Feeding/and Substrate depth

[lava]

Hey guys. I thought I would ask you all some more questions :D my tank is almost set up. No water in it so far, just setting up the sand my air stones and some other stuff. One of my questions is about sand, what should my send depth be? I read some stuff about the bad gas pockets and now I am kinda worried. I do plan on getting some corys to help turn the sand, I read they like to dig a little? and maybe some trumpet snails, (have no idea where to get trumpet snails though) and my last question is about feeding my fish. For example say I have 3 different type of fish's in my tank, and they all eat different foods. How would the fish know when I am feeding it, that the food I just through in is the food for them but not the other fish? Kinda confusing huh? sorry my English is bad X_X and spelling

[Fishguy2727]

If you are not planning on having live plants I would aim for about 0.5-1" of sand (about a half pound per gallon). What type of sand are you planning on?

The malaysian trumpet snails are the best thing to keep the sand bed healthy.

[Lady Hobbs]

Agree. You only need enough sand to get your artifical plants to stand up. For live plants, 3-4" at the back of the tank slooping to less near the front.

You do not need snails if you just run a finger thru the sand every couple of months to loosen it up some and corys do not dig.

[Northernguy]

Use a stick and make a pattern in the sand every so often!:22:

[teach]

As for the food the fish will eat what they like the best I feed flakes to my silverdollars and the blood parrot wont even touch them so I wouldnt worry they will eat.

[MrDrums]

In my experience, the fish are not too picky about their food. I feed flakes as the main diet, and I will alternate between frozen brine shrimp, frozen blood worms, and freeze-dried krill as treats throughout the week. They all eat it. Oh, and they will go nuts for romaine lettuce, spinach, and cucumber. Always fun to watch them eat! Enjoy.

[lava]

In my experience, the fish are not too picky about their food. I feed flakes as the main diet, and I will alternate between frozen brine shrimp, frozen blood worms, and freeze-dried krill as treats throughout the week. They all eat it. Oh, and they will go nuts for romaine lettuce, spinach, and cucumber. Always fun to watch them eat! Enjoy.Lettuce,spinach and cucumber?!?!?! O_o that sounds a little crazy lol, what type of fish do you have?

If you are not planning on having live plants I would aim for about 0.5-1" of sand (about a half pound per gallon). What type of sand are you planning on?

The malaysian trumpet snails are the best thing to keep the sand bed healthy. Hmmm well the only life plant I am planing on keeping would be java moss and fern moss, as I dont wanna spend money on those high powered lights or having to buy cO2 X_X my sand is silica based (filter sand) I am currently in the process of washing it, X_X the water is sooo cloudy! but after lots of rinsing it is getting a lot better .

Agree. You only need enough sand to get your artifical plants to stand up. For live plants, 3-4" at the back of the tank slooping to less near the front.

You do not need snails if you just run a finger thru the sand every couple of months to loosen it up some and corys do not dig. Yea I have thought of doing the finger thing, but I kinda wanna have some action on the sand, not just in the middle of the tank :D

[Fishguy2727]

Those plants don't need any depth.

FYI you don't need to go high tech to get an amazing plant tank. I don't use any CO2 or expensive lighting systems. Check out my photobucket page (link in my signature) to see my tanks.

[lava]

Those plants don't need any depth.

FYI you don't need to go high tech to get an amazing plant tank. I don't use any CO2 or expensive lighting systems. Check out my photobucket page (link in my signature) to see my tanks.
Sounds great except I dont see any links in ur sigy.

[Fishguy2727]

I think the post has to be a certain length before it shows the signature.

If the post is too short it won't show the signature.

Apparently it is set to not show signatures if the posts are too short.

I think it is a way of saving space on the forum.

[lava]

Hmm? kinda odd. Lol wish I could see your setup though =[

[Fishguy2727]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

This is one of my tanks.

[lava]

Wow that is sooo nice! and no co2 you say? thats even more great news for me! ;) I guess I will try some of the plants you have and see how it works out. Btw I really like the moss balls, do you just let yours float at top? I couldn't really locate them in your tank.

[Fishguy2727]

True moss balls sink. The fake ones at Petco are just java moss wrapped around a ping pong or styrofoam ball. Java moss is not something you want in 99% of tanks, it is a weed and will take over (including clogging filters, etc.).

They are on the bottom, but none are easily seen in that video.

I basically just try whatever I like at the LFS. In my experience all the guides about low and high light, etc. are not accurate, at least not in the sense that the plant will die if not in those conditions. Almost all the plants I have tried do very well under the conditions in my tanks. I am not saying they wouldn't be even better in a tank with tons of light, CO2, tons of ferts, etc., but they do well which is my goal.

[Crispy]

Yea I have thought of doing the finger thing, but I kinda wanna have some action on the sand, not just in the middle of the tank :D

south american Eartheaters sift through sand and blow it out their gills... they would most certainly turn your sand over constantly. Peaceful fish too.

[lava]

Thanks for the info guys ;) those eartheaters get way to big LOL X_X but they do look cool