A noob and his tank... glass cats in a 29?

[Abilor]

Well, I have a fiancee with a masters in wetland biology. She studied adventitious rooting and how it could be used to remediate oil spills. We have pictures of her surrounded by bunches of 5 gallon buckets filled with brackish water, with all kinds of things growing out of them. My point is that she knows plants.

In the past, upon viewing the glass coffin I call an aquarium, she has uttered phrases such as, "You shouldn't leave your light on 24 hours a day, you'll get an algae bloom", "A 12" pleco just wasn't meant for a 10 gallon aquarium", and famously, "Don't you think you should change half of the tank's water at least once a week?"

After four years of suspecting she is a know-it-all, it turns out that she really does know it all.

Anyway, I have been lurking in these forums long enough to finally say that I know something about keeping fish. I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank that is cycling up nicely that I am trying to prepare to keep a shoal of 6 glass cats, 5 - 7 neon tetras, 1 seargeant major loach, and as of right now, 3 zebra danios, though I may return them to LFS when the tank is finished cycling. The tank currently holds the loach, 5 neons, and 3 zebras while it cycles (the loach is the last surviving refugee from the glass coffin, and remarkably, seens to bear me little ill will - I owe him big).

I have been adding plants higgly-piggly, and I fell for the mondo and acorus grass swindle at the local petsmart (My fiancee said, "ooo, nice grass you've got there, but are you sure it's for aquariums?"). I currently have 4 java ferns, a dwarf anubia, and a pennywort, along with a bunch of those cheesy little decorations like little bridges and barnacle-barrels to offer the fish some hiding places.

Now tonight my fiancee says, "Don't you think you need a plan?" I've learned my lesson. I need a plan.

How do I go about aquascaping a 29 gallon to simulate an Indonesion stream suitable for glass cats? I've read that they're mid-level, schooling fish that like some top-cover, and a current to swim in. I've installed a small powerhead at mid-level for the current, and the pennywort is meant to provide some of the top cover. I've also got a little piece of driftwood with a java fern rooting onto it. What plants are native? How do I go about the basics of drawing up "zones" as she calls them, and actually shape plants into a functional arrangement, rather than just dig a hole, put something in, and hope? I have a CO2 monitor that is currently in the "green" zone, so I think I'm okay on that end.

Really: where do I begin?

:confused:

[JinxXx0085]

OMG! I just wanted to say that I love your fiancee and whats more I love you for putting up with her and listening to her! A great thing you have going there.

Now.. moving on to your question... Apparently you've done a lot of research I applaud you! I don't know the answer to your question though. But I do know a nice link that has all the list of different type of live plants. That site also will tell us whether if that plant needs high lighting or would thrive in low light environment. Heres the link: http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide.php
I hope that the link will help you some. I don't really think it'll matter to the glass cats if the plants are native or not. Its a matter of your personal perference.

It sounds like you're on the right track though!

[carpguy]

I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank that is cycling up nicely that I am trying to prepare to keep a shoal of 6 glass cats, 5 - 7 neon tetras, 1 seargeant major loach, and as of right now, 3 zebra danios, though I may return them to LFS when the tank is finished cycling. The tank currently holds the loach, 5 neons, and 3 zebras while it cyclesI read your other thread and am a little baffled by your cycle: did you use seed material from the 'glass coffin'? Without seeding (or BioSpira) you shouldn't be cycling that fast. Your ammonia could be zeroing out by now but you should then be seeing nitrites. A very small amount of salt (1/2 teaspoon for 30 gallons) will help with nitrite toxicity, assuming you have nitrites. Table salt is fine.

I also noticed (again, on the other thread) your pH has dropped from 7.4 to 7.0. You'll want to keep an eye on that and on your KH. The nitrogen cycle has a tendency to acidify water over time and will eventually undermine your buffer and crash your pH. Water changes are good for replenishing the buffer. Water changes do not slow down cycling.

How do I go about aquascaping a 29 gallon to simulate an Indonesion stream suitable for glass cats? I've also got a little piece of driftwood with a java fern rooting onto it. What plants are native? How do I go about the basics of drawing up "zones" as she calls them, and actually shape plants into a functional arrangement, rather than just dig a hole, put something in, and hope? I have a CO2 monitor that is currently in the "green" zone, so I think I'm okay on that end.

Really: where do I begin?
Here's a few links to some sites I think you'll find helpful…
Mongabay's biotope pages (http://www.mongabay.com/fish/biotope.htm#Southeast%20Asian%20River) will give you some ideas about what native waters might look like and about the other fish and the plants you might find there.

APC's Plantfinder (http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/index.php) has a lot of good info on plants.

Tropica (http://www.tropica.com/default.asp) is another great plant info resource: they're Danish and sell just about everywhere but the US (federal import regs), so no you can't order anything from them. Lots of good info though.

At some point soon your going to need ferts. You can go DIY for a lot of it or just order about $25 worth of stuff from Greg Watson (http://www.gregwatson.com/DryAquaticFertilizers.asp). You should also know about Tom Barr's Estimative Index (http://www.aquatic-plants.org/articles/est_index/est_index1.html). (A somewhat more detailed version (http://www.barrreport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1) ). Don't panic: its the rationale… its pretty simple and straightforward in actual practice.

That should keep you busy for a little while.

Zones are good. I have notebooks with little diagrams doodled throughout. Be generous with your allotments and try to keep it simple. There are different approached to scaping but start simple and go from there.

