Paradisius

Okie Dokie, nixay on the vermiculite... good point. Floaties aren`t totally welcome. So, now that the base layer is in, off to keeping it simple... red florite, if in stock, topped with more sand... simple usualy pays off. Thanks for the heads up. Originally it was said to crush the vermiculite into a dust form, and than mix into the soil, topping that off with the sand. Sounds pretty messy when you want to move the tank, lol. Cheers.

LOL, tanks for the heads-up boyz n gurls. I like the sound of Firestorms idea. Mind you it's one extra item, but it looks like a well combined "natural" approach. I figure base: a little sand, roughly 2 inches. Top with garden topsoil blended with flourite (darn good nutrient base) allowing deep-roots. Finally topped with a good laya of sand for the runners and grasses. One might think it might be a tad muddy, but alas, the sand on top would hold sufficiently. In lieu of any cloudiness, add water to top the layers, wait a week, add more goodies. Hmmmm, more driftwood... and to think I gve it all away. Yeesh, now I feel like a dummie. Am thinkin, with all the advice on the net, maybe the moderators might add a "substrate that works" section to only include what peeps are currently running. Header "flourite/gravel combo" as an idea. I noticed a huge post prior to this one about substrate, but honestly didn't answer any relative quest. This section would cut back double posts and really benefit all aqaurists wishing to discover the beauty of planted and perhaps with the combined knowlegde, help some old ponies learn a new trick or two. I'll check back, but have decided to go with Firestorms idea ... thank you. Long term benefit is the nutrient table won't have to be replaced all that much.... much like a riverbed/pond. I'll pony up the cam and step by step put together something to share here...

You little technophobe, LOL. Thanks for the reply. Substrate set-ups is an overwhelming area. I am leaning toward the natural approach which utilizes vermiculite/garden topsoil as the base topped with sand. I still like the flourite/sand technique so still kind out of the box on the decision. I too, always use older exteranal filter cannisters from established tanks to start the cycle. Therefore, reducing the cyle time. This actually was a running FW tank until last night when it was emptied so that the substrate my be placed in on the weekend. The external cannister is still hooked up and all hardware connected... just looking for the right substrate. Cloudiness won't be an issue as at least a month will pass before adding plants and starter fish. One layer, one step at a time is my method. If all else fails, try again... but that gets ezpensif after awhile. Peace out l'il sis.

LOL, ok, now I can honestly say that the internet is chock full of do's n don't's of the aquarium substrate set-up. I wouldn't say that I am a newb, but the last planted tank was a 90 amazon set-up. The substrate at that time was a mix, 1/3 flourite 2/3 gravel. It worked, but was super-messy to deal with the red clouding of the water. For the life of that tank, plants did indeed thrive. Missed the tank after breaking it down. It's been awhile now, and have decided to set-up a freshwater low-light plantd aquarium in my custom 70 cube, dimensions 2ftx2ftx3ft. I'm no dummie but wish to set up the subsrtrate to the best of my abilites. Potting soils are a 50/50 thing in the planted aquarium world so that leaves much discussion. Vermiculite highly reccomended with an addition of garden topsoil, topped with the sand method for a natural approach. Wow, and than we have flourite, sand gravel, sand-flourite-sand... etc. I'm sitting here thinking why can't I place 1-2 inches of play sand on the bottom of the tank, layer in some bagged potting mix, one bag of red flourite, compacting that a little (not alot), and topping the rest of the layers with the remaining playsand. no gravel but some loose rocks I have left over from past tanks. Of course a little driftwood in there as well. Lighting I am not overly concerned with, as we have several strips kiicking around from past tanks and the tank sits in a nice corner exposed to a gentle calm of the sun thru sheers. Never an algae outbreak yet. Any tried and true methods would be greatly appreciated and noted before I add all the wrong substrates with the water: playsand flourite Potting soil/mix? playsand misc. rocks and driftwood Not overly concerned with any cloudiness and break-in periods. Having saltwater yields a certian amount of patience. Realizing that slow is good, and one fiish per month is more than I usually do. Just wish to get the substrate up n running, add a little water to compact it, pick up some driftwood, add more water, and let run 1/2 full for about a month before adding any plants... and water. Any guru's out there wanna help me out? Throw a bone.... tanks.

Just wondering as we are new to the saltwater community if Black Onyx gravel is really safe for reef set-ups. I removed my black granite from the tank once I aquired live rock. Was used for the start-up fish territory only and was told that the silicates would be very harmful to the tank in the long run. But it was short term only. When we were into freshwater, we found black onyx in a saltwater section but knew only of it's use in a freshwater tank. Have been reading online that seachem's black onyx gravel is safe for both freshwater and reef set-ups. Currently we have 90lbs of aragonite sugar sand and the live rock to go with. Has anyone used this in a saltwater set-up, and does it have to be reef? Thanks for the heads up and advice is more than welcome.

LOL, tried the loach method. These fish get kinda big for my comfort zone. The driftwood is drying out. This I tried once before. Left it on the deck for months, but as soon as it hit the water, they came back with a great fervor. Unfortunately the piece is too large to "bake" which I have done with the smaller pieces with great results. Anyhoo... decided the driftwood will be decor in the house when the time is right... or I might sell it to the right offer... which with a little time I can take a pic, and gather the apporx dimensions. BTW, decided to convert the 90 into a saltwater set-up. Since the salt has been added... there has been no sign of return from these pesky mutants. Thanks for the assists!

