Tres
07-14-2008, 05:20 PM
I am about to set up what I think might be an interesting community aquarium.
55 gallon.
78 degrees Fahrenheit
Based on my experience with other tanks Ph will range from 6.6 just before water changes to 6.8 just after water change.
Moderate hardness.
Should cycle quickly as I have cycled water and filters to use. I will use guppies to ensure cycling is complete before adding the desired fish.
1 canister filter with bio balls and sponges, including a sponge on the intake hose.
Aeration via surface agitation, and plants, no air stone.
2 light fixtures on glass tops, each with 2, 3 foot long 30 watt plant friendly fluorescent bulbs. That's 12 feet of 30 watts, woot.
Note: I do 50% water changes weekly with this type of setup. (See bio-load info below)It has worked for me well in the past...
Substrate.. 1/2 centimeter of peat moss covered with 1/2 centimeter of eco-complete, covered with 3 inches of black gravel.
Solid black background.
Several pieces of driftwood arranged to appear as a mostly submerged branch of a tree. 4 or 5 smaller pieces of wood just laying on the gravel.
Duckweed
Amazon swords in the back, 3-6 inch corkscrew Valisnera up front. Some java moss on the "branches".
I plan on planting very heavily to help support a large bioload.
I do not plan on adding Co2, I don't want the PH issues and I am hoping a large number of fish will do the job... will they?
Malaysian trumpet snails to keep the substrate aerated and happy.
3 spotted Corys
3 True Siamese algae eaters
2 dwarf Pleco's (With the snails cleaning the glass and gravel, and the Siamese algae eaters cleaning the plants, will these Pleco's even be needed?)
4 German blue rams (I am thinking maybe 6, do you think they will have enough territory?)
10 - 30 (or more?) Dwarf Gourami (How many will this particular heavily planted tank with 50% water changes 1/week support?)
In addition to the questions above, I think the fish will all get along together, am I correct?
Any other advice or comments other than the questions above?
Am I missing anything obvious?
55 gallon.
78 degrees Fahrenheit
Based on my experience with other tanks Ph will range from 6.6 just before water changes to 6.8 just after water change.
Moderate hardness.
Should cycle quickly as I have cycled water and filters to use. I will use guppies to ensure cycling is complete before adding the desired fish.
1 canister filter with bio balls and sponges, including a sponge on the intake hose.
Aeration via surface agitation, and plants, no air stone.
2 light fixtures on glass tops, each with 2, 3 foot long 30 watt plant friendly fluorescent bulbs. That's 12 feet of 30 watts, woot.
Note: I do 50% water changes weekly with this type of setup. (See bio-load info below)It has worked for me well in the past...
Substrate.. 1/2 centimeter of peat moss covered with 1/2 centimeter of eco-complete, covered with 3 inches of black gravel.
Solid black background.
Several pieces of driftwood arranged to appear as a mostly submerged branch of a tree. 4 or 5 smaller pieces of wood just laying on the gravel.
Duckweed
Amazon swords in the back, 3-6 inch corkscrew Valisnera up front. Some java moss on the "branches".
I plan on planting very heavily to help support a large bioload.
I do not plan on adding Co2, I don't want the PH issues and I am hoping a large number of fish will do the job... will they?
Malaysian trumpet snails to keep the substrate aerated and happy.
3 spotted Corys
3 True Siamese algae eaters
2 dwarf Pleco's (With the snails cleaning the glass and gravel, and the Siamese algae eaters cleaning the plants, will these Pleco's even be needed?)
4 German blue rams (I am thinking maybe 6, do you think they will have enough territory?)
10 - 30 (or more?) Dwarf Gourami (How many will this particular heavily planted tank with 50% water changes 1/week support?)
In addition to the questions above, I think the fish will all get along together, am I correct?
Any other advice or comments other than the questions above?
Am I missing anything obvious?