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Author Topic: New tank  (Read 580 times)
toffee44
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New tank
« on: November 17, 2011, 09:09:57 AM »
So here I have 220-40litres (I lost count at 210litres lol)

Currently:

Fluval 305 + Fluval U4 when goldies go in

Java fern

Vallis

And something that looks like onion plant that isnt, the man in the LFS couldnt remember what it was called but has it in his tanks at home.

Some plastic plants in pots

6 danios

Air pump (that I might get rid of)


Currently barebottom with a granite rockery. Not sure what to do with it in terms of substrate or leave it. OR might get some round pebbles for the bottom

I want to put a black backing on it.

Danios went in today and I have three goldies who are waiting their turn it what is now a very bare tank Sad

[image]
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cheri_alexander
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Re: New tank
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2011, 07:28:30 PM »
Looks like it will be nice when you finish. Where did you get the rocks? They aren't chunks of concrete are they? I can't comment on your choice of fish since I have no idea what a danio is...lol.  Post more pictures when it is finished! And out of curiosity how do you put potted plants in? What is in the pots? Is there special sand? Just wondering...

edit- I reread, plastic plants in pots? Whyare they in pots then? lol
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nabi
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Re: New tank
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2011, 08:11:42 PM »
Danios will be ok while the goldfish are small, but once the goldfish are bigger they could become lunch for the goldfish.  Remember this rule when looking to buy fish, if a fish can fit inside the mouth of another fish, then most likely it will be eaten.  If you like the barebottom tank look , it requires the least amount of maintenance since you don't have  any gravel to vacumm and clean.
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Nossie
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Re: New tank
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2011, 08:53:29 AM »
In my opinion there are a few downsides with bare bottom tanks:
1. The goldfish won't be able to forage for food, it's a part of their natural behavior to excavate the gravel to find leftovers or sinking pellets.
2. All the dirt that inevitably will collect on the bottom will show right away, whereas the gravel tends to camouflage some of it if there is any.

I do like the rockwork a lot, you've made it look really nice with the few plants peeking out there behind (on the left side). When you say "round pebbles" do you mean simply larger pebbles that would lay around looking pretty, or do you mean glass pebbles that would more or less lay in bunches over the tank floor? Both would look a lot better with gravel, and the piles of glass pebbles might be hard to clean and food would get stuck in between.
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toffee44
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Re: New tank
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2011, 10:11:30 AM »
The plastics are in pots because they look nice and ATM they are easier kept in there until I know re substrate or not I keep having so many ideas in my head.

The danios I have got are about 5-6cm full grown so should be ok. And are too quick for the goldfish.

I have sand in the potted plants with real plants in and then gravel on top. The vallis is sitting on normal gravel in a weight to keep them down.

My OH had loads of granite at work so we smashed some up, rounded bits off that were jagged and soaked them for a couple of weeks ouside.

Round pebbles I am thinking river rocks but I have just found a scape on the net I really like and Im tempted to try that now argh, this wont be finished for a very long time me thinks Smiley
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toffee44
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Re: New tank
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2011, 10:12:48 AM »
Pulled the granite out, didnt like it so every plant is in a pot for now lol. Plus the other reason Ikept in pots as I knew I would be changing tanks so can then put them in new tank for the cycle Smiley
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Skwishee
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Re: New tank
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2011, 06:02:42 AM »
You may want to get large pebbles to put over the gravel in the pots, if that is were you decide to keep the plants.

You may or may not know, goldfish love to dig around in substrate and they will dig up the gravel where you are keeping the plants, so larger pebbles over the top should stop them  Smiley What breed of goldfish are you thinking of getting?

Also is fluval U4 an under gravel filter?
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Nossie
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Re: New tank
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2011, 04:26:39 AM »
(Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.)
Also is fluval U4 an under gravel filter?

