Interesting tank issues (at least to me)

beaslbob

While I do have a method I use and like the real key is the plants. And you can just throw them in there and the tank will be much better for the fish. that said for plaints i use

(10g tank) 4-6 bunches of Anacharis, 4 vals (valsineria or however it's spelled LOL), 4 small potted types, and a single Amazon Sword.

tall plants in back and down the sides, potted right and left of center, sword kinda centered.

"My method"

empty tank

add 1" peat moss (canadian sphagum peat moss 1'x1'x3' plastic cube for $12 or so).

wet that layer the level and clean the tank

add 1" play sand (50 pound bag $3)

wet, level, clean

add 1" pro choice select red 50 pound bag $8 ( I had to contact pro choice for a local supplier it is a baked clay used in baseball infields) (psst you could just use gravel as well but I like the looks of the select)

wet, level,clean

before adding more water plant the plants.

fill tank with water poured over a dish

wait 1 week. This is critical for the plants to condition the water and get rooted.

add 1 fish

wait 1 week with no food added.

add more fish and start feeding 1 flake per day.

with platies you will have a tankful of fish in 6 months and a more or less stable population for years and years. Like in a 10g 20 fish or so.

For schoolling fish like neon tetras I add 4-5 fish with the second fish load.

So that's it.

The quality of your well water is not important as long as the water is potable. That first week conditions the water for the fish.

and by no doing water changes and jus replacing evaporative water the plants keep the water safe for the fish.

I also use no mechanical filtration of circulation.

my .02

OhNoFive0

Thanks for the info! I'll look into it over the next day or so and decide which way I want to go depending on my water issues. I'm definitely going to add more plants to the tank once I get going, just trying to be patient now.

beaslbob

Good

I just hope that long post was not discouraging and/or confusing.

It's much easier to do then explain.

my .02

OhNoFive0

The only discouraging part is I'd have to take all the gravel out of the tank that's in there now.... just don't really want to have to do that. Otherwise it doesn't sound bad and no, it's not confusing lol, anyone can follow those directions.

Byron

We've no pictures or description of the present gravel, but it may be fine. There are many ways to set up an aquarium, and most will work, to varying degrees perhaps. I have had flourishing planted tanks full of fish for more than 20 years, and most have had or have now a substrate of plain fine gravel or sand. I have experimented a bit with laterite and enriched substrates, but they were no better for the considerable expense--and some side issues.

Byron.

beaslbob

actually you could probably use the existing gravel instead of the pc select.

Thanks for feedback. I worry I get too wordy at times.

my .02

OhNoFive0

On the old setup before I got the whole house filtration system, I could grow plants like I was paid to do it, but I couldn't keep fish obviously. I tried and tried to get the water right before I figured out that mess. Anyway, here's a pic of the gravel that's in the tank, this is the gravel I used before to grow a mess of plants, some even reached the surface which I was surprised with.

AquariumGravel.jpg

AquariumPlants.jpg


sorry the one pic is so fuzzy, I can't seem to find any of the decent pics I had taken. That was taken with my phone, but you get the idea that the plants grew like crazy.

Byron

There's nothing basically wrong with that gravel as far as growing plants. The colour is an aesthetic issue.

Byron.

OhNoFive0

Ouch.... I think he just called my gravel ugly. I feel you, wasnt real happy with it when i first saw it either, I wanted all black, but they only had 2 bags, so i saw the dark blue bag that was very dark, figured it wouldnt be that noticeable, but when it gets wet, it lightens up alot, but i had already mixed the gravel to wash it, and wasnt about to pick out the blue ones. So it is what it is.
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Byron

I would find the blue distracting.