Don't know if any read the FW section, so here are the basics. I'm giving the "fish thing" a go. I'll be getting a 24G Aquapod for freshwater, with a temp of 80*, maybe a hair higher. Since this is a first time thing I'll be looking for some relativly durable plants to put in there, and preferably not ones that require complex care. I don't want to overwhelm myself, and if it's too complex I may lose interest just due to the workload. Basically the ease into it theory. Any advice on a stocking list? Also, when should I stock there? Would it be fine to stock them right from the start, or should I have the tank cycle a bit first?
Newbie setting up
- Thread starter necigrad
- Start date
I just set up the same tank a month ago and am very happy with it. Here's what I've got. Just remember that I've only got a month of experience.
I put a 20-lb. bag of Eco-Complete in for substrate, as recommended by my LFS. I have planted 2 cabomba, 1 Amazon sword, 4 Java ferns, a wad of Java moss split into three clumps, 2 anubias, 1 alternanthera, 1 dwarf chain sword, 1 banana plant and 1 relatively large plant the LFS recommended but I don't recall the name. I installed a DIY CO2 system two weeks ago.
The tank is really nice looking. I think the standard lights (65 watts) are adequate for most plants. The ferns are just kind of hanging in there. I hear they are slow to establish. The cabomba's has doubled in length, very robust, and the alternanthera is growing. The anubias have put out a new leaf or two and look very healthy. I don't use any fertilizers, at least not yet. From what I've read, Eco-Complete and similar products are very good. I like Eco-Complete because it's black and shows off everything well.
I stocked with angels, a dwarf gourami, two dwarf ciichlids, 3 otocinclus, 2 cory cats, 2 zebra danios and 2 cardinals. I plan to swap out the danios and build up to 8-10 cardinals in a school, but may be a little overstocked already. We'll see.
This is a good site. Read up on everything and jump in.
jim
I put a 20-lb. bag of Eco-Complete in for substrate, as recommended by my LFS. I have planted 2 cabomba, 1 Amazon sword, 4 Java ferns, a wad of Java moss split into three clumps, 2 anubias, 1 alternanthera, 1 dwarf chain sword, 1 banana plant and 1 relatively large plant the LFS recommended but I don't recall the name. I installed a DIY CO2 system two weeks ago.
The tank is really nice looking. I think the standard lights (65 watts) are adequate for most plants. The ferns are just kind of hanging in there. I hear they are slow to establish. The cabomba's has doubled in length, very robust, and the alternanthera is growing. The anubias have put out a new leaf or two and look very healthy. I don't use any fertilizers, at least not yet. From what I've read, Eco-Complete and similar products are very good. I like Eco-Complete because it's black and shows off everything well.
I stocked with angels, a dwarf gourami, two dwarf ciichlids, 3 otocinclus, 2 cory cats, 2 zebra danios and 2 cardinals. I plan to swap out the danios and build up to 8-10 cardinals in a school, but may be a little overstocked already. We'll see.
This is a good site. Read up on everything and jump in.
jim
Even with the Eco, you should fertilize through the water column.
Especially with the amount of light you have and the DIY CO2. Your plants won't thrive without some fertilization.Angels get around 7 inches tall. IMO a 24g tank isn't big enough. I'm not sure the dimensions of the Aquapod, but I don't believe it is large enough to house angels. Juvenile angels would be fine in the tank for a short time, but they'll eventually need to be moved before they are stunted. Cories, danios, and cardinals are fish that need groups. Swapping out the Danios is a great idea because they can be pretty nippy, so i wouldn't keep them with angels. You may be fine to keep one angel, 10 Cardinals, the cories (add atleast 4 more), the dwarf cichlids, the otos, and the gourami. But IMO that would be a stocked tank.
Ok, now on to the original poster.
If the tank indeed has 65 watts of light, you have alot of options. I'd stick with medium and low light plants. You may want to add some DIY CO2.
For substrate, Eco Complete is an excellent choice. Its by far my favorite plant substrate. You can always use regular gravel though, if you don't want to spend the money on Eco. Depending on the dimensions of the tank, you'll need 1 or 2 bags.
I'd look for Anubias, Java fern (both of which should be attached to wood or rocks), Wisteria, Ambulia, Rotala rotundifolia (sometimes mislabelled indica), Bacopa caroliniana, Moneywort, Alternanthera, Dwarf Sagittaria (foreground, grassy plant), Cabomba, and there are many more.
