]

The medium grain quickcrete has not changed my water's chemistry at all. If you have extremely low pH, it may, but I haven't seen anything at a pH of 6.8.

[Grassguy]

If there is enough lime in that Quikrete sand, it will turn your water green. When we built a pond, we lined the bottom with concrete (actually Quikrete brand) and the lime in it turned the water green for about 1.5 mos. If there is a trace of lime it might do very little.

[Mantis737]

Ok so what is a good brand of sand to buy. I dont want anything that will mess with water chemistry, but I would like to have sand substrate. Also, will this mess with my filtration? In other words, will I get a whole lot of sand in my filter/s and ruin them?

I have heard that Java ferns can be "attached" to drift wood, rocks etc. How can this be done? Also how many wpg will I need if I just want some Java ferns and other easy plants. Which adds to my next question, what are some other easy plants? I dont want to need CO2 or real heavy maintenance for the plants. Thanks for all the help everyone.

[Grassguy]

Most people tie the Java Fern to the driftwood with either twine or fishing line and cut the line off close in. You just need to tie it until it has a chance to attach itself, but if you hide the strings well enough, there is no real need to take them off.

I like Banana Plants pretty well. I am using a low light set up and they seem to flourish for me, no CO2.

[dethjam316]

just a note on sand...i use the medium quikcrete sand in my FW tanks as well, and it has not changed my water chemistry in any way i can see. i find it to be a good mix of...well...medium sand, which my plants to better in that super fine sand or gravel.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I have a 15w bulb on a 20 gal tank and my plants are growing beyond my control! I do have some low lights, crypts and anubias, but i also have others like cabomba and hygrophila, and bacopa. I fertalize every now and then with some liquid fertalizer and don't have a Co2 injector. I really don't know why my plants grow so well. I do have a "plant-glo" bulb on the tank, and that seemed to help a little.

I just added sand to my 10 gal a couple days ago and the water is still really cloudy. I rinsed it well but alas it didnt take all the dust out. Its annoying but should go down within a few days. (crossing fingers).

[Soulcoffr]

Now wait a minute...

When you are talking about "medium Quikrete," are you talking about the Quikrete All-Purpose Sand or Quikrete Play Sand?

My local Home Depot is selling the All-Purpose stuff for $2.72 for 50lbs, and the grain of that looks pretty nice.

[OrionGirl]

I used the all purpose.

[tomm10]

I bought the Playsand.

[Aquarius0015]

I just took out about 10 lbs of Playsand, lol. It was only in for a day when I decided I didn't much care for it's color-washing effects (but hey, maybe I just got a really white batch). I have onyx sand now and I'm thrilled with it.

Not knocking it, just not my thing.

[adblair]

Green bacopa and anubias have been wonderful growers in my low light tank. I use flourite substrate though. I even have a microsword (yes I KNOW - don't yell at me!) in there that is doing well, not spreading all over the place or anything, but is nice and green and pretty. I think I am going to add some crypts next. My fish love the live plants much more than the artificial ones I had in there and as of today :D my nitrates are down to 20ppm! You won't regret getting live plants!