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40 gallon stream tank

Started by Guest_Matt N_* , Dec 18 2013 04:06 PM

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_Matt N_*

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Posted 18 December 2013 - 04:06 PM

I am setting up a 40L aquarium (48Lx15Tx13W) and was wanting to know whats the best substrate for darters.

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#2 Guest_Orangespotted_*

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Posted 18 December 2013 - 04:21 PM

They love rocky spots that resemble riffles and sandy spots depending on the species (I'd suggest looking up their spawning habits in nature). Green colored darters like Bandeds and Greenbandeds as well as ones found in slack waters appreciate dense plantings, so plant-friendly substrate would be good for those. The whole aquarium need not be the same substrate though, but you'll notice them hanging out in those spots the most.

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#3 Guest_gerald_*

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Posted 18 December 2013 - 04:28 PM

Coarse gravel and bigger rocks look nice, and fish like to play around them, but I would put them as a thin layer on top of sand or fine gravel. If you use a thick layer of coarse gravel (more than a few pebbles thick), food will fall into it and rot.

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#4 Guest_Erica Lyons_*

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Posted 18 December 2013 - 05:59 PM

You can root plants in a terra cotta pot or a plastic cup that you bury under the main substrate type. This will give them their own plant-friendly substrate pocket without changing the look of your tank.

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#5 Guest_Matt N_*

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Posted 18 December 2013 - 06:31 PM

Probably not going to plant any live plants in this tank. What I have got to work with is typical aquarium gravel, sand from a near by river and larger river gravel from the hardware store. I was think a combination of all 3 would look nice coupled with some large rock to provide slack water areas and hiding spots. I just didn't know which to use the most of.

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#6 Guest_Doug_Dame_*

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Posted 20 December 2013 - 04:14 PM

Sand, gravel, pebbles and rocks are all good for darters ... of various kinds. In nature, those substrates naturally align themselves with water velocity, and you should arrange your tank the same way, the faster the water, the bigger the rocks. Then the darters will align themselves with their most preferred zones.

What mix to use as optimal depends on your mix of darters. A 40L is a very good tank because it has enough area to let you plan for a variety of micro-niches. What kinds of darters do you have or expect to have ?

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#7 Guest_Matt N_*

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Posted 21 December 2013 - 06:01 PM

I currently have three rainbows and a johnny darter. If i was going to use a sprayer bar set up for my current what would be the recommended gph of flow?