Setting Up New Freshwater Tank - Need Water Advice

[skeeley]

Several years ago, I was pretty heavy into reef aquariums. But I've been out of it for a while and don't remember too much.

Anyway, a buddy of mine is setting up a new freshwater tank with Jellybean Parrot fish, and really likes live plants. He's been getting advice from the guy at the LFS. The guy at the fish store said to stay away from live plants because they are too much work. The guy at the fish store also told my friend to dirty the tank water with goldfish first.

I can't remeber, but I know there is a better/more humane way to cycle your water than to use goldfish.

So, how should the water be properly setup and cycled for a freshwater tank with Jellybean Parrot fish? And, what advice can I give him about live plants?


Thanks.

 

[MartinE]

I used stress zyme bacteria culture and a biowheel for my cichlid tank seems to work well once the biowheel gets good and cultured.

 

[Anonymous]

the best way is IME is exactly the opposite of what the LFS told you. Set up the tank with tons or live plants right at the start and and get those plants established before adding adding the fish. Then do the rest.

The only problem is that ciclids andother fish will probably tear the plants apart. so you have to chose your plants carefully and maybe even set up some type of refugium.

But if you take care of the plants the plants will take care of the aquarium. And run for years and years with very little maintenance.

JMHE

 

[skeeley]

Thanks beaslbob. I've done some research on Jellybean Parrot fish online, and it looks like they will not harm plants - seems like they don't have any preference as to plants or no plants.

What kind of substrate do they need to get if I tell them to go with live plants?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks beaslbob. I've done some research on Jellybean Parrot fish online, and it looks like they will not harm plants - seems like they don't have any preference as to plants or no plants.

What kind of substrate do they need to get if I tell them to go with live plants?

There are many many different substraits used for planted tanks. Perhaps others can help.

All I do is use tap water, play sand, and get the plants in there during the very first setup. and let the plants condition the water, take root, establish themselves for a week. The add a single fish for each 10gs or water and don't feed them for the first week.

the idea is to get the plants the nutrients they need and in control right from the start. The fish will probably ignore added food at first and not make it that first week (when food is added to the tank). But no added food the fish will find food among the plants when it gets ready for it.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

the best way is IME is exactly the opposite of what the LFS told you. Set up the tank with tons or live plants right at the start and and get those plants established before adding adding the fish. Then do the rest.
The only problem is that ciclids andother fish will probably tear the plants apart. so you have to chose your plants carefully and maybe even set up some type of refugium.

But if you take care of the plants the plants will take care of the aquarium. And run for years and years with very little maintenance.

JMHE

the best way ime is exactly the opposite of what beasle bob told you-there will most likely not be enough nutrients (nitrogen)in the system to carry a full load of plants in a new setup (although i wouldn't recommend using goldfish as a starter source for fertilizer-just add the plants a few days after the fish, or start w/some plants-you will want to leave room for growth, anyway)

his recommendation re: the cichlids destroying the plants is correct, however.

the best substrate is a combo of flourite with laterite

the parrot cichlids get to about 8-10", btw, make sure they have at least a 100 gallon tank :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Skeely

Just to clarify, I did state to start the tank with plants and get those established before anything else. If they do not get established then you need to adjust nutrients and lighting until they are established.

And that can be done before adding any fish. In that way you have an estabished ecosystem ready to handle the load from that one fish.

By waiting until you have already added fish, the plants may have a very difficult time establishing a good root structure. And then you can have problems. Only then correcting those problems with the fish load will be much more difficult.

JMHO

 

[Anonymous]

Skeely

Just to clarify, I did state to start the tank with plants and get those established before anything else. If they do not get established then you need to adjust nutrients and lighting until they are established.

And that can be done before adding any fish. In that way you have an estabished ecosystem ready to handle the load from that one fish.

By waiting until you have already added fish, the plants may have a very difficult time establishing a good root structure. And then you can have problems. Only then correcting those problems with the fish load will be much more difficult.

JMHO

could you please explain the basis for that statement?

