http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum Questions and answers about your new fish tank. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:55:21 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59275&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:07:19 GMT Hello all! I started off with 2 little weeny fancies in the aqua 40 (27l) tank in February...over the months they have grown massively (everyone... Hello all!

I started off with 2 little weeny fancies in the aqua 40 (27l) tank in February...over the months they have grown massively (everyone that comes to my house comments on how big my fish are) and I know I need to get them a new tank...the trouble is I want to get them something really good (not just what my lfs has on offer!) and a really good filter to go with it.

I'm thinking of a 60 - 65 L tank that is suitable for 2 (rather large) and perhaps a couple of friends for them. I dont want it to sit on a cabinet or anything, they live in the kitchen at the moment (so we can never eat fish) on the counter.

I also want to get them a great filter and air pump and have been looking at the fluval and eheim models but there are so many mixed reviews I really dont know what to go for!

Any help would be really appreciated, grown very attached to Nelson and Mattilda and want them to be happy... ]]> New setups blondiewandie http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59275 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59272&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:13:35 GMT I have a 70 ish litre tank and I am going for a cold water set up. I need to get all the equipment. Do I need a seperate filter and air pump or is it... I have a 70 ish litre tank and I am going for a cold water set up. I need to get all the equipment. Do I need a seperate filter and air pump or is it possible to get machines that do both?

Thanks ]]> New setups murphy http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59272 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59204&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:37:34 GMT Hello folks,

I've got one of those double hexagon tanks with the joining tunnels, which initially I just had to have because it was so unusual. It looks exactly like this:



I previously had it stocked and running with the supplied undergravel filters, with very disastrous results. I'm about to set it up in my new flat and decided to throw out the UG filters, to be replaced with sponge filters to utilise the air pump.

Right now I'm undecided about what to put in the tank. It's advertised as being a 13 gallon tank, so I'm thinking a small school of rasboras (particularly Microrasbora kubotai) and possibly small shrimp - but it would be great to have something larger to focus on. (I have a male betta on its own, but it's too risky, even though I've had others with rasboras).

Any suggestions? ]]> New setups legendarydrew http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59204 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59172&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:43:37 GMT My nephew loves fish and is very interested in mine and my mum's aquariums.

I would like to set up a tank for him and would love to make it up with his favourite things(Thomas, Dr who, Star Wars etc)
Only problem is they do not make fish safe decorations of tv characters so it would have to be made up of toys.

Does anyone know if this is safe?

Are there any toys that can be used or treated with anything to make them safe or does anyone know where I can find ornaments like this?


Many thanks for any help. ]]> New setups Bubbles84 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59172 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59164&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:49:01 GMT Hi all I have just purchased a 43 litre fish tank, I already have two small fancy goldfish which I will move from a smaller tank into the new 43... Hi all

I have just purchased a 43 litre fish tank, I already have two small fancy goldfish which I will move from a smaller tank into the new 43 litre tank, would it be possible to add maybe a couple of mollies to the tank as I have a heater for the tank? any ideas or suggestions would be much appreicated. ]]> New setups Kate1 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59164 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59114&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:31:25 GMT Hi guys, I set up my tank last Sunday and I have question about the PH testing. I bought a Nutrafin liquid test kit and tried testing the PH of the... Hi guys,

I set up my tank last Sunday and I have question about the PH testing.

I bought a Nutrafin liquid test kit and tried testing the PH of the aquarium water but it came out a dark blue-green colour which seemed to be off the scale. I live in Milton Keynes, and therefore have hard water. Would this make a difference? I tried doing the test with tap water and it looked a similar colour. If i had to guess the PH it looked somewhere between 8 and 9 but I might be reading it wrong!

Has anyone else had a similar problem or am I reading it wrong?

Is there a clearer way to obtain the PH than a liquid test kit?

All there is in the tank is normal gravel, with some plastic plants and a bit of Nutrafin cycle added to the water so far.

Any help would be much appreciated! ]]> New setups mkfishkeeper http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59114 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59095&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:48:27 GMT Hi everyone, im in the process of purchasing second hand a 3 foot tank and 2 foot tank including a stand, the tanks sit underneath one another, with... Hi everyone, im in the process of purchasing second hand a 3 foot tank and 2 foot tank including a stand, the tanks sit underneath one another, with under gravel filtration, heater and lighting for both included. Now I was hoping to keep one or 2 birchirs in the 3 foot tank, possibly with a plec, have it planted and include some bog wood, this is dependant upon the other dimensions of the tank as obviously for birchirs the size of the bottom is more important than the depth.

My question is whether I could use the second tank to act as an extra filter of sorts? I was thinking of some how linking the 2 tanks together so that the 3 foot tank water would flow up through the under gravel filter and then down into the 2 foot tank, this tank would hopefully have a couple of filter shrimp, bog wood, plants and maybe some compatible smaller fish (similar to danios or tetras) with a power head to maximise the current in that tank for them, then the undergravel filter in the 2 foot tank would have the out flow back into the 3 foot tank.

