I need fish advice...
- Thread starter Corax
- Start date
I would suggest as for plants to get some Java Fern. It is so easy and doesn't need too much. I like to add soem general ferts once a week on water changes and that's about it. You might also want to look at Flourish Excel, a liquid carbon source. It might help the plants compete witht the algae and is very easy to add. Of course it isn't as cost effective in big tanks, but I just add soem with water changes (not each day) and it has really helped my plants grow well and keeps the algae down.
Bristlenose plecos get to be 4-5 inches long and are great algae eaters. Otherwise a small group of otto cats or a few true SAE's. All very good algae eaters that stay smaller and work well in community tanks.
I have heard of issues with Ram's and cory cats during breeding times. But in a bigger tank it will probably be fine.
Bristlenose plecos get to be 4-5 inches long and are great algae eaters. Otherwise a small group of otto cats or a few true SAE's. All very good algae eaters that stay smaller and work well in community tanks.
I have heard of issues with Ram's and cory cats during breeding times. But in a bigger tank it will probably be fine.
I've kept Rams and Cory cats together before, in a 29 actually, and there were indeed territory disputes. Nothing major, just the male Ram shooing the cories away from the eggs. Never any kind of injury though.
I'm not looking for a plec that will actually clean anything really. If it does, great, but I want a nice looking plec for the sake of having the nice looking plec. They're interesting and different. I've been reading more on Gold Nugget plecs and some do stay in the 6" range, which is perfect for what I want.
For my water, I'll be using an RO filter. For saltwater, that's a great thing.. But for fresh, is it still? Is the RO going to strip the trace elements out of the water and starve the plants? I'm sure a good fertilizer will fix that, but I don't want to build in a problem if I can help it.
I'm not looking for a plec that will actually clean anything really. If it does, great, but I want a nice looking plec for the sake of having the nice looking plec. They're interesting and different. I've been reading more on Gold Nugget plecs and some do stay in the 6" range, which is perfect for what I want.
For my water, I'll be using an RO filter. For saltwater, that's a great thing.. But for fresh, is it still? Is the RO going to strip the trace elements out of the water and starve the plants? I'm sure a good fertilizer will fix that, but I don't want to build in a problem if I can help it.
You want a nice looking pleco...check out the zebras...they only get about 3-4 inches.....but....they are WAYY out of my kind of price range !
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/hypa-zeb.htm
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/hypa-zeb.htm
Simple tapwater is best for a freshwater tank unless it is way out of bounds. RO water will be tough on the fish but it can be used to mix with tapwater if say the hardness and pH or way too high.
The product blurb on prime reads that it detoxifies metals. unless you have cloramines in your water I don't think that product is nessasary.
half the time I don't use declorinator when the clorine levels are normal. If there has been some work done and the levels are higher I do use a declorinator. Those times the clorine levels are so high I can barely drink it, so I figure I won't make my fish face that either.
Since you are looking to have a planted tank, I would recomend a product that is just to deal with clorine or cloramines if those are present.
sodium thiosulphate is the active ingredient that deals with clorine and cuts cloramine bonds. you can get that compound or buy weak solutions of it at the pet store.
If you do have the cloramine, amquel or prime would be needed to deal with the free ammonia after the cloramine bond is broken. with a 50% water change and typical levels of cloramine you would have deadly amonia levels if you just cut the clorine side out.
half the time I don't use declorinator when the clorine levels are normal. If there has been some work done and the levels are higher I do use a declorinator. Those times the clorine levels are so high I can barely drink it, so I figure I won't make my fish face that either.
Since you are looking to have a planted tank, I would recomend a product that is just to deal with clorine or cloramines if those are present.
sodium thiosulphate is the active ingredient that deals with clorine and cuts cloramine bonds. you can get that compound or buy weak solutions of it at the pet store.
If you do have the cloramine, amquel or prime would be needed to deal with the free ammonia after the cloramine bond is broken. with a 50% water change and typical levels of cloramine you would have deadly amonia levels if you just cut the clorine side out.
Prime is considered the best and works excellently for chlorine and chloramine. If you just have chlorine then anythign cheap will work just fine, plus off gasing works well. I use a combo of off gasing and Wardley's Chlorout.