The ones listed between java fern and dwarf sag are all stem plants. They will grow as tall as you let them. I give mine a trim usually at water changes or every other water change (either weekly or bi-weekly). You will need to use some sort of fertilizer with the lighting you have and those plants. Since the tank isn't that large, the Flourish liquid fertilizer line will work. I'd use Excel, Flourish comprehensive, potassium, and possibly nitrogen and phosphorus (depending on the amount already in your tank water). If that sounds like too much, then you could use dry fertilizers that you buy in bulk from http://www.gregwatson.com. They are pretty cheap and last a while. You'll just have to figure out how much to use.Hopefully this post isn't too overwhelming. I know when you are just starting out you take in so much information that it all kind of runs together. Plants may seem hard to keep, but really they aren't.
You just have to get used to everything. You can trim and fertilize after weekly water changes and get everything done on the same day. DIY CO2 is easy to setup and lasts around 2-3 weeks before you need to change out a bottle.For stocking, I'd go with:
1 large school of fish (tetras or rasboras) of 10-12 or 2 medium schools of 6
1 medium sized gourami (Pearl, Gold, Blue, 3-spot)
6-8 Cories
4 Otocinclus
pair of Dwarf Cichlids (Rams, Apistos, or Kribs)
It's not "overwhelming", more of just that I (and I assume most n00bs) don't have the basic knowledge yet to properly assilimate the information. For example. I've read the posts, and will read them at least once more while waiting for my tank to arrive (just ordered today). Then when it's here I'll read the post with the actual intent of using the information, not just to read it. I'll make a list and buy from that.
Will I be able to find most of the recommended plants (and I guess fish, but I wasn't planning on that in this thread) in someplace like PetSmart, or will I have to go to a LFS? Also, when is the best time to add the plants? Should I fill the tank halfway, put in the plants, and then fill the rest of the way? Or should I let it cycle a bit first? And will some of those fish be good to help start the cycle as well to "feed" the plants? Like maybe the tetras?
Will I be able to find most of the recommended plants (and I guess fish, but I wasn't planning on that in this thread) in someplace like PetSmart, or will I have to go to a LFS? Also, when is the best time to add the plants? Should I fill the tank halfway, put in the plants, and then fill the rest of the way? Or should I let it cycle a bit first? And will some of those fish be good to help start the cycle as well to "feed" the plants? Like maybe the tetras?
Here's what I did:
first, check for damage. I bought my Aquapod from a LFS and it was fine, but I've read of others getting damaged in shipping. It's basically a glass cube, after all. BTW, my setup manual in the box was outdated somewhat. if things look a little different than the manual, go to the company's web site (www.current-usa.com) and find the latest PDF. There's not a lot different, but it made me feel better.
get it placed and LEVEL. (Not as simple as it sounds.) Put the heater in now - I put mine in the filter compartment. Don't plug in anything yet!
Dump in the Eco-Complete if that's what you use, or read up on laterite and gravel combos. Your choice. I used 1 bag and got about a 2-inch depth. Two might be better but it's not cheap. You might have to call around to find Eco-Complete.
Fill the tank maybe a third full, dechlorinate the water. Pick out your plants and rocks/driftwood/decor. I used petrified wood (a little $$) and slate (cheap). Get the rocks where you want them first, then the plants - tall stuff in the back, shorter plants toward the front. Find a LFS that stocks lots of plants and get advice. BUY LOTS. Really, you want at least a dozen plants. Be sure to separate the bunch plants - the ones that have several stems held together by a metal strip or rubber band. Stick 'em in the substrate individually - they look much more natural that way, they'll cover more area and from my brief experience they'll grow plenty thick. Finish filling the tank, plug it all in, let it run and get to the temp you want.
My understanding is the Eco-Complete has the minerals the plants need, so I don't think you have to rush to fertilize. Add a few tough fish - danios, white clouds, some of the hardier tetras - your pick. Go slow. Here's the confusing part: You read all about cycling the tank, letting ammonia, then nitrite, then nitrate build up and diminish. Never happened with my tank, and my understanding is that's the way it's supposed to be with a heavily planted tank. The plants suck up the ammonia - love it, apparently. So don't be surprised if your water tests keep coming back negative for those. After a month I'm finally showing a few nitrates.
