Something little...

Hi everyone

It has been about a year since I have kept freshwater fish ( went the marine route ) and after seeing my girlfriend awesome little tank I want to start again.

I have kept freshwater fish for about 6 years before the break. I had a 3ft tank running for more than 2 years and I enjoyed the fish only approach.

So now I thought to give the planted tank a go...

So what do I have at my disposal...

Tank - 25 liter tank
Heater - Via aqua 150 watts
Filtration - Elite stingray 5

So my questions to all of you are : What will the best substrate and lighting options be?

I am looking for low light plants and I want to keep a dwarf gourami and 2 cory catfish...

Thanks so long!

 

Must say that is overkill with that big heater. pfp method is an issue with such a small tank. Whats your bugdet? on that tank or low light plants you can do a DIY light with a 20w energy saver bulb

 

I know it is serious overkill, but I have it and that means that I don't need to spend more money...

what do you mean that it is an issue?

 

Makes a mess in a small tank. Tannins also leaching makes the water very dark. If you cab ada aquasoil or seachem flaurite i think is the best personally

 

Try and get some ADA. That would be your best bet with that tank. Plants would be java moss, java fern and some vallis. Maybe a java jungle....

 

Also anubias.

 

Also Hygrophila corymbosa var. siamensis and Bacopa monnieri.

 

Have a look here: Plant database for easy growers
Also, you could place a request in the classified section requesting easy- low light plants from members... As for a good plant substrate, I highly recomend using ADA Aquasoil. The stuff just works!
Lots of luck with your efforts.
Barry

 

So what other options for substrate do I have ? Those substrates are very expensive...:worried:

 

nice choice on fishes for the tank btw :rock:

 

@Henkie - Why not try an inert substrate with Seachem tabs and column dosing. I am currentlty trying this.

 

Pool filter sand.

 

Thanks guys! Will see what I can get

 

This is what I have so far. I order my seachem flourite tablets... Really excited, now just to wait for the cycle and to build my diy light

 

@Henkie Have you decided on the plant selection ?.

 

@DewaldC not really. I will be doing some research later today and then I will post my preliminary selection but suggestions will also be appreciated

 

@Henkie

Guy you can easy loose half that sand and get some of your tank back it’s a bit much. also you can put your heater sideways in the tank so as to prevent it from cracking it needs to be fully submerged you will find more space for this once you have got rid of some of the sand. You could also move the filter to the side for more room as is will not make a difference to your filtration. You might want to pick up a small HOB filter they are quite inexpensive and work really well on small tanks like this one but your one will do for now. The objective with small tanks like this one is to make as much space available in side as possible for your plants and fish. Also have you checked that rock out with a acid test if not use a bit of vinegar pour it on the rock and if it fizzes you should not use it as it will leach into the water and could harm your fish (you can use pool acid as well but be careful not to burn yourself or ask someone to assist with this).

Regards and good luck

 

@jpvd007 I also thought the sand was a bit much, but I went with that I read on the internet stating that planted tanks need about 3 inches / 7 cm of substrate but I will take some of it out and so that test on the rock although I have been using it for a very very long time with out any negative effects on my systems in the past but thanks for the concern

 

@Henkie,

The vinegar test is for calcite. If present simply means it will harden the water and may raise the pH. Not always a bad thing in freshwater, that depends on the species you are housing in the tank. And just for some info. Even if it doesn't fizz it doesn't mean it is safe for aquarium use. You have had it for a long time so you will know by now if it's safe.

Cheers

 

@Henkie, 5cm substrate is more than enough for the plants. So you can easily take some sand out for more space. I concur with jvpd007 as regards to the filter and the heater. I use the Aquaclear HOB filters - they are slightly expensive but they are silent and they really do work well, I have the Aquaclear 30 on my 70L tank and all you see is the pipe once I have trimmed the plants - in the smaller tanks you want to create the space as suggested. I just changed my HOB slightly by taking some sponge out half sponge and half of it is now matrix in a bag. The matrix just gives a better medium for bacteria to grow and I have had no issues with it, just rinse out the mediums once a month - one month the sponge the next the matrix. I rinse it out in the tank water I siphoned out for the water changes.