It obviously isn't. You can't have an undergravel filter that isn't visible unless you cover it with gravel Wink
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Ron H
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Re: New tank
« Reply #8 on: November 22, 2011, 05:47:27 AM »
Undergravel filters are not really filters that are under the gravel, or at least the ones I have seen are not.  The one I have is basically a perforated tray that sits just above the bottom of your tank, on top of it you put your gravel or pebbles or whatever... in one or two corners are outlets, connected by tubing to a pump which may be in the hood or hanging on the back of the aquarium. The pump pulls the water from the tank through the gravel substrate and perforated tray, it then pumps it out from underneath the perforated tray and up to the filter, where in it is pushed through the filter and gravity fed back into the aquarium at the top... hope this is of some help. cheers all.
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Nossie
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Re: New tank
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2011, 06:31:15 AM »
Yep Smiley

And also, now that the filter is under the gravel, that's where you'll have all the beneficial bacteria, which makes undergravel filters a very unsuitable type for goldfish tanks. Since goldfish need such a load of bio filtration, and you need to clean out the gravel all the time, more or less. Not to mention that an undergravel filter is far too weak to keep the tank clean and fresh Smiley (Especially in larger systems)
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Skwishee
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Re: New tank
« Reply #10 on: November 22, 2011, 02:26:52 PM »
Haha now do I feel silly.... it's an underwater filter XD
All this time I thought the U stood for under gravel  Cheesy

How silly I am..... what is the difference between under gravel and under water?
Is an under water filter just a normal internal with a fancy name?

Thanks for clearing that up guys  Wink
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Nossie
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Re: New tank
« Reply #11 on: November 22, 2011, 03:31:35 PM »
Ron explained what an undergravel filter is Smiley
It's a plate under the gravel that sucks the dirt into the gravel.
An underwater filter is.. probably the same as submersible filter, so you can put it completely under water and it will still work Smiley (You know how some have this certain piece or vent that needs to be above the water line)
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Skwishee
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Re: New tank
« Reply #12 on: November 23, 2011, 06:06:15 PM »
Oh! So that's why my filter has that 'minimum' water line on it XD Thanks Nossie!
Learning something new everyday  Cheesy
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Ron H
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Re: New tank
« Reply #13 on: November 23, 2011, 09:55:04 PM »
yes Nossie's right, undergravel filters are not the best fit for goldie's, you really need a gutsy pump and lots of bio media to have it work right, I think I was lucky to find one that had both... cheers all
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toffee44
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Re: New tank
« Reply #14 on: November 25, 2011, 05:19:31 AM »
Goldfish still arent in coz I keep switching it all about. They must be like, there is so much space in that tank next door, cant we go play lol.

I am also waiting for some river rocks to arrive. I think I know what I want to do now lol. Keep changing ideas.

this is the Fluval u4 (Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.) it has worked brilliantly in my 100l. Very tempted to get another (so 2x internal and 1x external) so have three filters running.


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Skwishee
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Re: New tank
« Reply #15 on: November 25, 2011, 05:22:19 PM »
Oh awesome ^_^ I look forward to seeing it finished! Cheesy
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toffee44
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Re: New tank
« Reply #16 on: November 27, 2011, 05:48:01 AM »
Some progress, have moved goldfish in  Grin

Put granite back in with plants now out of pots except from the vallis.

No back ground yet. And I can't get decent photos of the fish lol.

[image]


[image]
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fantailer
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Re: New tank
« Reply #17 on: November 27, 2011, 05:49:33 AM »
the water is super clear!
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Skwishee
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Re: New tank
« Reply #18 on: November 27, 2011, 08:47:43 AM »
Fantailers right! It almost looks like there is no water and the goldfish are just floating in air XD

I see two of them by the filter, they are so tiny looking in that tank! How big are they?
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toffee44
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Re: New tank
« Reply #19 on: November 27, 2011, 05:26:13 PM »
They are only 2.5" long including tail at the moment, hope they grow lol

I still not sure about the whole barebottom thing. The substrate I want is gonna cost about £40 odd quid to cover the bottome with so it cant wait for now.

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scrivens345
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Re: New tank
« Reply #20 on: November 28, 2011, 06:26:36 AM »
It's is much cheaper to get pea-gravel from a builders merchant

just wash it thoroughly Grin
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walk23
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Re: New tank
« Reply #21 on: December 31, 2011, 11:42:14 AM »
I like your bare bottom setup. Should be far easier to keep clean.
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