Question: Substrate and general setup of new tank

[daniellog]

Hi,

I have just bought a second hand 3ft aquarium to put my juvenile axolotls in. I'm just cleaning it out at the moment and I'm waiting on a gravel cleaner from hong kong. After it arrives I will start setting it up. It currently also has 25w light too, I'm not sure if that's a bit too bright but I won't have it one most of the time.

I would like to be able to put some live plants in it and for them not to die, so mainly I wondering about substrate and fertilizers. For the substrate I was thinking just using sand as its not too expensive, maybe white sand (like this aquarium white silica sand 10lb bag / 4.5kg on eBay (end time 20-Jun-10 16:47:03 BST)). I was also looking at using some laterite, but on further inspection it is very expensive and I can't really afford it for my tank. Would I need to use any fertilizers for the plants too?

Dan

 

[jclee]

This might help give you a few ideas to start off with, although these tanks were designed for different aquatic species: Caudata Culture Articles - Setups, Aquatic

Personally, I'm a fan of anchoring plants to a centerpiece, and leaving the rest bare-bottom. It's easy clean-up, and in the past, I haven't had much luck with getting plants to root in sand. I think other members have, though. If you search around the site, there are a few threads on planting options and opinions.

 

[Mac Myers]

daniellog,
You might also want to look into something along the lines of Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana) as it can be attached to tank furnishings on the bottom, cork bark so it floats and hangs down, or left to float free in the tank. Be prepared to prune it however because it grows like hair in an old mans nostrils. It's easy... cheap... and you can't kill it even if you do some of the dumb stuff that I do.

 

[Shizeric]

In my tank, I have a very large java fern I attached to some driftwood with regular cotton thread, you can also use fishing line. Java moss is also happily growing on other pieces of driftwood, so those would be my main suggestions.

 

[daniellog]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the letting me know about java moss, its definitely something I will look into. But I was wondering what other plants work well with a sand substrate as well rather than just moss?

 

[jclee]

Anubias sp. can also be anchored to fixtures.

@MacMyers -- I've never heard java moss characterized like that, but it's pretty accurate.

 

[Shizeric]

Like I said, Java Fern is incredible.

 

[daniellog]

Oh sorry Eric, good call! I've seen this plant before but I didn't know what it was called.

I'm gonna look into getting some driftwood too, does anyone know any good places to get any maybe? Also I'm trying to think of good cheap ways to make little hides for them too, like cutting a plant pot in half maybe or things like that.

 

[madFrankie]

I'd suggest the things they call 'driftwood creations' - basically a lump of driftwood with a plant growing on it, usually an anubias of some sort.
You can get them in just about any aquarium shop and they ought to cost something to the tune of £15 - £20 as compared to what we pay in Oz.
They're a good choice because you get your driftwood and plant all in one neat package, they require no planting per se and you can move them around easily.

Also try Fontinalis (a.k.a Willow Moss). It looks a lot like Java Moss and will grow pretty much anywhere, even in pitch dark, freezing water.

 

[daniellog]

Right I bought some drift wood today (£15 for a piece of wood, I feel very ripped off ). I also bought some sand from a DIY store, pets shops were charging around £20 for a bag of sand but I just bought some for £3.99

Just wanting on the gravel cleaner now then I'll buy some plants and start getting everything ready.

 

[Shizeric]

I have spent over $100 on driftwood...I love the stuff.

 

[mummyhamster]

Hi Dan,

I just wanted to say that when I was setting up my first tank for my Newts I bought some sand from a garden centre because it was much cheaper than pet shop bought sand. However it was utterly rubbish! I was never able to clean it up as well as I wanted, and it was dark and horrible. I did however find a really cheap option that I am using in both my tanks, and its very light in colour and looks great. It's children's play sand, and it was I think £2.99 for a big bag in Argos. It says that its 'non toxic' and safe for children, so I thought it must be safe for my Newts. I've been using it for ages now and I haven't had any problems. It does however need several rinses before it goes in the tank....

I just thought I'd mention it incase you had problems with the sand you have already purchased.

I don't know how true this is, but someone told me not to put anymore than about 1 inch of sand in a tank, if there is too much you can get pockets of air within the sand which can allow bad bacteria to grow. Like I said, I don't know how true this is, but when I had put most of the water in, I used my turkey baster and just moved it up and down in the tank (in the sand) and sure enough one of two bubbles of air were disturbed and came to the surface. I only did it that one time, and I haven't had any problems. I have slightly more than an inch though...

Hope it's all going well. Maybe post a picture or two when it's all done...

Regards
V'.

 

[Manifest]

just a quick note on the java moss, I had to remove mine, the strands were drifting off, getting caught up in the filter and stopping the impeller completely, so I was waking up to hot, stagnant tanks. And I even managed to burn out a motor this way as well, unfortunately. So if you do get it, make sure it's really well tied down and that bits don't break off and clog up the filter!

e: fortunately it was my feeder goldfish and not my Axie tank - feeder goldies are tough little things

 

[daniellog]

Well I have ordered some java moss, unfortunetly before you told me this Seona, but I will make sure it doesn't overgrow and tie it to the drift wood very well and tight. As for the sand I'm still waiting on the gravel cleaner so I can drain the tank and the **** in it at the moment. I have been told to use this before but if I have any problems I will buy some from Argos.

I'm looking at getting a canister filter with it being a big tank (3ft by 1ft) and I saw this one on ebay Zoo Med Turtle Canister Filter 501 Aquarium Filter on eBay (end time 14-Jun-10 15:33:38 BST)

Its for turtle tanks but I think that's a good thing with me keeping axolotls, what do you reckon?

 

[melfly]

Ey up
I hope your axies arn't thick like mine. Fred always eats plants especially java moss and moss balls. Dwarfy also does the same...maybe its a gold thing! lol

Plant pots, try wilkinsons. They do small enough for dwarfy to fit in and one thats just about big enough for the big guys.
That massive one i have in my tank was from B and Q and was about £2 i think. Cheap considering its huge!
My dads gonna chop it in half for me!

Mel

 

[Mac Myers]

Well I have ordered some java moss, unfortunetly before you told me this Seona,

It should be fine. If your currents are minimal the stuff stays together and it stays put pretty well.

I'm looking at getting a canister filter with it being a big tank (3ft by 1ft) and I saw this one on ebay Zoo Med Turtle Canister Filter 501 Aquarium Filter on eBay (end time 14-Jun-10 15:33:38 BST)

It's a great filter, very effective and it can't be clogged by moss or much of anything else either. Easy to clean and you have the ability to replace or clean only one part of the filter at a time minimizing the interruption of the biological filtering. you can also minimize currents by pointing the spray bar up and or towards the tank wall (or both). :happy:

 

[daniellog]

Right, I've changed my mind about the sand. I don't think its worth the risk with the diy sand I bought, so I'll just buy some play sand from Argos. I'll look into getting some plants pots Mel and other ways to create little hides for them

I'll grab some fishing line (as my dad is a very keen fisherman) from home since I'm here to take back to my flat. Hopefully if I tie it round the drift wood well enough it should be ok. As for the filter, I'll have to see how much people love me for my Birthday this Friday and if I have enough I will get it, or eventually!