[Wet Thumb Forum]-Few setup questions for a 55G

[yalej]

Hey all. Well the wife was kind enough to buy me a 55G for my birthday (after having to tear down my other tanks a year ago), so I'll be back in the fish business!

Dianas book is very compelling, probably because I'm a chemist and I dig all the chemical equations and hard data presented, as well as the principle of the lo-tech method. Didn't know you were in Chapel Hill Diana, I'm in RTP!

Anyway, few specific questions:

1) My 55 is not going to be getting any direct sunlight, I was thinking of using 2x55W for lighting, but will that be enough? I could do 4x55W or 2x55W and 1x96W as well.

2) I've read that MiracleGro potting soil is ok, is there a specific one I should get? I can't remember what the nutrient rating is on the one we have.

3) Filtration is just a powerhead, right? No hang-behind filter.

4) I was thinking about using a combination of gravel and crushed coral as the over-the-soil substrate to maintain GH/KH levels, although I have not tested my water yet. Is this a good idea? I wanted to have some drift-wood in the tank, which does make water more acidic, anyone have some in theirs? Any problems?

5) During the initial set up I read that some people let the soil sit for a week or so in water to stabilize, then stock with fish + plants. Is this necessary or advised?

Thanks much in advance.

Dennis

[yalej]

Hey all. Well the wife was kind enough to buy me a 55G for my birthday (after having to tear down my other tanks a year ago), so I'll be back in the fish business!

Dianas book is very compelling, probably because I'm a chemist and I dig all the chemical equations and hard data presented, as well as the principle of the lo-tech method. Didn't know you were in Chapel Hill Diana, I'm in RTP!

Anyway, few specific questions:

1) My 55 is not going to be getting any direct sunlight, I was thinking of using 2x55W for lighting, but will that be enough? I could do 4x55W or 2x55W and 1x96W as well.

2) I've read that MiracleGro potting soil is ok, is there a specific one I should get? I can't remember what the nutrient rating is on the one we have.

3) Filtration is just a powerhead, right? No hang-behind filter.

4) I was thinking about using a combination of gravel and crushed coral as the over-the-soil substrate to maintain GH/KH levels, although I have not tested my water yet. Is this a good idea? I wanted to have some drift-wood in the tank, which does make water more acidic, anyone have some in theirs? Any problems?

5) During the initial set up I read that some people let the soil sit for a week or so in water to stabilize, then stock with fish + plants. Is this necessary or advised?

Thanks much in advance.

Dennis

[WolverineFan]

I've never heard of anyone using crushed coral in a planted tank, but I'm no expert. Many plants will not grow in water that is too hard. I guess it would depend on what the ratio is. 50/50 would be too high. I always have wood in my tanks and it does have a some effect on the Ph but then I do 25% water changes every week and my tap water is fairly hard.

If you go much higher on the lighting CO2 supplementation is going to be necessary. You could probably go up to 2 1/2 wpg and be OK.

Generally when you set up a tank you wait 24-48 hrs before stocking it. Any longer is a waste of time. However. using potting soil may change that. Hopefully someone else will address that issue.

[yalej]

Thanks for your reply. I was thinking of using crushed coral as a supplement only, maybe 1:10 ratio with gravel. I'll obviously test my water before hand though.

Dennis

[dwalstad]

[quote]Originally posted by yalej:
Hey all. Well the wife was kind enough to buy me a 55G for my birthday (after having to tear down my other tanks a year ago), so I'll be back in the fish business!

Dianas book is very compelling, probably because I'm a chemist and I dig all the chemical equations and hard data presented, as well as the principle of the lo-tech method. Didn't know you were in Chapel Hill Diana, I'm in RTP!

Anyway, few specific questions:

1) My 55 is not going to be getting any direct sunlight, I was thinking of using 2x55W for lighting, but will that be enough? I could do 4x55W or 2x55W and 1x96W as well.

**The 2 X 55 W should be fine.

2) I've read that MiracleGro potting soil is ok, is there a specific one I should get? I can't remember what the nutrient rating is on the one we have.

