[Silhouette1080]

So I've had my tank for about 3 years now and the setup has been very basic.
Tank is 130L. The brand is Aquaone, I bought the whole package which came with the tank, light, HOB filter, heater and stand.
Since then I got another HOB filter (Aquaclear). The substrate is Peat moss with white sand on top.
However now I want to change it up and possibly futureproof for aquascape and shrimps. So my questions are regarding equipment:
1: If I want carpeting plants is a stronger light necessary?
2: Should I invest in a cannister filter? If so, what brand do you guys recommend?
3: I also want to get rid of the peat moss (after 3 years it's useless anyway) and sand and try out maybe Aquasoil/seachem flourite (which I heard good things about)
4: Should I invest in a CO2 diffuser

Pic is from 2016.

And just to reassure myself.

 

[Quagulator]

It really depends on your goals with the tank.

Want flourishing plants? Look into stronger lighting and CO2.

Want a shrimp tank? Look into what species of shrimp you want to keep and buy a buffering substrate or an inert substrate to suit them. Not a lot of fish are shrimp safe, and those that are tend to be oto/cory cats.

Want both? You may have to compromise but it can be done.


Generally speaking, buffering substrate requires RO to maintain it's buffering capabilities. Inert substrates like flourite and eco-comp are overpriced in my opinion, look into blasting sand, pool filter sand, safe-T-sorb for example.

But, eco and flourite will work too.

 

[CharleeFoxtrot]

1: If I want carpeting plants is a stronger light necessary?
2: Should I invest in a cannister filter? If so, what brand do you guys recommend?
3: I also want to get rid of the peat moss (after 3 years it's useless anyway) and sand and try out maybe Aquasoil/seachem flourite (which I heard good things about)
4: Should I invest in a CO2 diffuser

Pic is from 2016.

And just to reassure myself.

1. Yes
2. not necessarily, maybe upgrade to a bigger HOB. Not a fan of cannister filters in smaller systems-but that opinion is just my experiences.
3. that should work yes.
4. Maybe, depending on what type of lighting you upgrade to, and what plants you keep. Most certainly if you want the carpeting plants to thrive.

As far as keeping shrimp and fish together (makes hand waffling gesture). It can be done but expect heavy losses from fish predation *depending on the species of fish as some eat the smaller shrimp but tends to leave the adults more or less alone*. A light load of the right fish can work.

I'd focus on the less expensive Neos and pick a color variety you like as they adapt to a lot of water conditions. Then choose your hardscape/plants carefully allowing for lots of hiding places and put the shrimp in first. Let them establish themselves to just this side of overpopulation and add your carefully chosen fish and hope the Neo breeding keeps enough ahead so that some survive. Or as a friend of mine does, he keeps a separate tank of breeding neos and transplants them into his display tank as needed. Great excuse for more tanks in the home :wink2:

 

[Silhouette1080]

Inert substrates like flourite and eco-comp are overpriced in my opinion, look into blasting sand, pool filter sand, safe-T-sorb for example.

But, eco and flourite will work too.

Wait correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Seachem Flourite and ADA Aquasoil NOT inert? They are fertilising substrates? I want to switch to a different, better fertilising substrates because after 3~4 years the peat moss I've got are all out of nutrients now.
Also, I've heard there is a type of fertilising substrates when it runs out of nutrients you can 'revitilise' it by putting root tabs into it so it 'recharges' the substrates therefore in theory you can keep the substrates forever. What is this mysterious substrate?

depending on what type of lighting you upgrade to, and what plants you keep. Most certainly if you want the carpeting plants to thrive.

Does stronger light hurt not-so-light-dependent plants though? Because I can get a stronger light but I may not get strong light dependent plants straight away or have a mix of plants so with things like anubis nana would strong light be a bad thing for the plant and tank in general?

 

[Quagulator]

Wait correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Seachem Flourite and ADA Aquasoil NOT inert? They are fertilising substrates? I want to switch to a different, better fertilising substrates because after 3~4 years the peat moss I've got are all out of nutrients now.
Also, I've heard there is a type of fertilising substrates when it runs out of nutrients you can 'revitilise' it by putting root tabs into it so it 'recharges' the substrates therefore in theory you can keep the substrates forever. What is this mysterious substrate?

Flourite is inert, it has no nutrients nor does it have significant nutrient storing abilities.

ADA is not inert and comes with lots of nutrients that last a few months, it also buffers pH / kH so likely not the best option for neocaridina shrimp.

The best way to fertilize is via the water column. Keep the water column full of nutrients and the plant will use them, root tabs are a great tool to have, but my opinion is they are a source of supplying the plants nutrients, not a source to "recharge" the substrate.

In aquaria there isn't many substrates that are capable of being "recharged". Dirt, ADA and Safe-T-Sorb are a few substrates that can "store" nutrients, but for the most part dosing the water column is the easiest and most cost effective way of supplying plants with what they need.

 

[H_C]

So I've had my tank for about 3 years now and the setup has been very basic.

Tank is 130L. The brand is Aquaone, I bought the whole package which came with the tank, light, HOB filter, heater and stand.

Since then I got another HOB filter (Aquaclear). The substrate is Peat moss with white sand on top.

However now I want to change it up and possibly futureproof for aquascape and shrimps. So my questions are regarding equipment:

1: If I want carpeting plants is a stronger light necessary?

2: Should I invest in a cannister filter? If so, what brand do you guys recommend?

3: I also want to get rid of the peat moss (after 3 years it's useless anyway) and sand and try out maybe Aquasoil/seachem flourite (which I heard good things about)

4: Should I invest in a CO2 diffuser



Pic is from 2016.



And just to reassure myself.

Your tank scape isn’t that bad to be honest, the right side is quite nice.
I would replace the substrate with scapers soil (I use dennerles soil) since you want carpetting plants, and plant a few tallish plants on the left to give the shrimps some cover.
1)As for lighting for carpetting plants, generally the stronger the light the more the plant will spread and not grow as tall. I have dwarf hair grass with a generic led lighting bar and they’re growing taller than I want them to.
2)Canister filters are not necessary I have an internal Jbl cristalprofi m. It does take a little space up but it’s great for shrimp to graze on.
4)CO2 can be overkill if your just growing the basic plants, it can help carpetting plants a lot but depends on what plants. You have to be careful with the shrimp as well , too much can kill them or stop them from breeding.

Edit: forgot to add some info and keeping shrimp and fish.
There are quite a few nano species that won’t bother your shrimp population as long as you have some hiding spaces , I have a breeding family of CPD’s and a group of Chili Rasboras , with a couple Otto’s. My shrimp are constantly breeding (cherry shrimp/neocaridina).

If you want caridina shrimp you’ll have to adjust the water parameters.


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