QUOTE(brapa? @ Nov 4 2020, 01:58 AM)
i see
ok tx
something for me to think about
i was thinking whether it might b easier
for cleaning cycling things like dat
just hose into the wc
also spills & mopping
i'm relieved to hear only top up needed
thats for purely plants only rite ?
what if with fishes eg zebras ?
will it make a big difference to the water quality
& cleaning frequency ?
i have shrimps too
i did think of using the island top
but if family visits for dinner
i will have to move it..
first of all welcome to the hobby
ill be typing base on my experience.
before starting, best learn about the nitrogen cycle.
cleaning is a no brainier, for newly setup tank, better to do water changes weekly, 30%-50% range. ur new tank may not be able to fully convert all the ammonia n nitrates in the water. concentration to high, fatal.
read up on how to cycle a new tank.
the proven method is to use old filter media.
but since ur starting from zero, i can recommend seachem stability to establish a bacteria colony quickly tho it will take months to be fully develop. so slowly stock the tank. It worked for me but some others are not as fortunate. can always do the fish food/seafood method.
now why i only top up? no water change? cuz not much shit. bigger tank, less concentrated. but ofc, what works for me, may not work for you. everyone tank is diff, never 1=1. n i still recommended to do water changes to dilute all bad stuff in there. yes planted tnak. non planted tank, better get a sump or do big water changes.
yea long hose would work with a pump, doesn't have to be an overkill 1, just enough to push water for the distance/height. or use a bucket
i remember sometime ago, i think utuber mentioned 1 gallon to 2 inches of fish. u can add more like how most fish store do, just do more maintenance. i usually feed and starve my fish every other day. to control. or feed minimal amount daily.
water quality, if u add more fish, ofc will have more ammonia. snails and shrimp dont have much bioload, i dare say none lol in a planted tank situation.
cleaning frequency, depends on tank to tank. how are you feeding? are you dosing fertilizers or any other chemical? algae growth? dirty tank doesn't mean bad water. i regular maintenance is pruning the fast growers, glass algae scraping. substrate was originally black, cant see the poop anyway haha. i have a school of otocinclus and shrimp to help with the funky algae. crazy algae growth usually a sign of imbalance. feeding to much? too much light? co2? etc
ah u have shrimps, so u probably know about all this anyway. lolit was relaxing for me to type this anyway. kelos