Low tech, new start, new to planted tanks - 2 nanos and a 125l

[Kaliilo]

Hi all
So I was originally planning on buying a Rio 125 for my first high tech but then I remembered I had an old 110l (80x35x40 ish)sitting outside. After reading up I was far too paranoid to trust the silicone after 2 years outside in all weathers so I watched a few videos and set off to buy silicone sealant…a certain large chain diy store apparently does not stock 100% silicone as everything has nasties in. World of Water saved me so I came home and resealed the tank. It’s a mess….thank god it’s clear silicone but despite being a bodge job I’m rather proud of myself 😄

I am now gonna let it sit two days then water test! Was gonna take pictures of the state of it before but I forgot

Whilst I’m waiting could I ask for some ideas on plants and stocking??
I will be getting an external pump and a wave maker to ensure good flow. I will be buying a co2 kit but not rushing as gonna dark start (using tropica soil)
The lights I was agonising over …on the one hand I’ve saved a fortune not having to buy a tank so could potentially buy a decent light but on the other I’ll have enough to deal with getting to grips with co2 and I think maybe battling both is not ideal, from what I’ve read here I would be better getting co2, flow and ferts right before flooding the tank with high end lighting?

I obviously will be doing all this before I add ANY livestock so I’m looking at a couple of months before fish are anywhere near it but I’m the sort of person who needs a clear plan for everything so….
Good plants for hard water (I’m in the south east) I checked the plant database but I’m unsure if there’s any particular ones that thrive in hard water
Fish I’m thinking along the lines of ;
Corys (non negotiable, I love them and they go in every tank)
After that I’m stuck….I previously had a tank full of spotted blue eye (pseudomugil gertrudae) and really love them. I’m a fan of smaller fish in bigger groups. Sparkling gourami are a no as they are angry little buggers so I’ll be doing a nano at some point with just them in it
I would maybe like a pair of something…not sure what can go in a tank that’s happy with other things

Any suggestions are hugely welcome.
Once I water test it I’ll post some pictures before I dark start in the next week and a half

Thanks in advance, sorry for the waffle

Amy

 

[bazz]

Good plants for hard water (I’m in the south east) I checked the plant database but I’m unsure if there’s any particular ones that thrive in hard water

Hi,
I'm not sure where in Hertfordshire you are but for inspiration and information a trip to @Aquarium Gardens shouldn't be too far for you and may well be worth your while.
Cheers!

 

[Kaliilo]

Hi,
I'm not sure where in Hertfordshire you are but for inspiration and information a trip to @Aquarium Gardens shouldn't be too far for you and may well be worth your while.
Cheers!

Yeah I've been meaning to go up there, it's not far at all

 

[Kaliilo]

So whilst I'm leak testing the 110l downstairs I set up the nano! This will just have a few either sparkling gourami or something similar. Put some tropica soil in and a piece of lava rock and covered it over to dark start for a few weeks as I don't want to spend money on plants for every single one to melt. Just the heater and pump running. Any suggestions for plants for this? Low tech and nice plants for the sparklers, I am thinking valls or something but my plant knowledge is pretty poor.
Once I do plant how long should I be turning the lights on for? Just a budget led but fairly bright. 4hrs?
Any suggestions would be fab

Amy

 

[Kaliilo]

So thought I would update this...I have decided I dont want high tech. I have a 110l that will be set up in June. I also have my two nanos, one for shrimp which I posted in the other thread and one for sparkling gourami. Both low tech and crammed with easy fast growing plants.

Shrimp tank 22l low tech

 

[Kaliilo]

Sparkling gourami tank 40cube. Plants being delivered today eeek
(Ignore the handmade water adder thingy, had a spare coke bottle and a bright idea lol)

 

[Kaliilo]

Sparkling gourami tank flooded. Already looking like there's a bloom but it's only been full 24hrs. The java fern and moss did come from LFS tanks and have been there forever so maybe that's kick started it? The wood is already covered in a white film as well.
Attaching a foam filter as well as there's hardly any flow from the little filter.
I have my little compact aponogeton ulvaceus which has been plonked at the front but needs moving. Already sprouted though so that's lovely.
The rest are valls, Hygrophilia siamensis, my trusted pennywort from my other tank, Hygrophilia polysperma, echinodorus magdalensis and some salvinia. Some cambomba floating around temporarily.