**I wouldn't use Miracle Grow. Good for growing one or two plants in pots but not as a soil underlayer for the tank. Several hobbyists have reported problems using it as a soil underlayer. It is fertilized with inorganic chemicals and may cause algae problems. Look for an inexpensive potting soil without inorganic fertilizers (i.e., potassium sulfate, ammonioum sulfate, etc).

3) Filtration is just a powerhead, right? No hang-behind filter.

**For all of my tanks, I now use the Aqua Clear Powerhead Model 301 with an attached Quick Filter. The focus is on water circulation and good mechanical filtration.

4) I was thinking about using a combination of gravel and crushed coral as the over-the-soil substrate to maintain GH/KH levels, although I have not tested my water yet. Is this a good idea? I wanted to have some drift-wood in the tank, which does make water more acidic, anyone have some in theirs? Any problems?

**I don't know what the GH/KH of your starting water is. However, RTP water seems to be soft, so having a crushed coral substrate may be a good idea. I wouldn't worry about acidity from driftwood. If your plants grow well, that will neutralize acidity.

5) During the initial set up I read that some people let the soil sit for a week or so in water to stabilize, then stock with fish + plants. Is this necessary or advised?

**I add fish and plants to tank the same day that I set up the tank.

[yalej]

Ok, that sounds cool. I picked up some top soil at Lowes today, without any fertilizers as far as I can tell.

Diana, where do you buy your fish and plants? Only place I have found (but have not gone to yet) is Triangle Tropical Fish in Durham.

Dennis

[Maurici]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> 4) I was thinking about using a combination of gravel and crushed coral as the over-the-soil substrate to maintain GH/KH levels, although I have not tested my water yet. Is this a good idea? I wanted to have some drift-wood in the tank, which does make water more acidic, anyone have some in theirs? Any problems? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think you will no have problems for many plants, because many of them are not so sensible to hardness thant thougth.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>5) During the initial set up I read that some people let the soil sit for a week or so in water to stabilize, then stock with fish + plants. Is this necessary or advised? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think it is a good idea to put the plants at the beginning, because they contribute to stabilization and the recycling of nutrients on water. About fishes I'm not so brave as Diana, because many species of fishes are quite exigents and the responses of the animal body are often more quickly than plants and the possibilities of illness are greater. Is guarantee of prudence to wait for a two weeks period.
Kind regards.
Maurici.

[dwalstad]

Fish buying.... Here's where the real problems come in for beginning hobbyists. I can't tell you how many beginning hobbyists have quit when their pet fish, irrespective of cost, start dying. In my opinion, money return from the store is inadequate compensation for the loss of a pet.

I rarely buy fish from stores. I've had so much bad luck with store-bought fish, even at the best aquarium stores. I usually get my fish from other hobbyists either locally or via mail-order. Since you live in this area, I strongly advise you to get fish at the Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) Workshop, which is coming up Feb or early March. There'll be lots of fish, sometimes rare ones, brought in by hobbyists from near and far. You'll greatly increase your chances of getting healthy fish by attending the Sunday afternoon auction... and its free.

The other place I've had good luck is Wet Thumb Aquatics, from which you can mail-order fish. It's a family-run business, and they raise their own fish. Thus, unlike stores, they're not bringing unknown fish in from multiple sources or adding them to tanks contaminated by diseases leftover from earlier fish.

That said, Triangle Tropical Fish has a good local reputation and I purchase supplies there occasionally. If you're going to buy from a store, this one is satisfactory. If your fish do fine, then enjoy them. If they show problems, don't despair and don't blame yourself. You'll still have time to get fish at the RAS auction.

[aquabillpers]

I use unimproved soil substrate that I buy for
about $3.00 for 40 pounds. I soak it for about a week outside of the aquarium before I use it. I change most of the water two or three times.

Even though this soil has few organics, it is surprising how much junk - foam, sticks, other debris - floats to the top. It produces some bubbles, too. I'd rather it do that in a pail than in my aquarium.

I use about 1/2 to 3/4 inches of the wet soil, under an inch or so of 2 to 3 MM gravel. I also add a trace of peat moss and some mulm.

Good luck!

Bill