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Advice on the Juwel Rio 180...

AceCreamSoda

Member
Joined
26 Apr 2015
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50
Location
Lancashire
Hi all! I'm getting a new 180 litre Juwel Rio in about a month and I was just planning what fish and decor I will eventually put in. I am quite a novice, but I've had experience with a 10gal before.
I would think I could put in:

-8 Cardinal Tetras
-6 Platies
-6-8 Amano or Cherry Shrimp
I was also thinking of putting in some rasboras
I also have a few questions.
What sand should I put in? I chose sand over gravel because I think it looks more natural and plant should be happier than with gravel?
Are there any plants that you would recommend?
 
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Rotala rotundifolia great easy plant to propagate love those reds
 
Oh, thanks Jim. The Alternanthera looks really pretty! Love those deep reds and purples! :)
 
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The reds and purples really stand out under the lights i use (Beamswork green evo LEDs) even though i am having a battle with unwanted snails. They have chomped most of it so it looks terrible at the moment but the assassins are in now and doing a great job :).

What are you planning as far as kit... filter, co2, EI?
Filter, best to have one rated 10x
Co2, any and if so inline atomiser, in tank atomiser or reactor
EI, a must from the start, IMO
Jim
 
Hi Jim, thank you for all your input. I thought I could just stay with the juwel filter? I get co2 disposable cans and diffusers from my lfs, and also some fertilisers. Sorry, but I've never heard of the term EI... :( Back to the first post, so you think my fish choices will be okay? And what about the sand?

Thanks, Nathan
 
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Hi Nathan.
Disposable CO2 can add up after a while. I have used DIY in the past but it's unstable... so for my current tank i brought a kit from CO2art http://www.co2art.co.uk/collections...get-sodastream-system-for-aquarium-up-to-120l The reason i went for this is that i can get sodastream 60L cylinders from Argos at £19.99 for a full cylinder and a replacement for £9.99, they last really well on my tank 92L at 2.5 bubbles per second.

EI stands for Estimative Index... Here is a link from this site, it is lengthy but worth the read http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/the-estimative-index.13/ you can make up the ferts yourself or buy ready made Macro and Micro. The cheapest option is to make them up yourself, but if like me you want an easy life then i brought mine from CO2art (before you star to wonder i don't work for them!) here is a link for you http://www.co2art.co.uk/collections/fertilizer I would recommend using EI from the start, i didn't and growth was slow, as soon as i started using it.... wow, really fast growth.

-8 Cardinal Tetras - I would say they are best kept in showles of around 10 or more and for your tank probably 20, if price is an issue then you can get deals from ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-x-Card...076?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item25a22f26d4 As a note they like soft water at 23 – 27°C / 73.5 – 80.5°F
-6 Platies - not a big fan myself and they might eat the shrimp, especially cherries.
-6-8 Amano or Cherry Shrimp - I have 12 Amano shrimp and they are great for munching on any algae, they are quite bold and are out feeding all the time. The three cherry shrimp i have (not sure where they came from?) spend most of their time under bog wood and in the plants.
I was also thinking of putting in some rasboras - I really like the Galaxy rasboras, the colours are great.

I also have a few questions.

What sand should I put in? I chose sand over gravel because I think it looks more natural and plant should be happier than with gravel? - If you are going for a planted tank i would suggest a base of some kind... I use JBL aquabasis plus and capped of with JBL Manado, you could use something like aquabasis or similar which could be capped off with the sand. Their are lots of choices as far as substrate and some great threads on here for to read http://www.ukaps.org/forum/forums/substrates.17/ Substrate is a really debated subject on here, so i would advise a good read and weigh up the pro's and con's.

Are there any plants that you would recommend - Planting choice can depend on what type of tank you are going for... Dutch, Biotope, Nature style, dirty, iwagumi... you get the idea o_O if you are a new or just going for your fist real planted tank i would recommend easy species, have a look on the tropica website: http://tropica.com/en/plants/

At the start i would keep your lighting period to 6-8hrs until you get some really good growth, you don't want to have the battle with algae like did o_O
Jim
 
Thanks so much Jim. I'll follow your advice on the equipment, but I have platies in my other tank with both shrimps and none have disappeared.. Yet. o.0 I too like galaxy rasboras, their patterns are really nice!

I haven't had a proper planted tank, but I wasn't planning on having a LOT of plants.

Thanks!
 
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I was also thinking of using some wood too. I have free access to some contorted hazel in my garden - do you think I could use this?

Also, do you like booleans?
 
I was also thinking of using some wood too. I have free access to some contorted hazel in my garden - do you think I could use this?
I can see no reason for it as i have come across people on other forums using it, might give off quite a lot of tannins from the pictures, here are some links:

http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-83829.html
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=637002
http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/threads/adams-3-foot-biotope-semi-rio-nanay-tigre-biotope.11546/

Also, do you like booleans?

The only booleans i know of are used for yes or no answers in java script (probably being thick!)

Jim
 
Thanks Jim.. I've always liked having wood in aquariums, but it's too pricey where my lfs is, and i have trouble finding deals on eBay.. I thought about the hazel as it looks nice. Could I strip the bark off, soak and dry it to remove some tannins and sap?

I asked about booleans because I like the sound of the word - nothing related to aquatics :)

Nathan
 
Seconding the bigger schools! With a 180L tank there really is no need to have tiny schools. The bigger the better!
 
Thank you both. I'm thinking of getting bout 20 cardinals, Rahms, and I'm liking that site, Fish I. Please give more advice if you have any!

Thanks, Nathan. Btw, booleans!
 
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Hi everybody! I got my aquarium set up bout 3 weeks ago and now it's cycled and got my other fish in it from my old tank! My mum wants the tetra and WCMM and to get them some friends in another tank, and I was thinking of getting some endlers soon!
 

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Nice to see this up and running, just for your reference if you go with the soda stream co2 source as suggested above a bottle lasts just about 4 weeks in my Rio 180
 
Oh thanks Richie - I'm proud of the setup so far! :) The fish seem to be happy, and the co2 is no problem - I'm not too skint so it should be fine, Richie!
 
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A bit more of an update... I got a cheap deal in Aqualife, Leyland for 10 cardinals for £15, and I also added some friends for the White Cloud - they love to dart around together... Surprisingly my cat doesn't care! xD I added some more plants too, and my co2's doing great at 2 bubbles per second and increasing.

Also, aqualife had some cherry shrimp in the same tank and 3 went and got in the bag! I wasn't charged luckily, they must have not noticed, but they haven't gotten stuck in the filter... Yet. 0.o

The fish are all hiding right now in the picture - my nephew must've scared them when he came round!
 

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