I will wait and see if this is actually a bacterial bloom or something else. I didn't dark start this one so fingers crossed
I realise its a ton of stems but its for sparkling gourami who like weedy type setups so once it all grows in I think whichever ones I pick up will be very happy

 

[Kaliilo]

Woooo new shrimp have shed, there's two of these. Only got 9 shrimp atm

 

[Kaliilo]

Update on the 64l ...plants growing in had to chop the hygrophila as it was out of the tank lol
Still looks messy but I actually don't mind that
Water looks cloudy because I've just disturbed the diatoms when cutting the plants
Hopefully fish in 3 weeks if it continues to behave!

 

[Kaliilo]

64l with just plants. Some algae noted, probably due to lights being on a bit long. The Magdalensis has thrown out a runner! I've also added some Heteranthera zosterifola which I know is a background plant but I've stuck it at the front also as I want the whole thing full of stem plants

 

[Kaliilo]

Er....I was just reviewing my pictures and realised theres an amano shrimp in my tank ,how is he even there and will he be okay???

 

[Kaliilo]

An
Update on the 60l - plants looking a bit scraggly but I dont mind that, a lot of them will be cut down when I get the 110l up and running. SOme algae but not much and its probably because I have the lights on a little too long. Gourami are doing great!

 

[Kaliilo]

This weekend I will start building the stand for my 100l (never built anything myself before so very nervous) and will be taking a trip up to Aquarium Gardens to see what they have in stock as im undecided how to set it out. I have two totally wild looking tanks so I would like the 110l to be a bit more polished but still not strictly aquascaped.
I have two sponge filters that have been sat in the little tanks for about a month so hopefully that will help the newer tank.
I am in love with my aponogeton ulvaceus which grew at the speed of light in my 60l so I will def be throwing some of that in there. Otherwise It will be my favourite and trustworthy pennywort which I hope to make a low tech "lawn" out of.
When the tank is finally ready for fish I will be getting Daisys Blue Ricefish and some bronze corys (the LFS has tank bred in our water). That will probably be all I stock as ive decided to keep this tank fairly hard.
I will either update on my stand over the weekend or ill be in A&E missing a hand. Wish me luck

 

[Kaliilo]

Well the 110l has a crack in it I dont know what im gonna do. Maybe just get a smaller tank but im gutted as I was due to start setting it up this weekend.

 

[Kaliilo]

So I replaced the cracked tank with a Roma 125, pretty pleased with it...more surprising was my husband who has ZERO interest in tanks suddenly get excited and I came back to this he had set up....I actually love it and I'm touched he did this. Plants on order...lovely sand is for the Cory's I will eventually have in here. Hope you guys like what my husband achieved, I think it's lovely

 

[Kaliilo]

On a side note, I got some otos for the smaller tank and they have absolutely decimated the algae! Overnight ive gona from a covering of brown algae to bright green leaves feel they deserve more pay so ive ordered them some repashy food to say thank you

 

[Kaliilo]

Look at that round little belly!!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Look at that round little belly!!

Fantastic, I always say that a fat Otocinclus is a <"happy Otocinclus">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Kaliilo]

The 60l is doing well - everyone seems happy and the water is at around 200 TDS. The Sparkling Gourami have taken to waiting for the snails to hang off the salvinia and then they knock them off and chase them down to the bottom sadistic little beggars lol I do love them

 

[Kaliilo]

So after a week lost in the mail my.plants arrived. Look okay but after their ordeal I wouldn't be surprised if they melt.
Here's the tank filled
Plants are Amazon Sword, Cypress Grass, pygmy buce, Anubias, Magdalensis, aponogeton bulbs and some hydrocotyle.
Ignore the random sponge filter it's temporary...it's been in my other tank for ages waiting for this tank