sunda

Freshwaterguy,

It really has a fantastic look your Acquarium.having substrate as sand is very attractive...
BTW, can u please refer to my posting i did here : http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/index.php?topic=13499.0 .
i wanted to know how to maintian sand filled tanks....have taken advices from guys like cheifwaterchanger, sidarksol and would like to say many thanks to them in this time..
Vat's the process u r following to clean and maintain sand filled tanks.......
can u please share it with me...

Ta.

freshwaterguy

Sunda

I too am new to aquariums, the above is my first, with my tank still cycling I have only done a few water changes to date. I use a gravel cleaner to disturb the sand and then create a good vacuum which lifts the fish waste from the sand. I manage to do this without removing the sand. I had some difficulty with the first water change, but persistance creates the right technique. It is important to disturb the sand as mentioned in your post.

I am doing water weekly water changes currently and when my tank has cycled I will continue to do so to try and keep nitrate below 20ppm at a maximum

Good luck

armadillo

Just got mine today. Yoohoo!

Would look awesome in your tank, Freshwaterguy.

freshwaterguy

moss balls do look interesting, I have just registered at plantgeek and found this useful tool in one of posts for aquascaping perhaps someone could place this tool somwhere on this site, obviously more useful for new aquarists

http://www.gorillot.com/aquatools/ph...x.php?select=7

armadillo

Yooohoo! Just got one. Looks really awesome.

COBettaCouple

i want one! i want one! waaaaah!

freshwaterguy

My updated aquarium picture with some driftwood and Java Fern now added. Click below link for updated picture - there are 8 fish in this picture somewhere!



I think it looks much better and the fish seem to like it, now just need to add next fish now have cycled over a week a go.

Any thoughts appreciated, I struggled to use black cotton to tie Java Fern to driftwood and I guess now just need to hope thrives.

Neil

Looks very nice and clean

azzman

I think a black background would really look good, contrast with the sand and rockwork.

freshwaterguy

thanks for your comments, the plain blue background I currently have does a black reverse side I may try this

I am going to LFS tomorrow to get next fish after tank has now cycled and nitrate is 0ppm after latest 20% wc

COBettaCouple

looks great!

freshwaterguy

i went to LFS yesterday and purchases a male and female dwarf gourami, two very small green barbs (totalling 6 barbs - 4 tigers) and a male and female firemouth cichlid

all are getting on well and have really brightened up aquarium!

i am getting a flower pot for cichlids to use

below are pics of firemouth and dwarf gourami

1 of firemouth cichlid



1 of firemouth and both gourami's



I think you will agree very pretty fish.

Fed Frozen brine shrimp yesterday although as yet firemouths have not taken any flake food from surface and not much gets to the bottom - any tips or suggestions on feeding them.

I have two balls of Java Moss in post which I believe would be good for spawing fish and the moss should spread throughout my tank.

COBettaCouple

The new fish are real beauties!

freshwaterguy

Thanks sure looks a lot more full now with 14 fish

I have now added to two plant pots in opposing corners of the aquarium - java moss here tomorrow! looking forward to adding the Moss I have read so much about on this forum.

COBettaCouple

wow! that looks fantastic!

jack11

Firstly WOW, congrats on an awesome tank (jope mine looks half as good as this when its done cycling) also i was wondering how you cleaned/soaked the terracotta pots before putting them in?

Jack.

Isabella

Your tank looks SOOO BEAUTIFUL !

freshwaterguy

Thanks for your comments, I am pleased with how it looks now but not how it looked to start seems a little far removed from that now. As my first ever tank I am very pleased with the look and the inhabitants.

The pots were put in boiling water over a couple of hours and thouroughly scrubbed then put in water overnight with AquaSafe - as yet the fish have barely looked at them but I am sure they will use them.

It is quite funny at the moment getting used to the Dwarf Gourami & Firemouth Cichlids morning wake up routine, namely it takes them a while to wake! before feeding whereas barbs and danios are instantly ready for feeding.

The baby green barbs are the smallest fish and are so cute