Hi all! my name is Broder and I live in the awesome town of East London. I kept marine tanks for several years now and still have one running in my kitchen. Recently I decommissioned my larger (1,5m) tank, as it was costing more in time and electricity than I was prepared to part with. I have since realised that large tanks are impossible to sell, so I'm sitting with an empty tank and lighting in my lounge. The long and the short of it is that I thought of possibly trying to keep some freshwater fish in it until I sold it. This would depend largely on what sort of filtration is required. I know that I'm asking how long a piece of string is, but really just wanting to know if less time and effort is required keep freshwater fish?
Welcome to TASA It depends on what fish you keep, the kind of maintanence will be required. How big is the tank? Oh and the other main thing I have learnt is freshwater is cheaper to run than salt
Welcome Not necessarily less time and effort but certainly lighter on the pocket. A 1.5m is a nice size for freshwater and can give you quite a few options. For lighting, you may be able to change the spectrum bulbs you are using for the type we use. In planted tanks we generally use T5's in the 6500k range but guys are using MH's and LED's. Substrate - PFS from a pool shop will cost R80.00 for 40kgs...quantity will depend on wether you are going planted or not. Filtration on your tank would involve a sump or canister. In my opinion canisters are easier but your tank might already be plumbed for a sump. Plants - If you want to go planted there are options for easy, medium and high tech setups which will affect your choice of light, substrate, co2... Fish - Not necessarily as exciting as marines but a lot cheaper from what I've seen.
I'd like to get fish for the 1,5m x0.65m x 0.65m tank that are easy to keep. The tank runs at up to 28degrees in summer and down to 18 in winter.
Before i start asking dumb questions, maybe i should do some reading. Is there a good thread or link for me to get some info?
Take a look here: http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/forumdisplay.php?106-Articles Read Zoom's sticky's 1,2 & 3 to start with...
Thanks for the pointers. So I've done some general browsing, and decided that I wanna go with a low-tech planted aquarium. This is what I have left over from the tank's marine incarnation: * 150cm x 65cm x 60cm high tank * Many flow pumps, of which I assume I may need about 5000 l/hr now? * A light fitting for 8 T5 lamps. What would be the most economical choice here? I know that "warm white" lamps peak in the red spectrum, but I need lamps in the blue spectrum as well don't I? Or should I get special plant lamps? The look that I'd like to go for will be a tank dominated by a large piece of driftwood, round black boulders and a dark substrate. So, questions are: * Can I add any driftwood? Do I need to treat it? * What kind of substrate can I use that won't cost much? * Should I add a canister filter now, even before the cycle is complete and thereafter even though the bio-load will be minimal? That should get me going for now? Questions about plant choices, fish choices and increasing CO2 without a diffuser, will follow later no doubt.
Hello and welcome. Other then washing the driftwood off you can treat it,driftwood leeches tannins which stain the water with a tea colour and lowers PH.If you don't want that then you need to soak the driftwood in a container until most of the tannins are gone. Pool Filter sand is pretty good and cheap,it looks amazing and clean if you can find the cleaner kind without the black and brown gravels mixed in. Yes,the canister should run from the moment you start cycling your tank.The bacteria grows inside the Canister and feeds on Ammonia(NH3)(very toxic) that is produced by waste and turns it into NO2(a bit less toxic),another type of bacteria feeds on NO2 which is then turned into NO3(Only toxic in concentration).Plants can feed on NO3 and it's also removed during water changes. Remember to clean your filter with with tank water because tap water will kill the good bacteria in your filter,also remember to treat your water first before doing a water change.
For your light tubes look at 6500k, 8000k and max 10000k. The blue spectrum is for marine corals. Normal flourescent tubes are fine. Special "plant" tubes cost the earth.
