My Tank

Discussion in 'Full tank shots' started by Kat, Nov 27, 2009.

  1. Kat

    Kat

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    Was asked to put up some pics, so here they are:

    This is my 30 litre tank. I keep some platies, black widows and my three fighters in it, they all get on great. I'm just a beginner so please dont be too harsh with any comments :p I really enjoyed putting this little tank together and I think it looks quite pretty- was my first ever try at scaping :bigsmile: Plants still need to grow in a bit. Still learning so any ideas welcome...

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  3. Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

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    Hi Kat...

    Well, for a beginner your tank is really good. I'm very impressed.

    The plants all look very healthy, and the fish are looking good too. I'm pretty sure someone will come on sometime soon and tell you which plant is not aquarium... you can always be guaranteed of that.

    One question... where is the heater? Didn't see it in any of the pics.

    Ok, just some brief ideas...

    The blue air-stone on the left... I would put it behind the rock and put the air-tubing behind the filter.. that way you don't see it--- just the bubbles.
    In a 30 litre tank I also think that 1 airstone will be MORE than sufficient. The air-curtain at the back is not necessary. The problem I have found with these air-curtains in small tanks is that they actually create quite strong current within the tank.. and obviously this could tire out your fish if they are not necessarily meant to be in high current water.

    The other thing is that oxygen doesn't actually get into the water via the air bubble... it's really just for show. Oxygen only gets into your water when there is surface movement.

    Too much bubbles also knocks your CO2 out the water, a vital ingredient to the growth of your plants.

    But for a "beginner" I am very impressed. The are some good breeding of fish keepers going on down there in PE.
     
  4. veegal

    veegal

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    Hi Kat
    Very nice! I definitely agree with Zoom - it looks great, even if you weren't a beginner :D
    I'm pretty sure the plant on the right behind the rock, the one leaf is showing on the right hand side of the second picture as well, is not an aquatic plant......I'm sure Phil will correct me if I'm wrong though :)
     
  5. OP
    Kat

    Kat

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    Hey thanks :)
    It's nice to hear positive comments :)
    Actually the little airstone in the front was only put there temporarily as I tried building a DIY CO2 injection system using the yeast method, it really seems to have benefitted the plants and I think I'll keep it up till I can afford something more proffesional. The shop where I got the plants from didnt know any of the names, so I've been googling aquarium plants and looking at heaps of pics trying to recognise what plants I actually bought and you are right- the plant there is not aquarium.
    I dont actually have a heater yet, the shop that I got the widows and platies from had unheated tanks and said they'd do fine and the fighters were in those little unheated cubes. I know fighters prefer warmer water and in an article I read it said they get very slow in the cooler temps, but all my fighters seem to be swimming normally and seem very happy. Do u reckon I should invest in a heater. (have bad childhood memories, our heater broke and boiled our fish overnight wen I was little, so I was reluctant to get one :) )

    So do u reckon I move the air curtain to my 3 ft tank and put a smaller airstone in its place?

    Thanks so much for the comments :)
     
  6. Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

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    Hey Kat,

    The fish will survive for short periods without heating. You see the problem comes in with your external temperature fluctuations... you might go from a stunning hot day, to a miserable windy cold day, (very common in PE!!!). This external fluctuations obviously effects the water temp, and we try keep everything as balanced as possible.

    You can also invest in some liquid fertz. I believe Prof Dirk's is amazing... but I've never tried it myself. I am currently using "bio-elites" fertilizer. Not sure if it's available everywhere or only JHB... but it WAS doing WANDERS to my tank (before it bust). I also only pay about R45 for a bottle, and I've have it 3 weeks, and only used about an 1/8th of the bottle. (You add every day). To your tank you would add 3 drops every day!

    Jagar heaters are the absolute BEST. My tank burst this week... the water dropped 2/3rd down. The filter burnt itself out... and the heater that was obviously out of the water now just turned itself off. It has some fancy "fail safe" system that when there is a fault, it automatically turned off. Has this been another make, the heater would have stayed on, with the tip of the heater in the water, and would have boiled! The Jagar is not sitting in a new tank, and still working great.
    For a 30litre tank you can buy a 50W heater. It's still a little much, but it's the smallest they make.

    Yes, take the air-curtain out and put it in the 3ft. You could put the in it's place, and just add the DIY CO2 via that airstone too. Just add a T-piece in the tubing.

    Just my 2c worth. But even without any changes, you tank is really well scaped. You have a nice balance with regards to the placing of plants vs rocks. I also like the fact that the filter is so well hidden.

    The fluctuating temperatures will stress out the fish, and definately make them more susceptible to disease.
     
  7. speedz

    speedz In need of a fishroom....

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    hi and welcome. I like the plants and the siamese fighters. awesome stuff
     
  8. slayer

    slayer

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    Nice little tank. Well done because its much more difficult to keep, regulate and care for a little tank. Larger tanks are easier to care for
     
  9. OP
    Kat

    Kat

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    Hey thanks for the advice :)
    I'm def going to look into a heater then.

    I went to our local aquatic store a few weeks ago and did ask what fertilizers were available and they have only one- Tetra Plantamin. I got it and have been using it however its 70 bucks for a little 100ml bottle and u have to use heaps 5ml per 20 litres every 4 weeks, so my 100 litre tank chows the stuff. Considering my bonsai fertilizer costs 30 bucks for a bottle of twice the size, it just seems like a lot to pay. Would definately appreciate a cheaper option :)

    I am sorry about your tank. I saw the pics and it looked like it was a stunning tank. I hope that you can get a replacement sorted.

    I really appreciate your advice:)
    thanks
     
  10. Cool Blue

    Cool Blue

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    Nice looking tank!!!!!
     
  11. OP
    Kat

    Kat

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    thanx :)
     
  12. Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

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    Bonsai... OH OH... don't let ferryman hear that...
     
  13. OP
    Kat

    Kat

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    Does he do bonsai?
     
  14. Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

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    Yep, he's BIG into bosnai.
     
  15. Laure

    Laure Cyano Terminator

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    Kat I will be ordering some more fertilizer from Prof Dirk soon. Price is very competitive. I think it works out cheaper than most commercial brands. Another positive is that in PE our water is very soft with low kh and gh. Prof Dirk's fertilizer is formulated for soft water, so it really works well. I have bee using it since early this year and have been pretty happy with it. Let me know if you are interested and I will bundle your order with mine. I have done this before for a few fish keepers in PE and I order plants, fertilizer and fish food in a large parcel and it works out cheaper than that you would pay in the pet shop.
     
  16. OP
    Kat

    Kat

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    Thanks I am definately interested..just let me know how much it will cost :) Been using Tetra plantmin because it was all I could find but it's quite expensive.

    And about the plants- My 3 ft doesnt have lighting at the moment- researching and trying to find a decent priced clip on light system (want an open tank).The one I like at Ultimate Aquatics is 550, The bridge quoted me 700 but fins aquatics gave me a number I could ring for a place that does wholesale I think-so gna try them on mon. Soon as I've sorted out lights i will be looking for plants :)
    I dont know if you have any recomendations as to where else I could try for the lights?
     
  17. Laure

    Laure Cyano Terminator

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    I dont have open top tanks although i would really like to own one. all my light hoods are DIY jobs and i just buy the parts at lighting retailers
    I will let you know when I am ready to place an order for the fertilizer. You will be happy with it and it is much cheaper than off the shelf stuff.
     
  18. OP
    Kat

    Kat

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    Fantastic, thanks :)
     
  19. Laure

    Laure Cyano Terminator

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    I have some Ceratopteris Cornuta if you are interested to come collect. PM me and we can arrange.
     

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