I havent been to this forum much but im going back to freshwater.. speding hundreds of dollars on saltwater equipment is a nuisance and i know freshwater will let me enjoy fish more and less maintenanace (less than sw) i have a spare 55gal that has nothing in it besides some green and white gravel, a canister filter, a couple logs of driftwood and some misc. objects. I want to start a new tank with plants that do not neccassarily need co2 to grow and fish to go with it.. I havent been in fw for a while so i guess im noob to it. suggestions anyone?
Coming back to the hobby
- Thread starter tmfreak
- Start date
Simple advice from a relative noob: after reading dorkfish's excellent article, start to think about what kind of look you want, and the temperaments of the fish. Do you want calm, peaceful, or speedy zipping about, or semi-aggressive? Particular shapes of fish? Round, long and slinky, small, medium, large for a 55? Is color of the fish important to you? Do you want to stick to one region (e.g. Americans, Africans, Asians, narrow it down? A couple of showfish and a school of tetras? Gravel or sand? Natural or !WOW! that's bright green!! Driftwood, rocks, live plants, plastic or silk plants, etc.
Just thought that might get you on your way; when I was ready to do my first 55 several months ago, I researched and asked questions here and planned it all. Turned out great!!
Good luck, keep us posted.
Just thought that might get you on your way; when I was ready to do my first 55 several months ago, I researched and asked questions here and planned it all. Turned out great!!
Good luck, keep us posted.
Fresh water has not really changed all that much in the last 10 years. Some fish are more readily available;but other than that the basics are the same.
I would decide on the fish I want to keep as the first step. The main fish. Everything else is to go with that fish or group of fish. The plants, lighting, filter(flow), substrata, and decorations.
FW tanks are still easy if you follow certain rules: Good and consistent water paramiters that meet the fish needs.
I would decide on the fish I want to keep as the first step. The main fish. Everything else is to go with that fish or group of fish. The plants, lighting, filter(flow), substrata, and decorations.
FW tanks are still easy if you follow certain rules: Good and consistent water paramiters that meet the fish needs.
ok, in sw, i had to keep ph levels and nitrite and nitrate and all those other minerals needed for the corals and anemones.
Im looking forward to making a natural tank with a grassy bottom and something creative with the driftwood. Im loking mainly for small fish (probably something in the tetra section) that dont grow to a large size since i think that will create a good effect with the setup and size of the tank.
Im trying to find plants that dont neccassarily need c02 to grow.If it comes to that, im thinking of using a yeast reactor since c02 bottles and equipment is very expensive (at least 300). I have 140w total with my two flourescent lights. I have my tank cycling right now with some cocktail shrimp put inside there. I think itll take a good two weeks.. In that time, i can start doing my research! fun stuff actually
Im looking to spend about 200... im not exactly sure on the budget yet
Im looking forward to making a natural tank with a grassy bottom and something creative with the driftwood. Im loking mainly for small fish (probably something in the tetra section) that dont grow to a large size since i think that will create a good effect with the setup and size of the tank.
Im trying to find plants that dont neccassarily need c02 to grow.If it comes to that, im thinking of using a yeast reactor since c02 bottles and equipment is very expensive (at least 300). I have 140w total with my two flourescent lights. I have my tank cycling right now with some cocktail shrimp put inside there. I think itll take a good two weeks.. In that time, i can start doing my research! fun stuff actually
Im looking to spend about 200... im not exactly sure on the budget yet
All plants need CO2 that is how things work. Plants use CO2 and put out oxygen, animals use oxygen and put out CO2. That being said you won't need anything fancy to keep your plants healty. The water will absorb CO2 from the air, and fish will also put CO2 into the water.
Good luck with the new tank!!!
Good luck with the new tank!!!
Since you want something like tretras, first thing I would do is check pH after water has been in tank for a day or two. If you have the pH they need than that part is solved. Some of the swords, all anubias that stay small (in Height), crypts, vals and some of the stem plants would work. The low growing grass type plants at the bottom probably need more light than you have; and for me do better if you use one of the expensive substratas designed for plants. You can have a very nice looking tank without them (Low growing lawn cover).
^^^^^^^^
completly unessisary unless you have a really extreme PH, This aplies to almost all freshwater fish available in the hobby.
completly unessisary unless you have a really extreme PH, This aplies to almost all freshwater fish available in the hobby.
Tetras do well in any pH, so long as it is not on the extreme side. Please don't futz with the pH in the tank. In FW it'll do more harm than good.Ray Pollett said:
More light = CO2 injection. Keep It Simple. Low light plants like java fern, moss and anubias would be best in this tank.
Roan