After many years off from freshwater fish, I've decided to convert what was my 20gal high SW tank into a FW. I lost lights due to hurricane Katrina, and my SW tank did not last long at all. During hurricane Andrew in 92, we were without lights for more than a week and my freshwater fish all survived. We were fortunate to be just to the west of Katrina and did not have any damage to our house. It has truly devasted southeast LA and the Mississippi coast.
I had a few questions before I start buying some equipment. I've done sme searching here, but still have a few questions.
1.) I used to have a 30gal freshwater. I had a powerhead attached to an UGF. I used the air attachment and put bubbles into the aquarium. It sounds like I do not need to blow air into the aquarium. If the pump moves water and agitates the surface, there should be enough oxygen exchange. Is this correct?
2.) I'd like to again use an UGF since I am familiar with it and had very good success with it. I do not plan on having live plants. I had some in the past, but did not enjoy them. I don't mind hearig a suggestion on a filter that would be a good fit for a fish only tank. It sounds like many hear like the Aquaclear. I actually have a new AC 150 with the "free" filter media that it came with...foam filter insert and activted carbon.
3.) I read that ~10x/hour tank volumne turnover is a good turnover. In a 20gal-high, will one pump be adequate if it it delivers ~200gph?
4.) Lighting....I could use some help here. I want to avoid DIY lighting, and I would like to purchase the strip hood that fits the 20gal high. I want to avoid a yellow look. Any recommendations on lighting type, watts, etc.? Again, I will not be keeping live plants.
5) I plan on keeping some neon tetras, upside down catfish, cory catfish, the freshwater flounders (never had much success with those though), maybe a betta.
I'd also like a rainbow shark and kribensis, but I've read that they can be territorial. I had both of those in my old tank as well as a convict cichilid, angel fish, and some assorted other fish and never experienced any aggressive tendencies. Maybe the 30gal gave more space for the fish to keep their distance. In the 20g high it may be more of a problem.
6) I want to have a few bubblers in the tank (the split ship, and maybe something else). I planned on running the air tube down the back of the tube connecting the pump and filter to "hide" it as best I could. If I do end up going with the HOB filter, what is the best way to hide the air tube?
7) Cleaning the tank....I used to break down the tank every 3-4 months, maybe 6 months and clean the tank entirely. I wouldn't clean the gravel completely. It was more for cleaning out under the filter. It sounds like no one really does this. It sounds like just cleang the gravel time to time is all that is done.
I'll take any feeedback on that wish list of fish as well as any other advice on getting back into the hobby.
I was only a kid when I started my 30gal and I didn't know anything, yet I had such great success. I think I had a relatively low fish count for the 30g based on what I read here. That probably helped quite a bit. Now with the internet, I realize how much I didn't know.
Thanks for any feedback.
Mark
I had a few questions before I start buying some equipment. I've done sme searching here, but still have a few questions.
1.) I used to have a 30gal freshwater. I had a powerhead attached to an UGF. I used the air attachment and put bubbles into the aquarium. It sounds like I do not need to blow air into the aquarium. If the pump moves water and agitates the surface, there should be enough oxygen exchange. Is this correct?
2.) I'd like to again use an UGF since I am familiar with it and had very good success with it. I do not plan on having live plants. I had some in the past, but did not enjoy them. I don't mind hearig a suggestion on a filter that would be a good fit for a fish only tank. It sounds like many hear like the Aquaclear. I actually have a new AC 150 with the "free" filter media that it came with...foam filter insert and activted carbon.
3.) I read that ~10x/hour tank volumne turnover is a good turnover. In a 20gal-high, will one pump be adequate if it it delivers ~200gph?
4.) Lighting....I could use some help here. I want to avoid DIY lighting, and I would like to purchase the strip hood that fits the 20gal high. I want to avoid a yellow look. Any recommendations on lighting type, watts, etc.? Again, I will not be keeping live plants.
5) I plan on keeping some neon tetras, upside down catfish, cory catfish, the freshwater flounders (never had much success with those though), maybe a betta.
I'd also like a rainbow shark and kribensis, but I've read that they can be territorial. I had both of those in my old tank as well as a convict cichilid, angel fish, and some assorted other fish and never experienced any aggressive tendencies. Maybe the 30gal gave more space for the fish to keep their distance. In the 20g high it may be more of a problem.
6) I want to have a few bubblers in the tank (the split ship, and maybe something else). I planned on running the air tube down the back of the tube connecting the pump and filter to "hide" it as best I could. If I do end up going with the HOB filter, what is the best way to hide the air tube?
7) Cleaning the tank....I used to break down the tank every 3-4 months, maybe 6 months and clean the tank entirely. I wouldn't clean the gravel completely. It was more for cleaning out under the filter. It sounds like no one really does this. It sounds like just cleang the gravel time to time is all that is done.
I'll take any feeedback on that wish list of fish as well as any other advice on getting back into the hobby.
I was only a kid when I started my 30gal and I didn't know anything, yet I had such great success. I think I had a relatively low fish count for the 30g based on what I read here. That probably helped quite a bit. Now with the internet, I realize how much I didn't know.
Thanks for any feedback.
Mark
