My 2 foot tank

Hi All

Here's a pic of the 2 foot tank I bought this weekend, It's got all the basic stuff for a starter.
I still want to add some rocks and and plants to make look a bit nicer.

I am looking at smaller shool fish like neons but I am not sure what other types of fish I can keep with them as a community tank, you guys got any suggestions?

Thanks

 

Some panda corys. But your substrate must be fine then. Also that filter cant handle a heavy bio load. Maybe dwarf guramis?

 

Change the background to a less distracting colour like black or blue for example.

I would also recommend to change the filter to perhaps an internal power filter or a HOB.

 

First time fish keeper? I'd start with some live breeders ... that fist batch of fry that you just must save. Got any light in that canopy ?

Later Ferdie

 

No cories. The substrate must not only be fine, but the grains must be ROUND so that they don't cut their barbels. A pair of Dwarf Gouramis would work, but I prefer schooling fish like cardinals, rasboras, etc...

I agree with changing the background, and adding a decent filter. Have a look for an eheim internal filter, or something similar. They are brilliant filters, and would definitely do your tank justice.

One word of advice, don't add any livestock until your tank has cycled properly! Which would be in a few weeks. Maybe get some seachem stability or Microbelift Special Blend to help start the bacteria colony in your filter.

 

Thanks for the reply guys.

Yup im kinda new to this, I had a tank about 10 years ago but I knew nothing lol, as im reading this forum I notice alot of mistakes I made before... like washing the equipment with soap and so on... this forum is the reason why I started again.
Im gonna stick to the back ground for now, I kinda like it at the moment.
The tank is going to cycle for a couple of weeks, I wan't to make sure everything is perfect before I add any fish as I don't want to disturb the fish with any changes at a later stage.
So I'll be changeing the subsrate then and getting a new filter, the one that goes inside the tank.
I'll also be adding another heater becuase the one I got in at the moment isn't sufficient enough, it doesn't warm up the whole tank, and I got it on 25 degrees but the water temp only fluctuates between 22 and 23 degrees.

I got a light in the tank but I'm not sure which one, I'll check tonight which one and let you guys know.

Thanks

Regards

 

Update

Welp I finally got to change my substrate in the tank. I got me some substrate flourite black bacause I'd like to get the tank to be a planted tank. I also changed my original filter to a HOB filer as you guys suggested, and I must say the water is much clearer than before.

This thursday I want to start adding some life to my tank, I want to start with some neons and plant... or should I rather wait to the weekend before adding livestock to my aquarium. It started it's cycle since yesterday.

 

I would wait about two weeks for the tank to cycle before adding the 1st fish to the tank.

 

Yeah its better to wait. Although its freaking hard.

Did you add some bio starter? If I remember the tetra one works well. Even beter the Microbelift mentioned by Sean J above.

 

Add a powerhead for circulation. The HOB itself doesn't create a lot of circulation for that size tank. This is also the problem with the heater. The water around the heater heats up and the thermostat switches the heater off thus not heating up the tank. The circulation will allow water that has not heated up to come in contact with the heater.Cycle the tank for atleat two weeks. You changed everything so you basically started over. Get a test kit. Once nitrates, nitrites and amonia levels are in check the tank is cycled. Be carefull though not to add too many fish at once. This can disrupt the ballance all over as this puts too much bio load on the filter bacteria to handle. Gradually add fish to give the system time to stabilise. HTH.Good luck with the setup.

 

What is a powerhead circulation? I wanted to buy a internal filter but the smallest one they had was for a 110l tank, I thought this one was to big for my tank as my tank is only a 64l tank. regarding to the heater my termometer in my tank fluctuates between 25 and 24 degrees, I got a new one as the old one couldn't heat up my tank.

Im going to let the tank cycle for 2weeks then before adding fish and get a test kit to make sure everything is sharp.

I bought a bio starter for me tank, I can't remember which one I'll check tonight.
Can I add plants so long?

 

Gonna have a slightly different thought here to @SloMo.00.

The HOB intake is relatively low in the water, and if it is "overrated" for the 64l tank, which I suspect it is, you might find the current is suitable. Also the fact that we have airstones in the tank makes a bit of movement. The heater sitting at that angle is also perfect for good heat distribution, as the hot water doesn't rise over the thermostat.

@The_Fish_Guy what you want to aim for here is a gentle current that gently moves the plants around a little. Not a gale force tidal wave, but if the plants are just gently swaying, or have any movement on them, then you should be ok. The reason we like this is the movement means new water (with nutrients) is always available to the plant, and secondly, it helps with algae control.

What I would do now is add a pinch of fish food into the tank and watch how it moves in the water. If it appears to give you even distribution, meaning is goes throughout the tank, then you have sufficient movement. Leave the food in... that's why I said a pinch. Because this will actually be food for the bacteria you are trying to colonize in the filter.

You can add plants whenever you want to, they do not need a cycled tank.

Add fish from about day 10 after start up... and add slowly. Aim for 2-4 a week until you reach your stocking level.

Newbie rule... when you think you have reached your stocking level... you more than likely have too much.

 

@Zoom. Agreed. We both agree that a powerhead will aid the tank. I think it will definitely do its work for more circulation. And as you stated will promote much neded movement for the plants.:blink1:


@The_Fish_Guy. A powerhead is like a electric water jet for tanks. You get many different sizes. Also get some that are adjustable. Here is a pic of a powerhead. Although you get lots of different shapes these days. Some of them have different nozzles also. You decide. HTH

 

@Zoom - Thanks I'm going to try that pinch of food tonight and see what happens.

"Newbie rule... when you think you have reached your stocking level... you more than likely have too much" I was thinking of stocking my tank with more or less 6-10 neons, 4 or 5 guppies and 2 or 3 dwarf gouramies.

@slomoo - Im going to look into these powerheads if it will benifit my tank I'll get these.

Thanks for all the help guys

 

Update

Here's an update to my tank, not the latest because here's only plants added and this weekend I got me some fish but coudn't get a clear picture of them yet.
I got 5 dwarf gouramies and 4 guppies pretty nice fish.

the dwarf gouramies gives me mixed feelings as sometimes they would just hang still either at the top of the tank or at the bottom underneath a plant then I'll start to worry they might be dying, then when I check again the kicking and alive... is this normal behaviour for an dwarf gourami?

Here's a couple of pics of my plants for now, I still want to add some of those floating plants.

(I might add that excel works sharp) :smile1:

 

What's the plant right in the middle of the third pic underneath the heater? I got one of those from an LFS but I have no idea what it is.

 

lol I don't know myself

 

Whats the water temp?

 

It's between 27 and 26 degrees

 

Hi

heres an update on my tank, I took a video because my fish are too fast for my phone camera.

Currently in the tank:
4 Dwarf gouramies
5 Guppies - 2 males - 3 females

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qneOccb1crE

Just a quick question, will panda cory's eat up my tank? I'm looking for a fish to clean up the left over foods on the bottom of the tank do you guys has got any other suggestions?