New tank

Hi everybody,

In the next few weeks I will be setting up a new freshwater tropical tank. I need lots of advice!

The tank is a jewel vision 180.

I currently have 5 guppies, a snail and 5 minnows. These will also be making the move. How should I do this?

I want to plant plants. What kind of substrate should I use? What are the easiest plants to look after?

How much gravel do I need? Most bags come in 2 to 5 kgs, I don't know how many to get.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

And how many fish could a tank this size take. Taking growth into account of course.

Hi Lindsey,

First of all, make sure you take your time and enjoy setting up the tank. Its not often that you'll have a brand new empty tank to set up so make the most of it. Speaking from experience, doing it right the first time will save a lot of time and hassle down the line.

Depending on what kind of lighting you have you can grow different plants. If its the stock lighting that comes with the vision then I'd say go for low light plants like any of the cryptocorynes for example. A quick google search of "low light plants" would help aswel. Now just beware that when you plant cryptocorynes they tend to melt away and then grow back. Thats completely normal.

For the substrate, I have just set up my first big tank and its running about a month now. I went with a 3/4 inch layer of organic compost capped with a 1.5 inch layer of gravel. The gravel isn't too big, about 2mm and I'd say I used about 7kg. So far the plants seem to be doing well in the dirt. I got the compost in Woodies, a big bag for €5 and I did't even use half of it. Just make sure that its organic (no added fertilisers).

As regards moving your fish into the new tank, I'd set everything up first, plants and all and let the filter run for at least a week or two before adding any fish. You could squeeze your old filter into the new tank to kick start the cycle, or better yet get the old filter sponge and stick it into the new filter. If the old tank has gravel, take out some and pop it into the new tank aswell. Anything that would get it going.

Now 180 litres is a fine sized tank so you could have quite a number of fish. It all comes down to personal preference here. You could get a nice sized shoal of rummy nose tetras, and then a couple of centre piece fish, like angels or dwarf cichlids (blue rams are my favourite). If the gravel is not sharp and not too big you could get a bunch of cory cats aswell, they're fantastic to watch.

This is a fantastic tool if you're wondering what goes with what and if you're going to be overstocked. www.aqadvisor.com/AqAdvisor.php
They tend to err on the side of caution on this site so if there is anything you would like but the site says you can't, you could always double check here on the forum.

I hope this helps,
Keep us posted on your progress,

George

Thanks George,

This is great advice, i didn't realise I could use organic compost. I was going to order special substrate from zooplus.ie.

I was already thinking of getting rummy nose tetras, they do look great and some corydoras. I'll need something to eat the algae as well, was thinking a golden nugget pleco and another small fish I cant remember the name of!!

Personally I've found the organic compost to be just as good, although some people swear by aquasoil...I couldn't justify spending that much money. You should check out dustinsfishtanks on youtube, he's very into his plants and he was the one who convinced me to try it. Also if you check out Dianne Walstad's method, she uses soil too.

I have a couple of otoclinus and they're fantastic at eating algae, and don't get too big. Just be careful with the type of pleco you get it doesn't grow into a monster!!! I'm guessing the golden nugget stays pretty small?

George

Yes George,

The Golden nugget gets to about 4 inches.

Hello Lindsey . Good luck with your project . I have recently began setting up a Juwell Rio 180.
Im doing a kind of diary thing on the forum .The folks here have been very helpful.
Keep us posted on your progress .

Hi Linsey,
Good luck with the new setup. I bought a golden nugget plec recently , lovely fish, but very nocturnal.
I rarely see it during the tank lighting hours. It likes to hide away in the bogwoord. If you can get a Royal plec then I would go for it as they appear to be less shy of the light. I usually hang a piece of cucumber in the tank and they go mad for it. I think the Royal Plec is the most attractive of plecs.

Greg

Thanks Greg,

I will look into getting a Royal plec so!!

Hi everyone,

Ok ive just set up my tank, yay! But ive hit a wall already. My heater seems to be broken and is stuck on a high temperature. It is a Juwel heater and my thermometer is reading at 32C no matter what I do. Think I will have to get a new one.

Any advice on what heater will fit into a juwel filter box?

Hi Lindsey,

Take the broken one to petstop or hanleys on the magic roundabout and they will probably be able to sort you out with a replacement.

Stuart.

Hi lindsey,please excuse my ignorance but are you talking about the temp on the actual heater showing 32C? or is a basic stick on the glass thermometer saying it? or is it one of them crazy digital ones saying 32C? if you already gave this answer,please ignore this,cheers

Ger

Hi Ger,

The heater itself has no temperature guide. There are 3 thermometers on the tank 2 stick on strips and a glass one inside the water. All are showing the same temperature. I have checked the juwel website and apparently their heaters only heat up to 28C so my tank is way hooter than that right now.

Hi lindsey,

The heater unit should have a dial on top of it with the different degree settins, 18,22,28? If its not there then you should be able to pick one up from the juwel website or get one in your lfs.

Stuart.

hi lindsey thats a bit strange i have never heard off a juwel heater to get a tank up to 32 thats crazy is it the 180 tank u are talkin about wat size is the hearter email them and see eat they say as wylam said at the top off all juwel heaters there is a guide in white im sure and u twist the noob to wat temp u like have u put it down to say 18 or 20 and left it for a while to soo wat happens

also if u take it out off the box and put it on to the glass u can watch it to see if the light goes off when it is up to temp or if it is always on

sean

Hey guys,

My heater does not have numbers indicating the temperature. It does have a plus and minus sign. The temperature is slowly coming down now this morning it was showing 30C.

Yes it is the 180 litre and the heater is the one that came with the tank.

Hi Lindsey,thats a bit of a strange one alright but sure hopefully theres no real harm done!!
Whats the latest on the temp? and how are the inhabitants?

Ger