 

[Anonymous]

Skeely

Just to clarify, I did state to start the tank with plants and get those established before anything else. If they do not get established then you need to adjust nutrients and lighting until they are established.

And that can be done before adding any fish. In that way you have an estabished ecosystem ready to handle the load from that one fish.

By waiting until you have already added fish, the plants may have a very difficult time establishing a good root structure. And then you can have problems. Only then correcting those problems with the fish load will be much more difficult.

JMHO

could you please explain the basis for that statement?

just as i stated. when I first add the plants and get them established, then the system runs for years and years. When I waited to add plants (and did many other things differently) then the plants did not thrive and neither did the tank.

A good extreme example is Cal's tank. in this thread: http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=60020


Because the plants were added long after the fish, it took three attempts before the plants caught up. Once that happened then the tank has remained clear and thriving form months and months.

 

[Anonymous]

Skeely

Just to clarify, I did state to start the tank with plants and get those established before anything else. If they do not get established then you need to adjust nutrients and lighting until they are established.

And that can be done before adding any fish. In that way you have an estabished ecosystem ready to handle the load from that one fish.

By waiting until you have already added fish, the plants may have a very difficult time establishing a good root structure. And then you can have problems. Only then correcting those problems with the fish load will be much more difficult.

JMHO

could you please explain the basis for that statement?

just as i stated. when I first add the plants and get them established, then the system runs for years and years. When I waited to add plants (and did many other things differently) then the plants did not thrive and neither did the tank.

A good extreme example is Cal's tank. in this thread: http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=60020


Because the plants were added long after the fish, it took three attempts before the plants caught up. Once that happened then the tank has remained clear and thriving form months and months.

where can one find a scientific link showing how root structure and development is affected the way you claim it is ?

anecdotal opinion is not what i'm asking for

 

[Anonymous]

...
where can one find a scientific link showing how root structure and development is affected the way you claim it is ?

anecdotal opinion is not what i'm asking for

Yea you're right. It is anecdotal. Just my observations. Just makes sense to me and agrees with my experience.

 

[Anonymous]

...
where can one find a scientific link showing how root structure and development is affected the way you claim it is ?

anecdotal opinion is not what i'm asking for

Yea you're right. It is anecdotal. Just my observations. Just makes sense to me and agrees with my experience.

please make sure to let others know the advice you give is anecdotal, instead of stating it as being factual, in the future, so as to avoid misleading your fellow beginner hobbyists, if you would be so kind.

 

[Anonymous]

...
where can one find a scientific link showing how root structure and development is affected the way you claim it is ?

anecdotal opinion is not what i'm asking for

Yea you're right. It is anecdotal. Just my observations. Just makes sense to me and agrees with my experience.

please make sure to let others know the advice you give is anecdotal, instead of stating it as being factual, in the future, so as to avoid misleading your fellow beginner hobbyists, if you would be so kind.

Better yet I'll just let skeeley determine what makes sense to skeeley. I am sure skeeley is aware that various hobbiest use various techniques. And that unless a reference is given it is the opinion and experience of the person making the post.

In other words I trust Skeeley's judgement.

 

[Anonymous]

...
where can one find a scientific link showing how root structure and development is affected the way you claim it is ?

anecdotal opinion is not what i'm asking for

Yea you're right. It is anecdotal. Just my observations. Just makes sense to me and agrees with my experience.

please make sure to let others know the advice you give is anecdotal, instead of stating it as being factual, in the future, so as to avoid misleading your fellow beginner hobbyists, if you would be so kind.

Better yet I'll just let skeeley determine what makes sense to skeeley. I am sure skeeley is aware that various hobbiest use various techniques. And that unless a reference is given it is the opinion and experience of the person making the post.

In other words I trust Skeeley's judgement.

the point is not whether or not you trust skeeley's judgement, the question is whether or not skeeley should trust your advice :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

I've had great luck with Eco-complete. It was a little pricey, but it works really nice, especially if you like dark substrate.

~wings~