Hello to all

[hypedave]

Hi everyone I found this cool forum while search google.com for information on Lamp Eye Tetras. I decided to lurk around for a week and just recently registered here.

I have 3 Aquarium Tanks

1 x TopFin 55 Gallon Aqaurium Starter that I havent filled up yet.
1 x TopFin 10 Gallon Starter Kit
1 x Eclipse Deluxe Showcase 39 gallon kit.

I am using my Eclipse right now stocked with

3 x Black Neon Tetras
2 x Red Fin Tetras
2 x Lamp Eye Tetras
1 x Red Wag Platty

In my 55gallon I have two Marieland BIO Filters ready to be installed. I am currently using my 10 Gallon as a quarantine tank housing my 2 redfin tetras but will eventually use it to breed or I might just place some plants in it to starting learning how to setup aqariums with plants and fish

But here are a couple of questions I have.

1.) Where is the best place to place the heater and thermometer? Should the heater be placed near the filter intake tube and thermometer placed on the oposite side of the aqurium?

2.) How much gravel do you really need in an aqaurium?

3.) Are clowfish (the lil nemo ones) saltwater fish? I would to put some in my 55 but want to have enough info on them first.

Okay im not a newbie to all this im just getting back started, so I do have some knowledge. Thankyou for taking the time to read my post and respond. I do have pics but will have to post them later.

 

[msouth468]

1.) Where is the best place to place the heater and thermometer? Should the heater be placed near the filter intake tube and thermometer placed on the oposite side of the aqurium?

Doesn't really matter. Some say closer to the intake, some say closer to the bottom. But, the truth is as long as the heater is IN the tank (unless you are using a heater designed otherwise). You will be fine.

2.) How much gravel do you really need in an aqaurium?

This depends on what you want. 2 to 3 inches is kind of a rule of thumb, unless you are going with a planted tank, which you might need more. Or with rearing tanks, which need none.

3.) Are clownfish (the lil nemo ones) saltwater fish? I would to put some in my 55 but want to have enough info on them first.

Um...yeah they are saltwater.

 

[hypedave]

So on the gravel I don't need 1/4 inch? I just have enough right now to cover the glass, but in some areas you can still see glass, but I do have enough holding down the decorations.

 

[Roan Art]

So on the gravel I don't need 1/4 inch? I just have enough right now to cover the glass, but in some areas you can still see glass, but I do have enough holding down the decorations.

At bare minimum I would go with 1" of gravel. You want to cover the entire bottom, at least. During the initial cycle some of the bacteria will colonize in the substrate and you want that to be as hospitable as possible. As your tank matures -- and assuming you have bioload to suit your tank size and filter (meaning don't over stock) -- the majority of the bacteria will house in your filter.

Also, some types of fish become very uncomfortable and skittish without substrate. They need places to hide and blend into the floor of the tank.

Think of it as your bedroom having a glass floor. You may not feel very secure once the novelty wears off

Roan

EDIT: I just reread what you wrote and noted that you said you might want to learn and do planted. IMO you may want to put a lot of thought into the type and depth of substrate you put in now. If you decide to go planted later, you'll have to replace your existing substrate with one like Flourite or Eco-Complete. That is a royal pain to do. Consider doing one of those now so you don't have to do it later. If you do, make sure it's at least 3" deep.

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

If you decide to go with low-light plants in your tank--like anubias, java ferns and java moss (which are very popular with first-time planted tank owners, readily available and very easy to care for) you won't even need 3 inches of gravel, because these plants are usually attached to rocks and driftwood in the tank, rather than being buried in substrate.

If you think you'll want to go with other types of plants, I agree that you would do well to plan for that NOW, as RA suggested, because you won't be wanting to pour soil into a fully decorated tank with fish in it down the road!

 

[hypedave]

Thankyou for the tips everyone. Keep bringing them in. I think I am going to purchase some Eco-complete and build my 10 gallon out with a live plant for starters since it's a small tank I learn easily on that. Should I still go with 3" deep for the 10 gallon?

So 3 inches deep for the 39 gallon then? I will start rebuilding the 39 gallon out this weekend, are there any plants that grow well in just gravel?

 

[msouth468]

I think for the 10g you will be fine with 2". Three can be allot in such a small tank.