Common Newbie Pitfalls

[mgamer20o0]

with live plants the help speed up the cycle. the sooner they are in there the better.

python is different then a garden hose. lets you start the siphon and has a gravel vac. the hose isnt treated with anything. just a silicon hose.

as far as the garden hose many are treated with anti mildew or other coating. if its a old hose you have less to worry about then a new one.

the way i do it is use the python to suck the water our and then i have a hose to fill the tanks. dont think i ever seen anyone link any fish deaths to a new hose but doesnt mean its not possible. one of those safe then sorry things.

the hard part is learning the start up and stocking. trust me once you start doing it i think it becomes a lot easier and less stressful.

[Squareheads]

okay i have 4 swordtails, one bushynose pleco, and 2 flower tail shrimp

how many more fish can i fit in my 20 gallon?

im planning to get angel fish and gourami?

[HN1]

A 20 is not appropriate for angels or gourami (other than honey or dwarf). You are just about fully stocked IMO.

[Squareheads]

how would u clean the gravel of a tank that has alot of plants like ALOT of plants?

[severum mama]

Gravel vac around the plants.

[mgamer20o0]

and also go over the top moving the gravel vac around kicking up the dirt and sucking it out

[Squareheads]

Originally Posted by HN1

A 20 is not appropriate for angels or gourami (other than honey or dwarf). You are just about fully stocked IMO.

yeh im planning to get a dwarf gourami... ><

if im over stocked im just gonna have to buy another tank LOL...

when i ment as in ALOT of plants, like its almost impossible to see the sand from a bird's eye view

I bought plants that came with like a plastic base kinda like a pot... and then the roots are stuck to a sponge like material in em... wondering if i should take these out?

also my really big plant, the super long one i believe its called a Val and i doo believe that they gave me a wrong plant... i got a plant thats like a grass and i was told it would grow really tall i unno something like that, it was inexpensive so i bought it... i researched that Anubias prefer low light
so i decided to put it under the really tall one to make kinda like a shade.. but my reall question is that

my really big plant is slowly dying... like it's leaves are rotting.... and the leaves are facing downward and their pale... urgen help needed... i was told i should get UV light bulbs... wats your input guys?>

[runninwoof]

if you would like angels u may want to look into the taller tanks like 29g and 55g so they're "hangies" dont drag on the ground.

i believe that the uv light is for killing bacteria and is not needed for a fw system.

we need a picture of your big plant to see what kind it is. it may need some ferts, also what is your lighting?

PS yes remove all floss and cotton and anything not part of the plant when planting.

pps: upgrading the size of your tank is always FUN!! goodluck!

[mgamer20o0]

I bought plants that came with like a plastic base kinda like a pot... and then the roots are stuck to a sponge like material in em... wondering if i should take these out?

yes they should be removed from the pot and all the extra material that came with them.

uv bulb wont help with the plants. i would take a pic and make a thread to get a id of the plant. i have two guesses on the plant. one that its not aquatic and rots when under water which is common. the other its a higher light plant and needs more light. with out knowing what it is for sure i can only guess.

[Squareheads]

I can't get any pictures @ the moment

but im pretty sure the plant is for under water... i saw it being taken out under water in my LFS.

All i can tell you is that, parts of the plants are rotting and leaves are loosing their green colour aswell as falling off...

But I have another question... How come I have to take off the plastic pot and the excess sponge thingy at it's base... if it can live with it when it was at the fish store?