Help with 42 gallon low budget tank

[newt767]

Hello everyoneI have recently came into a 42 gallon tank that the last owner of my house just left here .I want to set it up and get it going instead of how I have been using it now (holding frog spawn from my pond).But I don't have a huge budget so I can't afford anything really expensive eg c02.So I just want to have a low tec tank can I get bit of advice on what plants I should get ,what lighting I should get ect?.I've already made a community (tell me if there is somthing wrong with it) 2 paired angle fish,2 bristle nose cat fish,6 yoyo loaches,5 sterpas cory,5 bleeding heart tetras, 5 platies or mollys (going to raise the number to 10 with breeding) and maybe, if I can fit them a few otos or shrimp.I want to make the theme amazon by the way

thanks

chris

[Amazonfish]

I'm new to this forum, so i can't help too much, but there's a sticky in this section about low light plants. I read through it and that helped me a lot as far as plants go. There's a lighting forum also. You can use to search function to find threads that may help for lighting. Sorry that I couldn't help more, but congrats on the tank!

[lauraleellbp]

I think picking out your light fixture is probably your first challenge. Since you don't want to go with pressurized CO2, you'll need a fixture that will give you just the right amount of light- not too much, but not too little...

What's your budget like, and what fixtures are available to you? ('fraid I don't know what brands and all are available in London...?)

[newt767]

I' not entirely sure what my budget is because I'll be getting most of it at the end of the year or in 2010

[newt767]

I just read something on ripariums and they sound really intresting,would I be able to have my community if I turn my tank into a riparium.And are ripariums low tec

[JakeJ]

I dont think you could keep all the fish if you turned it into a riparium, but I highly recomend that you start one. I am also starting a 20g rip, and it is a great low budget planted tank.

Regards,
Jake

[newt767]

Ripariums look really cool,I have researched them a bit more.I love the swampy,riverside look but could you tell me if my tank is suitable for making a riparium.I'll post pictures tommorow

[newt767]

Couldn't get the pictures up.But I changed my mind about a ripariums,I still think they look nice,but they look really hard to make,and i am terrible at planting.Are there any other suggestions?



please reply

thanks

EDIT:by the way I decided to go with DIY C02

[topfrog007]

For a low tech tank, this method is a great option:
http://www.barrreport.com/articles/4...2-methods.html

Since you are on a budget may I suggest buying things used/cheap. IE look for lighting kits in classifieds or on fish forums.

MTS is a great alternative to expensive substrates. There is a sticky in the substrate section.

Are you doing anything for ferts?

[JakeJ]

I am pretty sure DIY Co2 is more for smallish tanks. For lighting, there are good hydroponic T5HO lights that are some what cheap, ($50 for a 1ft light).
Hope that helps!
Jake

[newt767]

That was a really intresting link! I will probably get some sort of fert but I am not sure what to get yet. also I didn't understand this part >>. Fish food varies in it's amount and ratio of nutrients. This is not an issue unless it becomes limiting. Very often since non CO2 tanks get neglected, they have trouble growing certain plants. If these nutrients are not allowed to bottom out(Say PO4 or NO3), then many of the species folks suggest cannot be kept, suddenly can be kept in non CO2 tanks but they simply grow slower.

could you explain?

thanks everyone for the suggestions

chris

[newt767]

Oh by the way do you think I could add more fish or am I pushing it as it is?

[mynameisjonah]

You're definitely pushing it, especially with the wonderful reproductive abilities of platies and mollies. That's alotta loach also, when they're done growing you'll have 36 inches worth! If I were in your position I would stick with 2 angels, 1 bristlenose, a pair or trio of loaches, a trio of cories, and the 5 tetras (of which you could then beef up since you reduce the numbers in other places). You'd still have a well stocked tank, but you'd be able to keep your conditions fairly stable.

[mynameisjonah]

Oh, and I almost forgot, cories and loaches both prefer a substrate they can sift their barbels through in search for food. So nothing sharp or bigger than pea-sized. Preferably a sand, in sections, if not the whole thing.

[newt767]

What if I swap the tetras for the platys? I just have a soft spot for the platys.Everything else sounds fine to me