Basic tetra setup

Tank: 2ft standard
Heater 50watt
Thermometer: 1X Glass thermometer with suction cup
Substrate: fine silica sand
Filter: small filter rated for 60L tanks
Canopy: standard black plastic canopy with light clips
Lighting: 1X 15watt electronic ballast + 1X15 watt light tube
PH test kit
Plants: 3X Microsorium Pteropus – Java fern – tied onto a piece of rock or drift wood at the back of the tank.
1X Microsorium Pteropus “Windeløv†– as per above – center feature of tank.
Anubias barteri var. nana – tied onto rocks and placed in front of the ferns.
A dwarf variety of Vallisneria planted at either end of the tank as peripheral vegetation.
Fish: 15 neon tetras
5X Otocinclus sp.
5X Corydoras of your choice
Setting up:
1. Wash enough silica sand to cover the base of the tank with a 2cm thick layer.
2. Place clean sand in bottom of tank. Be sure to cover the base evenly
3. Place the heater and filter in their desired location. Behind plants is best as it hides the equipment
4. Place a plate on the sand and gently fill the tank to the desired level
5. Switch on heater to heat water to 25deg as it makes it more pleasant to work in
6. Start gently tying the various plants to the various hard surfaces using black cotton or thing fishing gut.
7. Place the ferns at the back of the tank to create a green back ground with the Windeløv in the center of the tank as the focal point
8. Place the anubias slightly forward of the ferns – make sure they are not over shadowed by the ferns
9. Plant a few strands of Vallisneria at the edges of the tank – leave space for the plants to grow.
10. Stick the electronic ballast to the back of the hood using double sided tape. Place the tube in the light clips and place hood on top of tank. Be sure to cut out a section of the hood to make it fit snugly on the filter.​

Now all that is left to do is to switch on the filter and the light and to let the tank mature. There are several “instant†tank maturing products on the market but only one of them really works. If you elect not to use this product you need to let the tank run for 3 weeks without adding any fish.​

Once the tank has stabilised and mature add the fish one specie at a time. Start with the 15 neon tetras. Once you get the fish home from the shop float the bag on the water for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes undo the elastic band, add ½ a cup of tank water and let it float another 5 minutes, add another cup of tank water, float another 5 minutes and then releasethe fish. A clothes peg works very well to keep the bag attached to the side of tank.
Repeat with the rest of the fish each week until you have all 3 species in your tank after 3weeks.​

 

gr8 write-up Henk

 

So which is the instant tank maturing product that really works?

 

organic aqua... works GREAT in FW... not sure about marines

 

So there is one that really works. Thought they all were the same. cool, if i ever start another fw, i know what to look for.
Great writeup!

 

I used it on a reef tank once. It worked for getting the nitrogen cycle sorted but I still had problems (like algae) associated with stocking too quickly etc. I would still recommend taking things slow even if using an "instant" product.

 

Nice Write up Henk. Why don't you share with everybody the plans , etc for that monster tank in your lounge?? Oh, and your Koi pond...

 

Rory> I have also use a product called CYCLE in the past, but have to agree with Henk, Organic Aqua is great.

Henk: I enjoyed your write up. good for beginners to read. I just feel that many would have purchased the equipment, fish, tank way before even thinking it through properly. Myself included here. It was by chatting and trial and error. Not many deaths though. Had a good mentor in the likes of Rowland

 

ssshhhhhh.... once there is some progress on both projects i will post some photos

 

I found that almost any bio-nutrient works well for your tank. I don't know the exact make-up of all the chemical compounds in the particular brand you prefer, but I have tried a few 'cycle' type products and they all do the job just fine for me...dunno about you guys. If only we all had the patience of Job and then we wouldn't be buying these products lol

 

I was tempted to say what the thread is called that was mentioning your huge tank, but I think people might be offended on here as it is a fresh water forum.

Nice write up by the way, are we allowed to add to it?

 

very nice Henk!

There is a product called kent ammonia detox and it worked for me in my 450L tank that I moved.

 

hahahahaha lowflyer. yea the marine guys arent to nice about FW tanks

You are more than welcome to add to it... send me a PM what you want to add and i will edit it

 

PM sent

 

Nice write up dude :bigsmile:

What do the other fish look like ?

Anyone have a tank shot of a similar tank ?

 

gooooooooooooooooooooogle mate

 

Has anyone actually tried a fishless cycle using ammonia

 

i wanted to, got the pure ammonia and evrything, but then i got scared....

 

I have read so much about it but I ended up using a cycle and then adding 2 platties
I am also sceptical doing that

 

just add Organic Aqua