Would this be even possible to set up? And if so would the 2 foot tank just be more a resevoir making the system more simply a 5 foot tank stocked with all of the animals together? but equipped with 2 filters?

It was just an idea or would over all it be simpler in terms of fish stocking etc to have them as 2 separate systems? ]]> New setups Fish are friends-not food http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59095 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59087&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:04:12 GMT hi all, i am setting up a second hand tank in my sons bedroom so thought i would try and cheat a bit to get it cycled faster. i have put the second... hi all,

i am setting up a second hand tank in my sons bedroom so thought i would try and cheat a bit to get it cycled faster.

i have put the second hand filter (its only a internal fluval foam filter) into my tank and have got it running to get the bacteria to grow on it. im not sure how many L the second hand tank is but will put between 25 - 50 L of my water into the tank when its ready.

how long should i leave the second hand filter in my tank for the bacteria to grow on it?

thanks ]]> New setups mknott http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59087 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59066&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:52:36 GMT Hi all I have recently purchased a 43 litre glass fish tank, I have placed the tank on a marble worktop, do I need to place a piece of styrofoam... Hi all

I have recently purchased a 43 litre glass fish tank, I have placed the tank on a marble worktop, do I need to place a piece of styrofoam underneath the tank or will it be ok without one? ]]> New setups Kate1 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59066 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59055&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:42:01 GMT Hi all, considering getting back into fishkeeping after a 20 year break. Have been lurking on the forum for a while, reading your posts and admiring... Hi all, considering getting back into fishkeeping after a 20 year break. Have been lurking on the forum for a while, reading your posts and admiring your pictures. It has really inspired me to set up again.

Obviously technology has improved things considerably in the fishkeeping world during my absence and, judging by the pictures many of you have submitted, raising a tank of healthy plants isnt the dark art that it seemed to me all those years ago.

To get to the point, which tank would you consider would give me the best chance of creating a nice lush aquascape? I would be more inclined to buy one of the set ups that come with integrated filter/heater etc, as I am not very adept at DIY!

I have looked at the Juwel and Fluval tanks online, but am not going to search any further until I (hopefully) get some feedback from some experienced hands.

Thanks for reading, look forward to any replies, Dave.

PS: Frickley is the team i support, 1910 the year we were founded. ]]> New setups Frickley1910 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59055 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59019&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:36:00 GMT We want to buy some blue nightlights for the tank. What would people recommend? We have a 4 foot mbuna tank. Some thing to clip onto the tank. We... We want to buy some blue nightlights for the tank. What would people recommend? We have a 4 foot mbuna tank. Some thing to clip onto the tank. We don't like simply switching from full lighting to none at all at night and want to view the tank for a few hours with nightlights. We feel this will be better for the fish too, instead of simply switching off the light suddenly. ]]> New setups garynstu http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59019 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59000&goto=newpost Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:19:22 GMT hi all, I have had my fish tank up and running for about a year now and its all running just fine however i have decided that i want to change it... hi all,

I have had my fish tank up and running for about a year now and its all running just fine however i have decided that i want to change it from an artificial (plastic plants and gravel) to a living aquarium (real plants and sand)

Now i dont have a clue where to start so any advice would be great.

what sort of sand is it that i need? can i just go down to the beach and bring home a load of sand or is it not the same stuff?

also how do i keep the snails away that almost always come with live plants?? idealy i would be after somehting natural like a fish that eats them.

What lighting would i need also? i think i had 1 builb for fish colours and the other for plant growth however my local fish shop said to take the plant growth out and put a red light in as didnt have real plants. i guess i will need to swap them over when i get live plants.

thanks ]]> New setups mknott http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59000 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=58984&goto=newpost Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:36:53 GMT Hi everyone I have a 42 gallon tank and I was wondering what I could put in it,the only fish I have decided to definetly put in are platies and... Hi everyone

I have a 42 gallon tank and I was wondering what I could put in it,the only fish I have decided to definetly put in are platies and angle fish.I'm going for an amazon theme but asian fish are ok to.I was thinking of a betta but I'm not sure if they can go with angels.





thanks


chris ]]> New setups oatsey http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=58984 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=58970&goto=newpost Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:53:01 GMT help please im a newbie when it comes to external filters,how do i clean it without water going everywhere!!! no instructions with it! when i tried i... help please im a newbie when it comes to external filters,how do i clean it without water going everywhere!!! no instructions with it! when i tried i turned it off and opened canister and water everywhere! obviously doing something very stupid! please help.......do i need to take inlet pipe out of tank first?... ]]> New setups beanpole http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=58970 http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=58936&goto=newpost Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:30:42 GMT just set up me tank rena aqualife 200, washed the sand (aquarium sand) and then poored in the water, thought id throw 40 litres in then add the rest... just set up me tank rena aqualife 200, washed the sand (aquarium sand) and then poored in the water, thought id throw 40 litres in then add the rest slowly once i shaped it and added plants, silly..
i now have very murky water, will it clear? or will i need to syphon the water out and start again? re-clean sand?

cheers ]]> New setups stevehat http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=58936