Wanting to start out right

[Jonette Stabbert]

I recently joined and have been reading lots of the forum posts every day, trying to learn all I can. I also have the English edition of “LABYRINTH FISH WORLD” and have been learning all I can.

At this point in time, I have just finished cycling three planted tanks (I love plants!) and haven’t yet decided what kind of community fish I will have in them.

Please advise me as to buying tanks for Parosphromenus. Is it a good idea to get one 20 l nano and maybe a larger size for fry to grow up in? If so, what size? I don’t have a lot of room. 😛

What is most advisable for beginning?

I ordered Eichen Extract by Aquatic Nature before reading here about a different brand. Is this one okay, or is it inferior to the one recommended here?

I’m sure I’ll have some more questions, but look forward to replies to these.

Kind regards,
Jonette

[Dorothee Jöllenbeck-Pfeffel]

Hi!
As concerning the size of tanks – I have tanks 25x40x25 inhabited by a pair of Paros, and 40or 30x60x30 tanks for a group (Youngsters or parents with offspring). The first number is the front glass of the tank – means I put the smaller side ahead, so the tanks don’t need so much room 😉

[Jonette Stabbert]

Thank you, Dorothee. Do you paint one side of the tank, or put up a dividing panel so that the fish in the two tanks don’t see each other? Are there any kind of multiple-tank frames available (a mini version of what aquarium shops have) for 3 or 4 tanks? I don’t really have available furniture.

Cheers,
Jonette

[Dorothee Jöllenbeck-Pfeffel]

I have no special furnitures, you see them on the panorama foto 😉 . I have isolating material between the tanks.

The furniture store are just some old but strong sideboards.

[Jonette Stabbert]

Thank you again, Dorothee. WOW! You have quite a set up in that room! I don’t have any available furniture for any new tanks to rest on, that’s why I asked. I keep thinking there must be some kind of special shelf unit available specifically intended for aquaria. If not, there is a “hole in the market”.

Since no one has answered me about the eichen extract brand, I’ll post that question elsewhere.

Cheers,
Jonette

[Arno Beißner]

Hello Jonette,
welcome here.
Always and everywhere there is place for one, two or three additional tanks 😉
On the picture you see my last extension.
A shelf, ca. 25 – 30 €, bought in a construction market.
Ok, for a living room it isnt the hit, but an aquarist must set priorities 🙂
I cant help with Eichenextrakt – i use peat.

Greetings Arno

[Jonette Stabbert]

Hello Arno. Hahaha! That is your living room AND your fish room? Wonderful! And you have given me an idea. I have a wooden shelving unit like your metal one that has been stored in my garden shed for years. I will see if I can use that! I feel less eccentric since being on this forum. 🙂 Any aquaria I have need to be covered and cat and dog proof. I am owned by five cats and a huge Leonberger dog.

Perhaps, if you have the time, you can explain to me how you have lighting (and if you have filters) in your tanks?

Cheers,
Jonette

[Arno Beißner]

Hello Jonette,
my living-room not direkt ….. although 😉
When above the tank is only little space – i use led-light at time. trial phase.
In other cases fluorescent lamps.
In my tanks work sponge-filters. homemade and bought filter

Greetings Arno

[Dorothee Jöllenbeck-Pfeffel]

Hi Arno and Jonette!
Concerning the metal shelf: it is important that the shelf is of a strong quality – I once had a cheap one from an construction market and awoke in the night from the loud noise when it gave up itself and all our home made jam glasses ….

[Jonette Stabbert]

Ah, now I see what a sponge filter is. I keep reading about them, but didn’t know what they look like. Because the Paro’s like dim light, I have been wondering about the lighting. I know you can create shadow with floating plants, but the plants need light. If I want to have several small tanks next to each other, I need to think of a way to have the lighting, unless I purchase an individual tank light for each one (more expense).

Cheers,
Jonette

[Jonette Stabbert]

Hi Dorothee,

Oh, how awful! I hope you didn’t lose many fish!

I will look for either a strong wooden or metal frame and strong metal or solid wood shelves.

Cheers,
Jonette

[Dorothee Jöllenbeck-Pfeffel]

Hi Jonette!
No, luckily I didn’t loose fish, just my homemade jam ….

[Arno Beißner]

Hello Jonette,
Really sour blackwater isnt good for the most Plants. There are only some spezies of plants they survive the sour blackwater.
Some swimming plants grow even 😉

A popular form of spong filter is in Germany the “Hamburger Mattenfilter” –> google

Greeting Arno

[Dorothee Jöllenbeck-Pfeffel]

Hello Jonette,
If you need swimming plants, I have always enough of them now , just in the moment it is too hot to send them, you would get cooked plants….
😛

[tim conway]

theres a fair few cryptocoryne species that are proper blackwater plants and would be ideal imho :]

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