Confused new member

Good Day All

So like the topic says.....CONFUSED

Im new to this forum and need some advice. I recently received a 1m curve glass tank and im not sure what to put in it.

My first thoughts was for something colourful and green like a planted aquarium but i have no idea on the start point as everywhere is different information.

Then it just seemed complicated and thought maybe just a malawi tank of some sort.

But then again the tank itself is so nice i want it to stand out.

Hence the CONFUSED.....

So any advice will be appreciated or maybe pointing my to the proper info.

Thanks

 

Welcome to the wet side of things and hope you enjoy!!
I would suggest you do some searching on the different setups/filtration and see what will work for you.

 

Remember, the most important point...you the one that has to look at the tank every day, so you have to be happy with it!!

I will most likely get flack from other members on here...but I personally don't think one should put any cichlids in a tank less than 5ft, even Malawi's. Like I said...that's just my opinion, unless you go the route of dwarf cichlids i.e. Apistos

Also what you'll need to decide...do you want a community tank...or a species tank.

Planted tanks are a bit more work and maintenance than hardscape only tanks (rock / wood), but worth it in my opinion.

Or do something out of the ordinary and get yourself "blind cave fish".


Guaranteed your guests will be intrigued when seeing a species tank with these...compared to staring at goldfish for instance

 

As a noob to planded tanks myself my best advice is to brows the forums and have a look at what some of our members have done, im pretty sure youl find one setup that youll think: "HOLY @#&%$ I WANT THAT TOO!!" than have a look how they did it, and if you cant find any more info on it.. pm the member for more help, my experiance so far has been that our members are very willing to help each other and give some pointers even if it does take a while

 

I would go with a planted tank. Find out if you want to go low tech or high tech. High tech is a planted tank with high lighting with pressurised CO2. Low tech is average lighting with no CO2. Both can be lots of fun, just find out which one suits your budget and go from there.

 

+1

 

Hello and welcome to TASA,are you new to the hobby as well or just to planted tanks?

 

Welcome to TASA...

Like the other members said look around and see what u like, then start small and work your way up to what u like in full.

Feel free to ask a lot of questions, and members will help where they can.

 

How much experience do you have? My approach with a new tank is to take it very slowly, one step at a time. I know some aquarists can scape and stock a tank in two days, but I (a) don't have the resources and (b) can't allocate time every day or a whole two or three days. When I started up my Rio 125, I decided to do a basic low-tech planted aquarium with some driftwood and a good substrate, and not a geographic theme per se, but to stock small and compatible species that add colour and interest in all layers and "habitats". I don't want more than 6-8 different species. It helps to have a look at the display tanks in the better LFS's (don't know CT that well), and to ask advice there.

Take it very slowly, and develop and change your plans with the tank as it develops. If you want quick results, you will also get bored quickly. The pleasure lies in the process; the creative part and then leaving the rest in the hands of nature. The worst mistake in my view is to lose discipline, to buy lots of species impulsively, which don't fit in with where you want to go with a community. Solve every problem first, before you go to the next step. It is a PITA to get rid of fish, if you are mature enough to do so. Too many tanks just end up a jumbled mess, with mismatched sizes and personalities of fish, and often a few tankbusters that are desperately unhappy in cramped quarters. A tank is always more interesting and beautiful with fewer rather than more species, as that allows one to see the intra-specific and interspecific behaviour much better. Also, a sparsely stocked tank is much easier to maintain than a heavily stocked one. And while lots of plants can be really beautiful, I have seen minimalistic aquaria with very few plants that are quite stunning.

 

Welcome fellow Capetonian,

Indeed you will find a 'table mountain' of information here (and on the www-net in general). But that may also increase the level of options (and confusion).
Once you look into things there will be many decisions regarding, filtration, substrate, CO2 or not , lighting, high tech or low tech, what fish, what plants and so on.

Where in Cape Town are you based?
You haven't yet answered the questions about your experience and whether you are new to the hobby or just to planted tanks.
Perhaps we could meet and have a chat, I can certainly give you some pointers (also where you can get what without spending the while christmas budget).

Enjoy the hobby.

 

Thanks for all the replies. Many moons ago I use to have tropical and Malawi chiclids and I handle them well. Then I dropped the hobby and took to reptiles (which I still have). The main reason for me doing this is that my 7 year old son has a passion for fish (mainly Sharks) but he always wanted fish.
So the reason for me wanting to go planted is that the tank can Grow into something and also something we both can monitor.

I'm going to go with a planted tank but need you guys to point me in the right direction.

Is there a specific soil? What are good starter plants? Also I would like to have the grass effect in the tank.

I'm in parow so places close that you know of would be great.

 

@ shakier: I think you will enjoy this project with your son immensely. You did not mention what kind of budget you have. If you want to keep it low-tech and simple, then I suggest you start with Anubias, Cryptocoryne, swords and an assortment of stem plants. If you want to add bogwood, then be sure to soak it for at least two months and to boil it. Afterwards, you can add Java fern to it - that looks terrific to me. By far the best value for money you will get is at betterweather.co.za. You will get six or seven plants for the price of two in the shops, there will be no parasites or snails on them, and you will have the pleasure of seeing some of the plants transform from their terrestrial to aquatic forms. This in itself will be a valuable experience for your son. Start with plants that are not too CO2 dependent. You can add that later, if you want and can afford to.

Soil / substrate: ADA, Seachem Fluorite, or laterite layer at the bottom with a sand or gravel topping would work well. I personally like a dark brown substrate. Totally black looks unnatural to me, as does light quartzite sand. But that is my taste. In my Rio 125 I use Seachem Fluorite, but it cost me R1000. I would think there are cheaper ways to get much the same end result. At a guess, the proprietary soils are partially sintered clays. They don't fall apart, but release enough nutrient slowly.

Any which way you go with substrate, you will initially have very murky water. I suggest you do your hardscaping completely, then circulate the water for some while to let it clear. Only then start with the plants. You can let the water level drop - I find it easier to plant in shallow water than either none or too much. If you start too early with the plants, or do too much digging at once, you will get muck settling on the leaves, which will not be easy to get rid of (ask me!). When you add water, use a plastic plate that will float by itself, and pour the water onto it so you don't disturb the substrate or plants. Be careful of letting certain plants dry out - swords (Echinodorus) cannot handle this, and neither can Java ferns. If you plant 'dry', then use a mist spray to keep everything moist all the time.

Fish: Do you have any particular biotope in mind?

 

Hi @shakier I will message you now about a good pet shop in Parow. I work there on the weekends so If you ask for me I'll be there

 

Thanks for that info dorff I think I'll start with low tech and at a later stage improve on it. As for fish I'd first like to get the tank settled with plants and then concentrate on a proper community tank.

 

Hi @shakier I will message you now about a good pet shop in Parow. I work there on the weekends so If you ask for me I'll be there

 

sounds like a good plan 2 me