That's about all I know. I think my long-term plan, assuming I continue to enjoy the hobby, is to move into a large freshwater tank as the fish and plants grow and then convert the 'Pod into a nano saltwater reef tank. But that's down the road.
first, check for damage. I bought my Aquapod from a LFS and it was fine, but I've read of others getting damaged in shipping. It's basically a glass cube, after all. BTW, my setup manual in the box was outdated somewhat. if things look a little different than the manual, go to the company's web site (www.current-usa.com) and find the latest PDF. There's not a lot different, but it made me feel better.
get it placed and LEVEL. (Not as simple as it sounds.) Put the heater in now - I put mine in the filter compartment. Don't plug in anything yet!
Dump in the Eco-Complete if that's what you use, or read up on laterite and gravel combos. Your choice. I used 1 bag and got about a 2-inch depth. Two might be better but it's not cheap. You might have to call around to find Eco-Complete.
Fill the tank maybe a third full, dechlorinate the water. Pick out your plants and rocks/driftwood/decor. I used petrified wood (a little $$) and slate (cheap). Get the rocks where you want them first, then the plants - tall stuff in the back, shorter plants toward the front. Find a LFS that stocks lots of plants and get advice. BUY LOTS. Really, you want at least a dozen plants. Be sure to separate the bunch plants - the ones that have several stems held together by a metal strip or rubber band. Stick 'em in the substrate individually - they look much more natural that way, they'll cover more area and from my brief experience they'll grow plenty thick. Finish filling the tank, plug it all in, let it run and get to the temp you want.
My understanding is the Eco-Complete has the minerals the plants need, so I don't think you have to rush to fertilize. Add a few tough fish - danios, white clouds, some of the hardier tetras - your pick. Go slow. Here's the confusing part: You read all about cycling the tank, letting ammonia, then nitrite, then nitrate build up and diminish. Never happened with my tank, and my understanding is that's the way it's supposed to be with a heavily planted tank. The plants suck up the ammonia - love it, apparently. So don't be surprised if your water tests keep coming back negative for those. After a month I'm finally showing a few nitrates.
That's about all I know. I think my long-term plan, assuming I continue to enjoy the hobby, is to move into a large freshwater tank as the fish and plants grow and then convert the 'Pod into a nano saltwater reef tank. But that's down the road.
i agree with what GirlieGirl8521 said.
also angels and gourami shouldnt be kept together. they are known to fight.
i wouldnt go with what jfuquay said about using fish to cycle the tank. i would read up on fishless cycling.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598
also angels and gourami shouldnt be kept together. they are known to fight.
i wouldnt go with what jfuquay said about using fish to cycle the tank. i would read up on fishless cycling.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598
Lots of help to be had:clap: . Cycling with fish or without, seems to be several supporters of both. I'm inclined to go with fishless, because it works, and there's no harm. Advice is just that, advice. I would like to drop in maybe one or two fish to get the cycle going, but there's enough concern over this method to heed the warnings. I don't know enough to make the "educated" choice, so it's basic logic. Less risk is better. I've also created a small mess with two posts. I've got another one on the FW General forum, and it was there that it was suggested I post here for plant advice. I appreciate all advice, but regretably, it's going to get complicated.
If the setup advice sounds good (fill 1/3, dechlorinate, stock with lanscape/plants, fill completly, cycle) sounds good I'll go with that. Maybe I'll pick up a couple/few pieces of shale from a landscape place this weekend or something. I did order the EcoComplete (pretty sure at least), and it was two bags, I believe 40 pounds. I'll likely pick up plants at PetSmart after my tank arrives. I'm assuming they have a good stock, and supposedly that take care of things well. Does anyone have advice on which plants to pick? Large, small, that's all good, but are there specific ones I should get, or more importantly avoid? With an 80* tank, and supposedly good lighting, it should grow very well, but I need room in the 24G for fish. I'd LIKE numerous fish (like 15-20), but I'm realistic. My main concern in this thread is the plants for this setup. I dont' want to put so many plants in there's no room for fish.
I think, assuming the setup process is right, the above is what I need from this thread now. Is that all something PetSmart would carry? Is it better to get a little of each, or 4 or 5 types? And will the suggested dozen be good, or would a little more be appropriate? And just cause I'm asking lots of questions, woudl there be any harm is geting maybe 8 plants in the tank, letting it cycle, and then reevaluating the plants? Possibly after I get some fish in there?
