My new planted tank project

It will provide a bit of nutrients but thats it. Hth

 

Ja, thanks for all help. Have decided to use a lot of java fern and vallisneria in a 'hill' aquascape with driftwood, will keep everyone updated.

 

Ok, update. Decided on the following list of plants:
bacopa caroliniana, rotala indica, sunset hygro, java fern, java moss, vallis spiralis, water sprite and maybe some swords.
Heres a question about stocking, Can I keep GBR's with neons, bloodfins, cories, and other similiar fish, many small tetras?
Can they be kept with pearl gouramis? I want one as a centre piece. Thanks

 

i think big pearl gouramis will eat small tetras

 

Thanks. Will not buy one, will stick to GBR's. Will they breed in a community aquarium with small dither fish
?

 

GBR isnt the easiest fish wont recomend them rather bolivian rams

 

Ok seeing that you don't have the tank running at the moment I'll say GBR's won't work at first. You need a settled tank for them with stable water parameters and stable temperatures. They are not easy fish to keep and even if you succeed in keeping them alive in a newly established tank I doubt that they will spawn.

Get your tank up and running and settled in. Wait a few months before getting GBR's. Just my opinion in this regard.

 

Thanks @Ryno . Will take that into consideration. Decided that some C02 is better than none, will be using a 5l bottle DIY C02 system with double diffusers. I know its no enough, but better than nothing, might even go bigger.

 

Just anote after seeing @SloMo.00. 's comment. I am not adding any fish until after a month of cycling. Would only add GBR's after 3-4 months of tank running. I did my research and decided when to add which kind of fish. Speaking of fish, does anyone know of small tetras, characins etc that would look nice in a planted 450l tank. I def want corries and neons and MAYBE GBR's. Maybe a few threadfins. Suggestions

 

How much +- would an external canister filter cost for my 450l aquarium?

 

You'll be looking at anything from R1500 upwards depending on the quality your'e looking for. You want something in the region of 1200L/h - 1500L/h flow.

 

Thanks @SloMo.00. Can I use just a powerhead or not? The ones with a filter.

 

Hi @FishLover

Please read a lot about GBR's before purchasing any. These ideally want a tank of their own as they require pristine water and the correct water parameters which, generally speaking, a community tank doesn't have.

On the smaller fish, rather get cardinals (minimum 12) than neons as they are hardier and require more common water temps (neons should be kept at about 22 degrees). A nice schooling fish would be Harlequin Rasbora (minimum 12).

HTH
Marc

 

i have harlequins very nice little fish. also hardy. x-ray tetras is also nice hardy tetras.

 

I think this is partly due to inferior, weak and sickly imported stock.
get some from @Marco, the pair I got from him is absolutely thriving in my community tank. They're happy, healthy and hardy

but then again my tank is well established and understocked and houses some of the more sensitive fish like panda cories and threadfin rainbow fish without any issues

 

Agreed @Anine

Saying that, even well bred GBR's will be sensitive to water parameters. Have a look at a post of mine from a little while back and see what the Proff has to say...
http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?13931-Keeping-German-Blue-Ramirezi

 

Thanks guys. Researched a little and decided to get bolivian rams, they are much hardier. Harlequins are def on my list, as well as cardinals or neons. In regards to the filtration. What is the best form of filtration for a large planted tank. Mine is 450l and will be planted, what is the best filter I can use.

 

Best would be canister or sump. Probably sump but I'm biased and love my canister

 

Are they VERY expensive? I know what Slo.Mo.00. said and that is quite a lot. will have to look into it.
Another question: How many fish can I fit in this tank? I wish to fill it with a lot of schools of tetras, characins, cories, raspboras etc.

 

I have a Dophin/Dolphin C1300 which is probably the bottom of the quality/price range and it cost me R1050.00 so yes they are expensive. Your tank is 450l and the rule of thumb is to turn your water over 4 to 5 times an hour so you would require a 1800l/hr - 2250l/hr canister. That is probably going to set you back a bit.

Regarding stocking your tank, there are 2 ways shown on the net. One works on the surface area of your tank and the other on the volume. Do a google search for an explanation.

HTH