I've done several variations on using small rock terraces with driftwood to try and split the front from the back and so that I could have deeper substrate in the back and so that I could have some nice caves for the loaches. I'm on the 'as-natural-as-possible' side of the coin. This approach can go from very simple to fairly complicated. Or you can just be fairly deep throughout: terracing isn't necessary (with not so much room front to back it seemed good to me).

You want plants in the front, plants in the back, some plants to break up the middle. I'd start with stem plants in the back corners, some crypts in the front corners, anubias and java fern on the driftwood are good in the middle. The center back needs something, likewise the center front. Excessive symmetry is bad.

Likewise the fish. I find it works well if you have some schoolers, a bottom crew, and a centerpiece. Your glass cats could be your centerpiece or a school. The (non-native) neons could be a secondary school, something else (danios are a little too hyper in my book, mongabay lists some alternatives). A few more small loaches for the bottom: they're social fish and do best in groups.

Or at least that's how I'd plan.

I'd also figure on supplementing carbon. Start with Excel, try DIY CO2 if you feel like tinkering with it. Pressurized CO2 is a little pricey on startup but, IMHO, very worth it.

(Nothing against the narrative approach but you'll get more feedback with smaller questions: the flow here tends to be conversational back and forth. Many folks will skip past when they realize that an answer is going to take an hour. You seem earnest and knowledgeable and I'm sure everything will go well: just keep listening to your fiance).

[Roan Art]

Abilor,

Just how "Indonesian" do you want to get? If you are going to be a stickler for the "right" endemic and native plants, you're in for a tough time ;)

What *part* of Indonesia are we talking about? Part of Malaysia (Borneo) is part of Indonesia. So is Irian Jaya, Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi.

The flora and fauna varies greatly in these places.

So, how picky do you want to be and if the answer is "very picky" then you need to narrow down the geographical range of the glass cats.

IF they come from the areas around Irian Jaya (and Papua New Guinea), I can help you out. Most of the rainbowfish I keep are from that area and all my plants are native or endemic to that area. They are *not* easy to find plants for the most part. That's for sure!

Roan

[Abilor]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I will try to be briefer in the future, I guess I just wanted to "come out" as an aquarist and be recognized.

As far as specifics, I am not so worried about genuine authenticity as I am creating an environment that is healthy for the glass cats and other fish, as well as sustaining the plants, since I've had problems in the past with decaying leaf matter.

Carpguy, your comments really help me in getting started. Now instead of just going to LFS (I've found the REAL LFS and not just petsmart anymore) and buying stuff. Since my fiancee is from North Shore New Orleans, she would say that the same approach sure didn't work for Katrina (at heart, a water quality issue as well).

Roan, I guess I'm not that into being specific, but I've seen a lot of your other posts all over the place, and I'd still really like your opinion, if only a list of plants from Irian Jaya and Papua, and a sense of what the goal is overall for such an environment.

Thanks!

Abilor

P.S. I got up nice and early to do my weekly 50%, so hopefully that helps with cycling and buffering issues. I'm going to test in a bit, and probably also start a thread dedicated to the project.

[carpguy]

I will try to be briefer in the future, I guess I just wanted to "come out" as an aquarist and be recognized.When first started out I also asked questions that were too long and convoluted. I got better answers when I asked tighter questions: its not personal, its just a time thing. When you look at a 4 part question with 3 subquestions per part its kind of daunting to start formulating an answer. Your seriousness and the amount of homework you've done isn't unappreciated.

As far as specifics, I am not so worried about genuine authenticity as I am creating an environment that is healthy for the glass cats and other fish, as well as sustaining the plants, since I've had problems in the past with decaying leaf matter.I've got a smallish tank (a 30g) and keep it as a SE Asian bio-type: its a regional tank, its not a strict biotope (slice of life). Its got a fairly typical assortment of the types of fish and plants you'd find along the Malay peninsula, maybe from Burma to Sumatra. Roan is a little further south and east and, from what I understand, a little more exact. Its a gradient and you can go as far as you want. If you like the research and the minutiae you might want to specialize in certain areas; if not, the community garden is just as valid an approach (pick'em cause you like'em).

Almost forgot Fishbase (http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=10920). They list "Mekong and Chao Phraya basins; Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo" as the native distribution of the Glass Catfish, Kryptopterus bicirrhis . Planet Catfish (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/silurida/kryptopt/16_F.PHP) lists a similar range and notes that the fish seen in the hobby is probably the smaller Kryptopterus minor.

Loaches.com (http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/botia_rostrata.html) is also a good resource.

For plants I like Rotalas, Hygrophilas and Limnophilas as stems, Crypts, ferns and mosses. Blyxa is nice (even if its japanese). Plants can be hard to find but there are some very good resources out there if you know where to look. Ask around when you get there. Go through some of the plant families listed at Mongabay, especially for Indian/Burmese River, Southeast Asia River, and Southeast asia blackwater pool. Lots of good plants in there.

[Abilor]

Thanks again.

As an update, after my water change, my pH went to 7.2, my nitrates are at 0, and my nitrites are at 0. My NH3, however, went back to 0.25. I did not use seeded material; it's a fresh start, since I didn't want any undesirables hanging around from my previous adventure. So the cycle is mysterious. The 0 to 0.25 ammonia reading has me suspecting chloramines. I will get my water report Monday.

Also, my ammonia kit is over a year old, one of the drip-drop test tube kinds. Do they lose accuracy with age? Maybe that's contributing to my problem.