Re: [RML] 6 foot tank
James E. Capelle (jcapelle at gte.net)
Sun, 23 Feb 1997 08:28:02 -0500
Roger wrote:
>
> I will shortly be setting up a new 6 foot tank for rainbows, all the
> shops offer different suggestions. Some say no under gravel filters
> other say under gravel filters. Some suggest powerheads.
>
> I just want to setup a bio that make my fish happy. Any suggestions????
>
> Roger
Three words that really cann't be used together; undergravel filter, bio
and long term. I know you didn't use that last word, but your fish
would have to be happy. When I was younger in knowledge, I would be a
strong advocate for the undergravel filter and how my plants had grown.
Then I learned why I had to pull apart the system every so often or what
was that stuff shooting out of my lift tubes every six months and as
time went on, more often. The plate of the undergravel filter(u.f.)
would have a build up that block the usefulness of the filter after time
and had to broken down to clear the mess out. If you want to keep
plants and have a system that worked together and not have to break it
down every now and then to clear the u.f. plate, try to use a real
substrate that works for you too. You can use gravel and that has to be
cleaned every so often too, but not as hard as u.f.. Then you can use a
"Mud-mix" with sand or gravel cover(to hold it and somtimes the plants
in place). I am not going to ramble twice in one day so you can find a
lot of info over on the Aquatic Plant digest archive at:
http://www.actwin.com/fish/aquatic-plants/search.html another good
place to look for info would be Aquarium Geographic, which is the site
put out by Coletti a writer for one of the fish mags about Biotope set
ups at: http://members.tripod.com/~TColetti/index.html
This is what works for me now and my tanks are over planted the fish are
very happy and the water changes have been cut way down now too.
Now back under my leaf again. Coming out twice in one day I'll get
sun/computer burned. Jim C.