BTW, my "other" thread, which I think will likely wind up for fish choices now, is here:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96992
If the setup advice sounds good (fill 1/3, dechlorinate, stock with lanscape/plants, fill completly, cycle) sounds good I'll go with that. Maybe I'll pick up a couple/few pieces of shale from a landscape place this weekend or something. I did order the EcoComplete (pretty sure at least), and it was two bags, I believe 40 pounds. I'll likely pick up plants at PetSmart after my tank arrives. I'm assuming they have a good stock, and supposedly that take care of things well. Does anyone have advice on which plants to pick? Large, small, that's all good, but are there specific ones I should get, or more importantly avoid? With an 80* tank, and supposedly good lighting, it should grow very well, but I need room in the 24G for fish. I'd LIKE numerous fish (like 15-20), but I'm realistic. My main concern in this thread is the plants for this setup. I dont' want to put so many plants in there's no room for fish.
I think, assuming the setup process is right, the above is what I need from this thread now. Is that all something PetSmart would carry? Is it better to get a little of each, or 4 or 5 types? And will the suggested dozen be good, or would a little more be appropriate? And just cause I'm asking lots of questions, woudl there be any harm is geting maybe 8 plants in the tank, letting it cycle, and then reevaluating the plants? Possibly after I get some fish in there?
BTW, my "other" thread, which I think will likely wind up for fish choices now, is here:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96992
if your going to Petsmart, dont buy mondo grass or green-white acorus. They sell both of these and neither is a true aquatic plant(slowly die in tank). They sell most of the others if not all probably.
If you want to spend some money on plants this is where I get most of mine from. The staff is very helpful and very knowledgeable.
http://www.aquabotanic.com/abstore/index.html
Def. go with eco complete.
And as much as some people will say its inhumane to cycle with fish I find doing it the non fish way is really complex, especially if you don't want to be overwhelmed and I find you still go through mini-cycles when you finally add fish anyway. Choose the kind of fish you want to have. in a small tank that is going to be reasonably planted schooling fish, I find are the most appealing. 10-15 tetras (which ever kind you like best) My opinion, you'll have to form your own in order for you to be happy with it.
Start with a fair amount of plants carefully laid out as to not have to up root them later because you don't like them. Then fill the tank all the way and wait 1 day. you can add stress-Zyme but I really don't think that works but there is something that you can order called Bio-Speara( I may hace spelled it wrong) but its refrigerated live nitrifying bacteria. I have used it and I believe it works to stabilize your tank and make it fish safe.
After a day add one of the fish your going to eventually get a school of.
The plants actually use ammonia and nitrites so this will ease the cycling process. After about 10 days you should be able to start adding fish one at a time every few days. During this time your tank will still be completing the nitrogen cycle. If you add Prime it will detoxify the ammonia and nitrites as well as remove chlorine and chlorimines but still allowing the ammonia and nitrites to be used by the plants and bacteria.
Good luck and happy fish keeping.
Matt
http://www.aquabotanic.com/abstore/index.html
Def. go with eco complete.
And as much as some people will say its inhumane to cycle with fish I find doing it the non fish way is really complex, especially if you don't want to be overwhelmed and I find you still go through mini-cycles when you finally add fish anyway. Choose the kind of fish you want to have. in a small tank that is going to be reasonably planted schooling fish, I find are the most appealing. 10-15 tetras (which ever kind you like best) My opinion, you'll have to form your own in order for you to be happy with it.
Start with a fair amount of plants carefully laid out as to not have to up root them later because you don't like them. Then fill the tank all the way and wait 1 day. you can add stress-Zyme but I really don't think that works but there is something that you can order called Bio-Speara( I may hace spelled it wrong) but its refrigerated live nitrifying bacteria. I have used it and I believe it works to stabilize your tank and make it fish safe.
After a day add one of the fish your going to eventually get a school of.
The plants actually use ammonia and nitrites so this will ease the cycling process. After about 10 days you should be able to start adding fish one at a time every few days. During this time your tank will still be completing the nitrogen cycle. If you add Prime it will detoxify the ammonia and nitrites as well as remove chlorine and chlorimines but still allowing the ammonia and nitrites to be used by the plants and bacteria.
Good luck and happy fish keeping.
Matt