Hey, thanks for the head's up with that info. I've tried several fish, and instead of putting a band-aid on the boo-boo, I wish for an all out cure. This is war with the darn things. I just can't believe they have survived a month in a 25% bleach solution and clean water changes since. I've decided to either give the driftwood away, now sitting on the balcony, or use it as firewood. Too bad too, Malaysian Drift wood is so nice especially the size of this piece which takes 1/3 of my 90, or 1/2 of the 70 custom cube... Cheers

Many a moon ago, purchased some live plants from a local LFS. They came with some rather unwanted guests. SNAILS. Now in moderation, I realize they are and can be healthy for the freshwater tank. I emphasize moderation, because out of the blue they literally took over the tank. So, I transplanted the plants into a seperate sterilized tank. Removed the fish into another set-up... and you're not going to believe the rest of the story. It's been about a month now since I stated the cleansing... with BLEACH!! yes lotsa bleach with a 100%water change every day for the last month. We are now doing a 100% clean water change daily for another month to cleans any risiduals of the nasty bleach. This included all the infected, for lack of words, driftwood as well. So the plants in the fresh set-up are clean and free of any snails now. Fish are fine in the transplant... thankfully. But even with a 25% bleach solution in a 90 gallon tank daily for the duration of step-one to rid the tank of them. THEY STILL LIVE, and happily at that. If there is anybody out there who has had success in ridding these pests, please let me know. We are just short of burning the driftwood (150 buck size pieces )huge and throwing out the damn tank! BTW I read about the heat related fish deaths, sad... but running a fan over the water without lids will help reduce the heat in such times. As well, a moderate water change will not only reduce the heat in the water, will also reduce some heat in the home. Trust me, it hit 31.8 in here with no casualties. Would love to hear some sound advice, this is really annoying. BTW, so you don't think I'm carzy for using bleach, once a year all the tanks here are treated this way. I have lost nothing... it takes awhile to "rinse" the system, but it is worth it. These tanks are incredibly clean for it. Cheers!

Wow, the water here sure is a tuff one to crack. I've got three tanks, and like clockwork, every 13 days... The angels have laid some eggs. I nuetralize the water, I pretty much have everything beyond pure water to put in the tanks. By day three, the eggs are "calcified?" I know there are some guru breeders out there that may be able to assist and advise... and wow, I need some help, lol. I've even seperated the eggs from the parents into a smaller, more confined, tank with heat and air... nada. And yes, used that funky blue chemical, but nothing helps. Being just two block from a LFS keeps me wondering.. is it me? Any help on succesful breeding would greatly help me. Thanks a bunch! Pauly

Not sure how to answer your reply about the bottom. But as a package of stand and tank, I'd be interested. Is there a chance you can post an image of the finished product when completed? The price is far beyond reasonable, a new 90 gal tank will set ya back 280 smackolas, and a basic metal stand another 188 plus tax. LOL, than you have all the stuffings, and external/internal toys. I look at my 90 gallon, its sexy, but heck a cool grand has gone into already. Are you sure about those kind of prices you quote? Oh, not quite sure where you're located. Calgary? Edmonton? Would you deliver? Anyways, simply put... interested. Paradisius

Long story short, we discovered that our 50/55 gallon hexagon is indeed not that size. It turns out that its more like a 35. In a nutshell, and trying to keep a stroy short, we noticed that our water was still green after a 1 week change, every week for the last few months (since buying a large piece of bog-wood), and also noticed that algea tends to build up on a regular basis. This tank is very well planted, so chemicals for algea are out of quest. Two things were reccomended in the past, one being that we turn off the air supply at night, the other was too be patient with the bog wood leaking those lignins? We are currently aquiring a large 90 gallon to provide more comfort for the occupants. We covered any exposed glass accept front so that less "day light" would stray in (btw:tank is not in direct sunlight), and checked the cover to assure integrity. Feeding is done twice, measured. In hopes of seeing if algea is the problem of the green water.. and too control it. The tank was sold also with a rather over-sized aquaclear 300 for this tank. Advantage, plenty of cycling. Disadvantage... lotsa current for the tank. After spending much of the night now, I have still the same question. (many sites boast that the over-flow filtration will provide adequate aeration). Do we honestly need an air pump in this small tank loaded with plants, and a larger-than-required aquaclear? Better yet, are air pumps necessary in freshwater set-ups? Suggestion and comments are more than welcome.... :well:

Just a short note, but will keep u all posted as to where we are going withthis amazing hobby. It's nice to see a forum out there in Alberta with other shared enthusiasts. Our tanks, yeesh.. and we're in an apartment, break down to something like this: 90 gal: Work in progress 35 hex: Amazon based biotope 30 gal: general community 20 gal: feeder/plant farm 10 gal: quarantine/fry Won't get into the details yet, but if anyone has fry of Gourami's let us know. We love them as much as Angel fish. Moreso, if you would like to offer advice for the work in progress, we would love to hear from you. By the way, this all started with a Beta left to us from a neighbour who left town in a hurry. Soon to be more tanks than furniture, lol. Have a great day, and I look forward to visiting this site daily! :welcome: :thumbs: