beginner questions

Lolosan

Well as I recently started with freshwater aquarium, I have a few simple questions to begin with...

1/ How long do you keep the light on? Is 11h too long?

2/ Is it true that the size of the fish will adjust according to the space and environement they are living in... thus not developing to full adult size in smaller auquarium?

3/ Concerning feeding veggies like broccoli or zucchini, do u add them raw or boiled?

4/ Do I need to add a CO2 system in my planted aquarium?

TIA

iamntbatman

Eleven hours is probably too long. I think a range of eight to ten hours should be plenty.

This is somewhat true, but does not mean it's ok to keep large fish in small tanks. In confined spaces, the fish will experience stunted growth. When this happens, the fish appears to stay smaller but the internal organs can continue to grow at a normal rate, which results in all sorts of health problems and a shorter life. It's always best to keep fish in at least the minimum recommended tank size.

Either one is fine, but blanching them can make them sink, which makes them easier for your fish to eat.

That depends on a lot of factors. How heavily stocked is your tank? What sort of plants are you keeping? What sort of lighting do you have?

Angel079

Welcome to the Forum.

1) Lights: I run mine 10hrs/ day
2) Large fish kept in small tanks often don't even reach adult hood, dep how much smaller you're talking about there it may be pretty unhealthy for the fish to live that way. Its sorta like if I raise you in a house with 3ft ceilings, you will grow up yes but since you'll never be able to stand up all your live you will wind up disabled with a cricket back - Know what I mean!?
3) I either feed all my veggies raw or blanched, thou I'd have to say the one's fed raw seem to attract the fish quicker
4) Planted tanks need to simply be in balance with the available CO2 (fish), the nutritions (source water and fish poop etc) and your lights. Most planted tanks fail by inadequate lights (too high wattage to low Kelvin). If you look here to the left under my name, you'll see a tap called "Aquiarium" under which you see all my tanks; apart from a normal filter and fish there's nothing added to these tanks, no ferts, no CO2 nadda...I'd wanna say the plants speak for themselves on the pictures

Lynda B

I'm addressing only question #2:

Stunted growth is a cruel and inhumane treatment of fish. Please don't even consider it.

As a fishkeeper, your ultimate goal is to have happy and healthy fish. That is where the real enjoyment comes from.

LisaC144

+1 on everything stated. I also keep my light on for 10 hours a day. You can buy a timer for about $10 to automatically turn your light on and off everyday. I don't know what I would do without it! Plus, the consistency is good for both the fish and plants.

JohnnyD44

I agree on everything everyone said.....

just wanted to chime in and give another vote of confidence on Angel's planted tanks...they are gorgeous and are low-maintenance, another aquarists on the site to check out is Byron, his low-light, no CO2 tanks are simply stunning....

welcome to the forum!

Lolosan

Thank you all for your reply.
Concerning the plants I have in my aquarium, I believe they are the following Cabomba green, Amazon sword, Anubias barteri, Cryptocoryne wendtii and another type. The plants look healthy and are growing well apparently
I have 2 neon lights, one white and the other one blue, both are 15W...
Yes I am not planning to keep fishes in a constrain environement, I have 6 fishes in my tank and they are between 1" to 1.5" in length, all juvenile... So my thoughs were that when time comes I will move them to a larger aquarium.
Angel your aquariums are very nice!

Angel079

Sounds good, sounds like a Daylight & cool white, which is what plants need. You say each is 15w...what size tank is that over?

If its the plants in your avatar picture there, yes they look absolutely great! Some location have plenty necessary minerals in the water already to not need add ferts for plants to thrive (see my tank lol)

Thanks for the compliments; love yours too, love planted tanks lol....Just a thought but your Anubia there in the tank will thrive better if its out of the gravel & attached to a rock or wood.
What I love the MOST about your tank; I really wanna say in all this time I have been in this forum now, you're the first one to also have yellow lab's AND a planted tank - LOVE that; I thought I was always the only one!!!

Lolosan

Thanks angel yes the plants are the one in my avatar, glad you like the yellow lab too!
The size of my aquarium is 45x35x38cm it's about 10 gallons.
And thanks for the tip about the Anubia, I actually tried my best to dig it deep in the gravel... but looks like it was the wrong choice LOL
By the way if anyone could tell me what is the plant I have in the back right corner I would greatly appreciate! Everything I buy here is in japanese and sometime I get lost ;)
TIA

Angel079

Eyyy you're challenging my math this AM lol...so that is 18*13*15 = 15g
Your yellow lab will eventually move to something larger then that and also your shark will. Keep that in mind there ideally before you develop behavior problems!

You mean the plant hidden behind the Sword under your thermometer there in the picture? Kinda hard to see a close up shot of just that plant would help....from what I can see i'd have to guess Anacharis (Egeria najas)...google image results and see if it looks like yours (cause I have a hard time telling from the pic really)